Reduce potential for accidents in your business

Traditional Ladders are a lot cheaper than most other access options.

Adjustable Height Platforms (AHP) are a much more substantial investment than a ladder

Ladders

• Will access a simple work face quickly and easily
• Offer no ability to reach in horizontally (cantilever in)
• With the exception of some high-end Ladders with specialised systems to do so, it is not usually very easy to safely step off a Ladder on to an elevated area if needed.

Equiptec AHP can adapt to many different situations by having a large range of retrofittable options. These options can be used to increase Cantilever distance, deck width, deck height etc. as well as add more features such as Barrier systems, multiple direction access gates etc. Not all brands offer these capabilities.

Ladder maintenance requirements are minimal, simple, but often overlooked.

Although some AHP brands utilise complex systems which include high maintenance sliding faces, winches etc. Equiptec AHP have very few moving parts and consequently very little maintenance requirements. It is a good idea to check out the Manufacturers Instruction Manuals to ensure they are comprehensive. AHP will generally require more maintenance than ladders.

• In some Countries working off Ladders is illegal, and they can be used as access only.
• Check the relevance of the Standard the Manufacturer references
• Check the rated capacity.

Compliance is not easy for AHP as Standards have not been developed to cover this relatively new concept yet. Check that the Manufacturer has made some effort to comply with the design (handrail heights etc.), stability and strength requirement sections of an appropriate Standard. Equiptec AHP may go well beyond these, but compliance with these basic requirements would be essential for any reputable supplier.

Traditional ladder come in various designs most of which are easy to transport and set up quickly and easily.

Some AHP’s are very large and difficult to transport, while some are small and compact, and therefore easy to move around. Ease of transport and deployment will again vary between brands. Some brands produce some very large units that “fold down” to a more manageable size/shape for transport/storage. Watch this capability as if a brand cannot do this, it may incur a lot of cost to get them to your site.

Once on site, deployment should be reasonably easy. Some brands also produce options that allow for units to be used “off slab”, so its important to check you are getting the brand and options that accurately suit your needs.

Ladders are relatively easy to store

An AHP will generally require more room for storage, however some brands, including Equiptec AHP, can be stored outside.

Ladders are inherently dangerous and

• require the user to remain within a very narrow area of centre of gravity to avoid falling off.
• require the user to have training and/or experience to ensure correct set up.
• may need special adaptions or accessories in order to suit different situations.

Equiptec AHP comply with the applicable 'strength and stability' requirements of major international standards. Some Brands do not place importance on this, so while they are “safe” they may feel quite unstable at higher positions which makes users uncomfortable. AHP tend to be susceptible to wind, so take care when using them outside.

Ladders

• Can be adapted to use in different terrains/slopes etc. provided the right accessory is correctly fitted and used according to the Manufacturers instructions.
• Cannot be used to cantilever in and are difficult to step off at the top safely.

AHP are adaptable by the very fact that they adjust to suit work at different heights. Ladders will give you a bigger height adjustment range, but Equiptec AHP also have the ability to retrofit a variety of accessories to suit many different situations. Other methods can't do this and this makes Equiptec AHP truly versatile.

Most people can use Ladders, but training is needed to use them in a safe manner.

AHP outperform ladders for ease of use on low level height work. This because of:

• Easy and quick access from floor to deck (or vice versa)
• Rapid and easy manual movement of small to medium sized units.
• On larger stair units, the ability to carry items up and down with ease.
• Individuals can descend or ascend while others remain on the deck.
• Users can quickly adjust the deck to both a safe and ergonomic position surrounded by handrails and compliant access methods at any height.