Can a Ladder Be Repaired? The Question of Repair Versus Replacement When it comes to ladder safety, one of the key aspects is compliance and safety. Contract Standards: All above ladders comply with the specific working at height standard, e.g., OSHA or EN131. ALSO READ: When you don’t check IDs, bars will fix their fake ID problem themselves Repairing a damaged ladder can often make it non-compliant with these standards and unsafe. Rather than attempt to repair a compromised ladder—a course of action that could result in more perils—it will generally be recommended the practice of getting rid off faulty ladders and replace it instead.
Safety: A ladder should not compromise the safety of those on board in any way, shape or form. A broken ladder can be dangerous and capable of causing serious injuries especially in businesses where approved standards by the health & safety organization must be adhered to. Regular inspections help to detect any potentials defects before they lead up to failure. In some cases, if structural problems are identified the ladder can be tagged as “Dangerous: Do Not Use” until a replacement is sought or it has been checked over by an experienced professional.
Cost: One could argue that replacing a ladder is more expensive than repairing it, but over the long-term ensuring safety and compliance with new ladders will be vastly less costly than taking risks to save money on your repairs. Purchasing a brand new ladder that is also up to present standards allows not only the safety of users but in addition meets legal responsibility requirements with regards to place of job protection.
Bottom line, some types of ladders can be repaired in limited ways but for the significant damage cases replacement is a much better and compliant option.