Loft Ladders: Are they dangerous?

Since they are a standard feature of nearly every home, Loft Ladders are one of the only types of ladders that everyone will use at some point. Nowadays, most houses have loft hatches with ladders built into them or that are easily accessed by pulling down a pole when the hatch is opened. Unless substantial renovations have been undertaken to enlarge the hatch size to allow the installation of a purpose-built loft ladder, older homes have smaller loft hatches, making access to the space impossible without either using a straight ladder propped against the hatch or a step ladder placed underneath the hatch. Step ladder manufacturers caution people against this technique in their safety information because it involves standing on the top rung of a step ladder in order to swing up into the loft, which is a dangerous move.

The act of balancing on top of a step ladder to reach the loft is inherently unsafe, as standing on the top of Ladders is precarious and unstable. In addition, ladders are at risk of falling when people launch themselves off the top when working in the attic, and another person may move the ladder, leaving anyone stranded.

An aged man died from a fall from Step Ladders after retrieving items from the loft while using a step ladder. At the time, his wife was home but didn’t comprehend what he was doing, only noticing the ladder when she heard a crash and investigated to find him lying on the landing with the ladder on top of him.

These problems do not affect purpose-built loft ladders, since they are attached to the loft hatch or otherwise secured inside the loft space, making it virtually impossible for them to fall over or move. The typical loft ladder has its own risks despite the fact that there is no danger of it falling down. Many of these ladders can be folded and deployed in seconds, but they can also spring back and cause nasty injuries, as ex-X-Factor contestant Sam Bailey discovered recently when she picked up her suitcase from the loft. Her ladder jumped out of the way as she was putting it back, striking her in the head and rendering her unconscious for several minutes. Despite being treated at the scene by paramedics and taken to the hospital for observation, she has since fully recovered.

Why not make 2022 the year you install a proper loft ladder if you are still using a freestanding ladder to access your loft? Ladder Store Co wants you to be safe. Besides being safer, a loft is a great place to clear stuff and store items out of the way because it is so easy to move items up and down. No matter what type of loft ladder you have (and there are many different styles you can choose from), always exercise caution when entering the roof area, and keep all hatch poles away from children. When properly cared for and respected, your loft ladder could become your favorite thing about the house, rather than a potentially hazardous one.