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When your project calls for access to high places, you have two basic choices—a lift or ladder. A construction ladder offers flexibility and ease of mobility, especially in smaller spaces. For many applications, however, a lift might be a better choice. With today’s safety features, they’re often safer than ladders and more stable.

Understanding the Safety Risks of Ladders

Why do many professionals choose lifts over ladders? Ladders come with a few safety risks, including:

• Damage: Ladders can become damaged over time. Some damage, such as cracked rungs or missing rungs, is obvious, but other issues may not be evident until weight is put on the ladder. It’s important for all workers to be trained to inspect ladders before using them.
• Stability issues: Ladders must be placed on flat, even and dry surfaces. Even a slightly uneven surface can increase the chance of falling, and any mud or water on the rungs can cause workers to slip.
• Electricity risks: Metal ladders placed near live electrical wires or currents can easily conduct electricity, creating a risk.
• Low weight capacity: Ladders do not have much space to accommodate heavy tools or large building materials. They also have lower weight limits when compared to lifts.
• Human errors: It’s easy for workers to get injured on a ladder if they overreach, skip rungs or descend facing away from the rungs. Workers should always have both feet and at least one hand on the rungs the entire time they are ascending and descending. This can be challenging when crew members have items they are carrying up and down the ladder and poses another risk.
• Size challenges: You may need different size ladders for different needs. Using too small of a ladder can encourage workers to reach or to stand on the top rungs, which are not designed to hold weight.

How Are Lifts Safer Than Ladders?

Construction lifts are safer than ladders for many applications. Construction lifts have many benefits, including:

• Capacity: Aerial lifts can handle more weight than an industrial ladder. Team members can safely load the lift with their tools and any equipment needed for a job.
• Stability: Aerial lifts are made from reinforced fiberglass or metal, so they are more sturdy and stable than a ladder. Lifts also have a larger base, which offers added stability for the extendable platform or boom arm. Lifts also have a lower center of gravity and will not fall or blow over as easily as a ladder might.
• Mobility: Workers can easily move to different heights and different parts of a site with the touch of a button. Ladders, on the other hand, must be manually moved to each new work site, and crew members might need to ascend and descend the ladder multiple times to adjust its location. The extra work can lead to fatigue and a higher potential for accidents on the job site.
• Flexibility: One lift can get workers to multiple heights in one machine, whereas you may need several different sizes of ladders to reach different areas. Lifts also let you adjust the height precisely to get to the area you need to access. Plus, while extension ladders often need a stable wall for balance, lifts do not.
• Protection from falls: Lanyards and harnesses are used on a construction lift to tether workers to the platform and reduce the risk of falls. The wider platforms also offers additional protection a ladder cannot offer.
• Wide reach: Lifts allow workers to get right to the area they need without reaching. Whether the project is to wash windows or to fix power lines, lifts can help your crew get into the best possible position with complete ease.

Choosing the Right Lift for Your Project

There are many types of lifts to consider for your project. While selecting the best lift for your company needs, you should consider:

• Power source: Electric lifts produce no emissions and are quieter than diesel ones, making them ideal for indoor work sites. That said, diesel lifts may cost less to operate.
• Movement type: Consider whether you want a piece of equipment that simply lifts and lowers workers or whether you want a boom lift that allows for vertical and horizontal movement. You can also choose an articulating boom lift, which allows for 360-degree rotation.
• Space: Think about the space where you plan to use your equipment. Outdoor lifts need to be able to withstand the elements, while indoor lifts need to be quiet and small enough to fit into loading doors and indoor spaces.
• Weight capacity: Consider how much you expect the weight of your team plus their equipment to weigh. Be sure to choose a lift that can carry more than that amount. If you’re looking for an aerial lift with serious weight capacity, a rough terrain forklift might be the right choice.
• Security features: Many lifts have security features, such as spaces for workers to attach a harness to prevent falls.

Contact Cleveland Brothers One Call Rentals to Learn More and Get the Equipment You Need

If you are in need of aerial equipment, Cleveland Brothers One Call Rentals offers a solution. From straight, articulated and electric boom lifts to electric scissor lifts and towable lifts, Cleveland Brothers One Call Rentals is your one-stop shop. Additionally, we offer a range of heavy equipment rentals as well as air compressors, heaters, pumps, light towers and more to ensure you can always find the right machine for every project. For a complete listing of our rental products available, click here.

With a wide range of products, parts and services you can count on us to help your business get the lift it needs. For more information, contact us today.

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