Telescoping ladders

[Bryce W. Jeffrey]

I thought that I would share with you my experience with a telescoping ladder. I purchased this piece of high tech equipment from my local Home Depot Store. It was manufactured by a Quebec company known as MetalTech. While coming DOWN from a roof inspection, the right side of the ladder collapsed. I was fortunate that the Real Estate Broker was present. He witnessed my fall and transported me to the hospital emergency room. He then had the misfortune to inform my wife where I was and what happened. This COLLAPSE ocurred June 6/07. I underwent emergency surgery due to the possiblity of bone infection and the possibility of amputation. The final results of the fall: compound fracture of the left wrist ( bone protuding ), compressed 2nd and 3rd vertebrae, torn rotator cuff, 100 shots of morphine, 200 percocets, three days in the hospital, permanent mobility disability of the wrist.

On the positive side, thankfully it happened in my 60's and not when I was a young house builder. To-day it is difficult to hold a screw or nail and I suffer from hand tremors. In fact I am fortunate when compared to the suffering of our men and women in Irag and Afganistan.

To all you nay sayers and telescoping ladder supporters, be careful, they are inheritantly dangerous. The newer models are colour coded to indicate they are fully locked in position.

MetalTech, Extend&Climb, Telesteps, they are all the same thing being manufactured under license. They are banned in Germany and have been given an unsatisfactory rating by consumer rating agencies.

Take a look at the pictures and decide if they are worth the risk to your health. Remember that you have a wife and kids waiting at home for you.


MY COLLAPSE OCURRED WHILE COMING DOWN!

[Greg Bell]

Bryce

Sorry to hear that you had that experience.

You have definitely given me something to think about.

[John W. Springstead]

Bryce: So sorry to hear about you accident. Definatley life changing!

I must also add though, I've been using Telesteps (appears slightly different than yours) brand ladders since starting in 1995 ( I'm on my third now), and after using them many thousands of times, have never even had a close call due to malfunction.
I do fully extend them quite often and wipe silicon/penitrating oil on the slides, but thats the extent of maintenance.
After several years of hard use, they do start to be difficult to work, and thats when I discard and replace.
I'm sure everyone has horror stories in regards to ladder use, but it really boils down to proper use and care ( and some luck!)
Here's hoping for the best & fastest recovery possible for you!

[Gary Farnsworth]

As in your home, car, and your marriage, you have to maintain it and lube it every now and then to make it work for you. I am with you, John. I have used mine thousands of times, with no failures.

[Bryce W. Jeffrey]

Mr. Farnsworth:

I usually never get into discussions by e-mail. I am familiar with ladder safety. The ladder in question was less than two months old and I do not think lubrication was an issue. I only wish to convey the message that the ladders are banned in some countries, they have received a less than satisfactory rating by Consumers. There was obviously a defect as the newer models are now colour coded to indicate that the locking mechanism is fully engaged. I am not the first person to suffer a collapse but I am certain that to date I am the most seriously injured. Again I wish you nothing but safe use of your telescoping ladder and continued success in your career. Incidentally I appreciate that you are maintaing your car and marriage.

[bdoles2]

Thanks for the info Bryce. People should be thankful that you shared this unfortunate experience and learn from it. Thanks for the pictures, a picture puts it in another perspective.

Inspectors need to be aware of not only collapsible ladder safety, but ladder safety in general.

Thanks for sharing!

[Harold E. Miller]

Thanks for the story Bryce! Every time I am tempted to buy one of these telescoping ladders, then I see a story like yours, it reinforces the fact that I should stick with what works, and is known to be safe.

I have used articulating ladders for a long time with no problems. Currently I have a Keller, and it has been good to me. And it folds down to 4' feet, so it is somewhat compact still.

[Dale Duffy]

Originally Posted by bjeffrey

To all you nay sayers and telescoping ladder supporters, be careful, they are inheritantly dangerous. The newer models are colour coded to indicate they are fully locked in position.

MetalTech, Extend&Climb, Telesteps, they are all the same thing being manufactured under license. They are banned in Germany and have been given an unsatisfactory rating by consumer rating agencies.

MY COLLAPSE OCURRED WHILE COMING DOWN!

Bryce,

I had a similar experience with telesteps, the locking pins failed on me, the ladder was fairly new....probably less than 100 inspections using it.

Thankfully I did not get hurt.

I will stick with my Gorilla Ladder from now on, I will not jeopardize my welfare to save time or energy using a real ladder even though it is a folding type, at least I can SEE the locking pins when I am setting it up.

Good Luck with your recovery..!

[Gary Farnsworth]

Perhaps it is a difference in models. I almost always tap it on the ground after I extend it, to be sure it is locked. There are weight limits on these ladders also. I am not sure if that makes a difference.

[Buck Hartley, CMI]

I quit using the telescoping ladder long ago for some of the same reasons.

[Darren Spencer]

I'll stick to a real ladder and look professional along with it.

[Bryce W. Jeffrey]

I weigh 195 pounds and the telescoping ladder that collapsed was rated for 250 pounds. I have experienced rivets coming loose on articulating ladders and have discontinued their use also. My present ladder is the trusty Little Giant. It has the weight and strength that I feel comfortable with.

[John M. Acaron]

Bryce, Thanks for sharing your experiance with us. I also use a telescopic ladder. However, I'm always warry bout the locking pins. Once, I extend my ladder I tend to try to test each steps as I go up. So far good. The only thing that I have noticed is that recently it is hard to extend. It appears that because of so much use it has bend somewhat and it does not slide like it use to do. I do apply lubricant once in a while. My ;ladder is rated to 225lbs. I bought my ladder at a NACH convention in Ft Lauderdale introduced by NIck. My model is 4 years old. I guess it is time to replace it with a fresh one.

Any thoughts out there of a reliable telescopic ladder?? Please advise.

[Brian A. MacNeish]

I've had a Telesteps for 4 years now and have only had one small incident with it (at an attic hatch) that I blame on myself. I wasn't hurt and no damage was caused, luckily. I now check that all locks are in place before I climb (that is in the instructions, BTW) And I don't use it in especially difficult/dangerous setups. I do apply silicon/clean the sliding rails every 2-3 months.

And I do remember the incidents reported here when I set it up!!!

[Brian E. Kelly]

I broke my telesteps after about 3 years. I now have an extend & climb. The extend & climb is heavier and seems to be of much stouter construction. Time will tell as to how long it lasts.

Ladders are probably the most dangerous part of our business.

BE CAREFULL ON LADDERS.