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Platform Ladder Incident Involved Overtightened
11/16/2007
 United States, November 16, 2007 ' Bovis Lend Lease issued a safety alert dated October 7, 2007 that addresses an incident that occurred with a Werner platform ladder on September 28, 2007 at an undisclosed location.
The incident occurred when the 'top pivot bolts' sheared while a plumber was standing on the ladder at a height of approximately five feet, nine inches from ground level. The ladder collapsed causing the employee to fall forward, receiving minor contusions and sprains to the head, shoulders, and hip.
The ladder in question was less than five months old. An investigation revealed one of the fasteners on the ladder failed on the previous day, unbeknownst to the plumber who continued to use the ladder.
Ray Richardson, Customer Service Administrator for Werner Company was contact by Safety Management Group on November 16, 2007, to seek clarifications on the Bovis safety alert. Richardson verified that Werner was notified of the incident. Werner's investigation revealed that while the bolts in question were not unhardened (as suggested by the alert), they appeared to have been overtightened at the factory, possibly attributing to the incident.
Richardson recommended that anyone using this model of ladder (Werner Platform Ladder 8' model #P7406) to check the bolts on these ladders. Bolts may also be untightened and retightened of the inspection. Werner's engineering department recommended a torque of 60 pounds per square inch.
Werner can be contacted directly for additional details at (888) 523-3370 M-F 8-5 EST ext. 2208.
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