What is your preference for your tall ladders?

When I got started in 2011 I purchased a very used 32' Green Bull. It's been a great ladder but I'm looking to replace it. I was thinking that an aluminum ladder may be nice due to the lighter weight. I may be wrong but I also figured the aluminum would last longer (if not abused).

I find myself around power lines and fiberglass is a must in those situations.

True. I guess I would keep the other anyway. That thing is just a beast to carry around!

I have aluminum ladders that are 25 years old

As little as i am around electrical line i do not worry,,, Only once was i scarred and had the power shut off on the pole (Would have done the same thing with fiberglass)

I wouldn't own a fiber glass ladder over 6' myself

That is a great point Vinke. When working around power lines on the house the fiberglass ladder is helpful but not a cure all. Sometimes it is best to use extra caution.

Back in the early 90's I worked for the cable company and have seen what a live power line does to Fiberglass and can only imagine what would happen to aluminum. Not pretty.

I actually have both (6,28,32) in Fiberglass and (6,24,40) in aluminum. The fiberglass are always my go to ladders.

I look at the extra weight as exercise.

We always use aluminum ladders and I was concerned around electric lines. After talking to a foreman from Wisconsin Electric, I feel better. He said that the shock from a line going into a building is the same one you get from an outlet. It's still the fall that does the damage. Is he right?

I figure you have two choices. You can fall off of an aluminum ladder and end up with a bad back or you can haul around a fiberglass ladder and end up with a bad back.

Except you need to follow the law, if you have employees.

1926.1053(b)(12)
Ladders shall have nonconductive siderails if they are used where the employee or the ladder could contact exposed energized electrical equipment, except as provided in 1926.951(c)(1) of this part.

I did a podcast with two full time county firemen who also co own a wildlife control company in West Central Georgia. A third fireman from Michigan joined in the discussion and we ended up with a great podcast and instruction on good ladder safety principles..

Everything you need to know about ladders, ladder safety and electricity.

They also have posted on this forum Chris Sims & Pete Childers.

Listen to this brief mini podcast I call ladder Safety - Childer & Sims

Recorded podcast comparing wood, aluminum or fiberglass ladders .

http://animalremovals.net/ladder-safety-childers-sims/

The most important thing I can tell you is to always look up first before you touch any ladder it really doesn't always matter if its aluminum , wood or fiberglass. All ladders regardless of construction can still conduct electricity.

Dave, after reading Robb's post, am I to infer that 1926.1053(b)(12) was made into law by people that not only owned fiberglass ladder companies, but also had a huge interest in clinics that dealt with back issues?

Nate, is the fiberglass your go-to due to safety from an electrical accident or just the feel of the ladder itself?

Pesky, that's twice I agreed with you today. What is going on?

Paul, I am not sure....but we can not pick and choose the laws we want to follow. I was just alerting folks that there are cases where the determination of the type of ladder was made for us.

Both. I saw a fiberglass ladder that struck a power line on the metal hooks we used when I worked for the cable company. The ladder was black from the top down about six feet. The guy who put it up did not get hurt. If it had been aluminum I think the outcome would of been much worse.

A ladder is only as safe as the person controlling it. I am about 240lbs. and a Fiberglass ladder feels like it holds me better. My aluminum ladders have a bounce to them when I climb up that I do not like.

I hate lugging the big fiberglass ladders any distance but I also hate trying to lug around the 40' by myself. Had to do it today and it reminded me how glad I am I got the aluminum instead of the Fiberglass I originally was gonna buy.

Nate, I'm a little less than 180 so I don't bounce much on the ladder but I make up for it by really bouncing good when I hit the ground.

I chose some bad ladder placement last week and had a couple close calls. But knock on wood that the ladder gods have smiled down on me up until this point.


Now watch tomorrow will be my day.

Are you using type 1a (300lbs) aluminum? I dont think I'd like much bounce either!

Lol here we go again on this talk about how the electric coming in your house won't hurt you , oh well I've tried to tell people on here before about people who have been killed here on ladders that touched live lines coming in but was told I was full of it , maybe I should get a pic of a local guy who has no toes and extreme finger damage from we're the power left his body to ground or maybe a pic of his brothers headstone , maybe that would convince a few here that there are dangers at 240 volts , that being said I have both fibreglass and aluminum ladders and like the glass ones better but they are heavier for sure

Matt, if your Canadian electricity is anything like your Canadian beer, I believe everything you said about its potency.

I think this is the section that says ladders are to be 10 ft from power wires, does not matter which type of ladder.
I'm sure they must give classes at the national meetings that keep you guys up on the osha regs, right? If not it would be a good one to ask for.
Any business with one or more employees is under osha regs, in the room with the agencies that affect small business, in one corner is the 500lbs gorilla called the IRS the one twice the size in the other corner is OSHA, they have the ability to fine per day 5000.00-250,000.00 for each violation. There is less recourse, not much get your day in court in regs. you have rights, but not following the regs get you very few. They have lots of info on there site for small business.
Having had to write two programs for two separate business, I know how hard it can be to deal with the paper work.

Electric coming into most homes in the USA is 220-240 volts. Two of the wires are hot and one is neutral, between the hot and neut. wire is 110-120 volts, between hot wires is 220-240 volts.
It can take as little as 1/4 amp across your heart to stop it. So one side of the ladder touching 110-120 volt and alum ladder to ground you become a 120-volt light blub if you don"t let go and fall, both legs of ladder touching and a 240 volt light blub. People live people die from shock everyday, having been stupid more the once in my life working my trade I can tell you it can hurt like [Please excuse my language... I'm an idiot] depending on the voltage.
And no I do not use alum ladders near electrical, this having been drilled into my head over 30 plus years, but I have been amazed over the years what people do and everything works out fine.
Kurt Temple