Avoid this big mistake most people make with garden ladders

This summer is officially the hottest Britain has experienced in the past five years. It’s no wonder, then, that so many of us are getting out into our gardens, pruning and shearing and trimming atop our garden ladders. As always, though, it’s important to do so in maximum safety. You might be surprised at just how many people simply ignore whether or not the ground is completely even. As long as you’re only working on the ladder for a short time, it’ll all be fine, right? Think again!

Here’s why uneven ground is such a problem for gardening work

Unlike erecting ladders on paving slabs or tarmac, uneven ground like turf or soil can be a real (literal) pitfall for professionals and homeowners. It can be a proper challenge to erect the ladder safely in the first place, and sometimes it takes so long that you might feel tempted to give into temptation, and just climb right up there and get the job done as quickly as you can.

You probably don’t even need us to tell you the biggest one, but we’d be remiss to skip right over it: that’s incredibly dangerous! Just the fall is bad enough on its own. There’s a common misconception that falls closer to the ground are less dangerous anyway, so some people are more prepared to risk it on a garden ladder than they would be on, say, an extension ladder or even a roof ladder.

Don’t underestimate the danger of short falls

In fact, statistics by the Health and Safety Executive have shown that some of the most debilitating injuries have actually occurred from shorter falls, sometimes as close as 1m to the ground. Just because a ladder isn’t as tall, doesn’t make it any less important to make sure it’s stable. If your ladder isn’t stable, then all the other key safety advice – such as keeping your hips inside the guard-rails – is all made immediately redundant.

So, if your working area is situated above even ground, how can you deal with that problem? Well, the answer is surprisingly simple…

Our adjustable garden ladders are a step above

Here at Browns Ladders, we take pride in stocking a number of specialist ladders. These include telecoms ladders, loft ladders, and even Lyte surveyors sectional ladders. However, amongst our most popular and versatile specialist ladders – by far – are our tripod and garden ladders.

They have been specially designed to account for soft or uneven surfaces. As you can imagine, lawns, turf and soil fall squarely into this category! By fine-tuning the adjustable leg before you start work, you can find the optimum point to ensure that the ladder is completely stable. (A spirit level always helps!) As long as they’re correctly set up, you can be sure of a stable surface that guarantees your safety as you’re pruning, cutting or trimming.

It also ties into what we’re always saying here at Browns Ladders: that is, using the right kind of ladder for the job! Our aluminium platform tripod ladders are fantastic all-rounders for all kinds of garden tasks, and have an impressive in-built durability too. For a lighter option, you might want to consider our Lyte Aluminium Fruit Picking Tripod Ladder too. Whatever suits you best!

Don’t forget that we’re always here to help! Each of our staff has a detailed, in-depth knowledge of our own product range, so whatever you’re looking for, you can always count on us to help you find it. You can start browsing for ladders online now, or give us a call on 01282 615517.