I'm probably the last one who should be chiming in on this subject since I'm not a ladder person at all. But the instant I saw the picture, a memory flashback occurred.
In the mid sixties, I was in a class at the the Fire Service Extension (now MFRI) of the University of Maryland. The speaker was Hubert Walker who was American LaFrance's ladder engineer. He was describing what kinds of things happens to ladders as a result of what gets done to them. That looks just like what he said (and showed) could happen from letting a ladder tip be supported by the building it's raised to.
My recollection is that maybe it wouldn't happen right then and there, or maybe it would. But if the tension members of the truss were compromised from being put in compression at an earlier time, an incident could occur at a later time.
Anyone with good ladder physics knowledge have anything to contribute?
Stay safe out there, everyone goes home! |