An Overview of the Primary Existing Ladder Types for Consolidated Basic Information
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Ladders are crucial for providing the elevation and stability needed to go up and get many jobs done, but they are characterized by safety and other usage issues. This paper presents an overview of the main ladders currently in use, covering their general relevance, material make, safety concerns, basic characteristics, selection, applications, and research needs. The paper shows that ladders have long been essential devices for various industrial, commercial, and domestic applications. These days, there are various types of ladders, each with unique characteristics and applications, so it is important to understand each type in order to choose and use it appropriately in terms of safety requirements, cost savings, height reachability, material composition, and avoiding the trouble of returning those that are inappropriate for different tasks in different environments. Engineering control measures, such as OSHA Standards 29 CFR 1910.2 and 29 CFR 1926.1053, have established guidelines for addressing safety issues in the design and development of ladders. Safety guidelines for ladder usage include ANSI A14.1 for wooden ladders, ANSI A14.2 for portable metal ladders, ANSI A14.3 for fixed ladders, and ANSI A14.5 for portable reinforced plastic ladders. The paper contributes to simplified current literature on ladders for understanding their relevance and safety requirements, relating any research on them with the literature information, identifying any research gaps on them, noting their potential future directions, and developing better ones for various needs.
Authors: Guma, T.N., Aye, Timothy
Institution: Nigerian Defence Academy
Language: English
Subfield: Occupational Therapy
Field: Health Professions
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7090166804
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