Ladder vs Scaffold Towers: What's the Right Choice?

Ladders are brilliant - quick to set up, easy to climb, and very safe if used properly. These are the most used tool to reach a particular height, especially for home repairs, light fixtures, cleaning, or storing things in attics and shelves. Most of us believe in D-I-Y (do it yourself) and do not hesitate to take ladders for granted to quickly fix something. However, it is imperative to make sure safety is of equal importance. A-Type ladders in Dubai are easily available and can be used for home improvement projects. But a ladder is not the right tool for every job. In some cases, you will be able to work safer and more efficiently if you use scaffolding to reach the required height instead of an extension ladder

When should a ladder be used?

According to Health & Safety Executive (HSE) guidelines, ladders are excellent for:

o   Low-risk work areas and situations.

o   Ladders are good for a brief period of task lasting for 30 minutes.

o   The area and environments where the ladder will be used must be considered carefully for stability and balance. This will help to avoid any accident and fall or loss of life.

Safety Precautions while using a ladder

o   Carry out a risk assessment before you decide to use a ladder.

o   The ladder must be physically repositioned for an extended work area.

o   Ensure the ladder is firmly secured on the ground.

When should a scaffold tower be used?

o   Scaffold towers are ideal for situations where ladders do not serve the purpose of effective work. Erecting a scaffold takes a longer time as compared to placing a ladder but it is easy to work on scaffolding in Dubai.

You can consider using a scaffold tower instead of a ladder if:

o   The work at height will last for more than 30 minutes

o   Space required for movement while working at height.

o   The floor or ground is unfit to secure/stabilise your ladder

o   A scaffold platform allows you to move around more while you're working.

o   Work that requires the use of both hands, needs free space to move around provided by a scaffold tower.

o   extra material required at height can be placed on the platform of the scaffold tower thus making the labour work efficiently.

Safety Precautions while using a scaffold

o   Use Proper Safety Equipment

o   Use the specific Load Limits

o   Be aware of Regulations and Standards

o   Inspect the material of the scaffolding tower.

o   Be alert about the weather conditions and avoid harsh weather work probability.

o   Use Scaffolding Safety Tags - Scaffolding tags help identify whether a scaffold is safe to use. A competent person (as defined by OSHA) must inspect and tag the scaffold structure. Following are the different types of scaffolding tags:

1. Green scaffold tags—If you see a green tag on a scaffold, it means it has been inspected and safe for use. Once the initial inspection is complete, than it should be attached to all access points.

2. Yellow scaffold tags—Yellow tags indicate special requirements for safe use, i.e., the scaffold has been modified in some way to meet existing work requirements, and it could present a safety hazard to all users. 

3. Red scaffold tags—If you see a red tag, it means there is danger, and the scaffold is unsafe for use. These tags are used when the scaffolding is in the process of being erected or dismantled.

Let us look at the differences and similarities between a scaffold and a ladder.

1. Safety of ladders vs scaffolding.

Ladder Safety

o  Ladders are often made from durable metal. They are equipped with all types of fancy features and are multipurpose.

o  Though Ladders appear to be safe and simpler to use, nearly 10,000 people suffer injuries related to ladder falls every year.

o  Unsafe use of ladders includes not wearing the correct type of shoe, climbing up and down the ladder incorrectly, etc.

o  The size of the ladder must be considered to ensure overreaching the height does not lead to falling.

o  Ladders are susceptible to weather-related issues as in extreme circumstances, the ladder can easily tip over and either cause a fall or leave a person dangerously stranded on a roof or ledge.

Scaffolding Safety.

o  Scaffold towers are customisable and decrease the probability of unnecessary falls. This will drastically increase the level of safety at which you operate while working at home or construction sites.

o  Additionally, the design of scaffolding equipment will give the worker greater confidence even if there is a fear of height.

2.  Greater Flexibility of ladders vs scaffolding. - Scaffolding suppliers in Dubai vouch for flexibility factors. Scaffolding brings a heightened level of flexibility to your home improvement project.

o   It can be fixed on any ground.

o   Scaffolding towers can be built on uneven surfaces too.

o   Wheels can be fixed to the Scaffold tower for easy movement from one place to another.

Ladders are not that flexible enough and have many limitations.

o   The ladder cannot be used on every surface even a slight slope will pose a severe safety concern.

o   Weather conditions play an important role in ladder usage. A rainy day for example will pose to be very inconvenient for using a ladder. This will stall the work and delay it. The moisture after a rainy day will not allow the ladder to be firmly grounded.

o   Stability issues with a ladder to access a specific area of your home will complicate your efforts.

Ace manufacturers strive to meet all customer's needs effectively. Aluminium mobile scaffolding prices in UAE are affordable and cost-effective to meet the work requirements.