Our Guide to Choosing the Best Ladders for the Job

If you don’t know your work platforms from your scaffold towers, here’s our handy guide on the most used ladders, how to use them, and the jobs they’re perfect for.

Stepladders

Stepladders and other types of multipurpose ladders are great for indoor jobs and cleaning ground floor windows as they allow you to reach up to around three metres. Note that they aren’t suitable for any jobs where you have to reach higher than that.

To set the stepladder up safely:

Always face the direction in which you’re going to be working.

If outside, make sure the ladder is on level ground. If it’s not, consider putting some boarding underneath it.

Keep a hand and both feet on the ladder at all times.

Don’t stand on the top platform-if you need to do this, the ladder is not suitable for the job you’re doing.

Our Stepladders are a great investment for residential, commercial, professional, and industrial environments. They’re essential when you need to do tasks such as changing light bulbs, retrieving items from high shelves, accessing machinery, maintenance work, and picking orders. Stepladders are invaluable when it comes to working at height, and we’ve got models to suit every application.

In the safetysteps.co.uk range, you’ll find step-ladders for short-term and long-term use. They’re made in the UK, meet all current safety standards and include a manufacturer’s warranty for peace of mind. We have everything from multipurpose stepladders to aluminium folding stepladders, easy-slope stepladders, glass-fibre stepladders, and double-decker stepladders, and all units are modifiable with a range of tread options.

Many models include wheels for portability, safety rails for support, and non-slip treads. They are suitable for use on all floor surfaces and terrains and many of our safety ladders come with EN-14183 certification. They fold neatly for storage when not in use so they’re ideal if you have limited storage space.

Step-ups

These are perfect for jobs where you have to work slightly above head height. They’re sturdy and come with a handle so you can steady yourself and work safely.

If you need a steady platform to work just above head height, a simple step-up is a good solution. They’re sturdy and easy to handle, and some come with a handle – which is ideal if you feel unsteady.

Our step-ups are a compact, convenient, and affordable investment for the workplace and home. They’ll allow you to reach high shelves and change lightbulbs, and they double as a handy stool when you need a break from exertion.

They’re great if you have limited storage space as they are small enough to fit under any workbench, desk, or counter when they’re not in use. All our step-up ladders feature non-slip feet for safety on all floor surfaces, and many models are manufactured right here in the UK.

At safetysteps.co.uk, we offer Step-Ups to suit residential, commercial, and industrial environments. Our stackable step-ups remain a popular choice for schools, offices, and family homes, while our wheel-along step-ups with grab handles suit more demanding workplaces such as warehouses, factories, and workshops.

Ladders

For any jobs higher than three metres, it’s time to invest in a ladder.

Extension ladders

These are what you need for working at height (like if you need to clear guttering, for example). These ladders consist of 2 or 3 parts, and the sections slide apart and lock into position for safe use. When choosing an extension ladder, look for one which will allow you to reach about a metre higher than the height at which you have to work.

Our combination ladders are designed to be practical in many different environments and for many jobs. Our Professional Combination Ladder is certified to BS EN-131 and can be used as a stepladder with a base stabiliser, a free standing combination ladder, and a 3 part extension ladder. It incorporates large rungs for comfort when climbing and a large stabiliser bar with solid sidearms to increase the safety and add stability.  It’s a perfect choice for DIY tradesmen or handymen.

Combination ladders

If you often need to use a ladder, these are the perfect choice. They combine steps and a ladder with a work platform so whether you’re painting and decorating, or cleaning, they’ll help you make light work of the job.

These are a great buy for tradesmen and DIY enthusiasts, as they are very versatile and fully adjustable to suit the job at hand. They’re made from quality materials and come with a manufacturer’s warranty, and they’re perfect for builders, electricians, engineers, painters & decorators, warehouse operatives, and factory workers who use ladders regularly to work at height.

Available in a wide variety of models and designs to suit every workplace, our 3-way combination ladders, 5-way combination ladders, adjustable height telescopic work platforms, and professional combination ladders are easily converted to different ladder modes. They are height adjustable to suit any job, and they are equipped with robust locking mechanisms to secure them in your chosen configuration.

They fold neatly for storage and transportation, so they’re a great investment for professionals who need to store them in a work van. Many of our Combination Ladders are BS EN-131 approved to help your business comply with strict safety regulations.

Work platforms and scaffold towers

If you need to work on a large wall (if you’re painting the outside of a house, for example) or you have to work on a roof up to 9 metres high, a scaffold tower is what you need. The sections of the tower clip together and provide a frame for the sturdy boards and guard rail that make up your working area. The tower has lockable wheels so it can be easily moved, and stabilised when in use. A great benefit of using a scaffold tower is that you won’t have to keep moving it while you’re working as you would with a set of ladders, so it can help you get the job done far quicker.

Our scaffold towers are a great investment for builders, construction workers, roofers, DIY enthusiasts, and painters. They are made from high-quality materials and are designed to withstand even the harshest of weather conditions.

In the safetysteps.co.uk range, you’ll find a selection of Scaffolding Towers for indoor and outdoor applications. They are semi-permanent structures that you can erect on any floor surface, they are equipped with non-slip support feet to create a sturdy working platform, and they are fully mobile on integrated wheels for easy manoeuvrability.

They folding neatly for storage and transportation in any works vehicle or large estate car. All our Towers and Podium Ladders meet current European safety standards, and they are supplied with a manufacturer’s warranty for peace of mind.