Tackle that garden with access equipment
08/02/2016
Whether you love it or loathe it, tackling that overgrown garden in preparation for spring and summer can be tough. While it may be tempting to use your regular kit and ladders to do all those outdoors jobs, it’s really important that you choose the right access equipment, such as garden ladders.
Everyone knows the risks of working at a height, but despite this, it’s estimated that 6000 people require emergency treatment after tumbling off their ladder in the garden. There are a huge number of reasons why accidents like these happen. Firstly, the ground you place a ladder on needs to be considered – it shouldn’t be soft, uneven, or sloping; secondly, you need to make sure you follow all health and safety guidelines and maintain a constant grip on the ladder at all times. Thirdly, and perhaps most importantly, you need to make sure you’re using the right kit, rather than digging out an old ladder and hoping for the best.
Best for high hedges: The Henchman Hi Step
Instead of using a step ladder, which is best used for access rather than working from, choose the Henchman Hi Step.
The Hi Step offers a safety platform with a guardrail – stopping you from leaning out beyond a certain point. It also has adjustable legs, which follow the contours of the ground, meaning you can work from uneven surfaces if there’s no other option.
The product is also ideal for busy tradesmen, with its lightweight build and easy-to-store shape. It can be stored horizontally or vertically in a small space once you fold it down.
Best for pruning and harvesting: The Lyte Aluminium Fruit Picking Ladders
This Lyte ladder is a typical orchard ladder with three legs. It’s designed to be used in a more demanding and extreme industrial environment, and can be used for heavy and frequent work. Its design means that it is stable even on soft, uneven ground – if properly set.
Ideal for tackling hedges and heights, the Lyte Fruit Picking Ladder lets you work high and close on a stable platform, reducing the risk of accidents.
When choosing your orchard ladder it’s important to consider your height requirements. You’ll need at least two unused rungs at the top of the ladder, and a long-reach or pole pruner can help to make the job easier too.
Best all-rounder: The Henchman Platform Tripod Ladders
If you carry out a wide range of jobs in the garden, this Henchman ladder will come in extremely useful. It offers a deep top working step, a handrail to lean into, or hold onto, and extra special stability features required for garden work.
The ladder is ideal for tackling overgrown vines, trees and bramble and great for narrow spaces. It can also be used indoors too.
Stay safe on your garden ladder
To find out more about any products mentioned today, please browse our product pages. If you’re regularly working at heights, or using access equipment in the garden, you might also like to book on to one of our safety training courses.
We’d personally recommend:
Ladders & Steps Training
For more information on our courses, or to book your place, please call our Course Enquiries team on 01282 615517.