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OSHA Safety Hazard Information Bulletin (1):
Certain Keller/Columbia Types I and IA Industrial Fiberglass Extension Ladders


September 27, 1996

MEMORANDUM FOR: REGIONAL ADMINISTRATORS
FROM: GREGORY J. BAXTER
Acting Director
Directorate of Technical Support
SUBJECT: Hazard Information Bulletin(1): Certain Keller/Columbia Types I and IA Industrial Fiberglass Extension Ladders
________
FOOTNOTE(1) The Directorate of Technical Support issues Hazard Information Bulletins (HIB) in accordance with OSHA Instruciton CPL 2.65 to provide relevant information regarding unrecognized or misunderstood heatlh hazards, inadequacies of materials, devices, techniques, and safety engineering controls. HIBs are intitated based on information provided by the field staff, studies, reports and concerns expressed by safety and health professionals, employers, and the public. Bulletins are developed based on a through evaluation of available facts and in coordination with appropriate parties.

Pursuant to a fatality investigation, the Boston Regional Office has brought to our attention a potential hazard of collapse of certain fiberglass extension ladders. The ladder in question is a Keller Model #5128, 28 ft fiberglass extension ladder with a type IA, 300 pound rating. It is one of 11 models sold under the trade names of Keller or Columbia, all of which may incorporate this particular characteristic. The manufacturer, Keller Industries, Inc., of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), has recalled all of these ladders with the CPSC Press Release # 96-095 issued on April 10, 1996. Since these are industrial extension ladders, it is important to make employers aware of this potentially hazardous condition.

On the ladder involved in the accident, a brace is utilized on each siderail and attached to the second rung at the top and bottom of the base section for additional support. The brace on the ladder can interfere with the operation of the rung locks on only one rung, the rung below the point of full extension (second rung from the top). The braces on other models may be installed on different rungs of the base section. Thus, under certain circumstances, when setting up the ladder, the rung locks may appear to be properly engaged when in fact, they are not. The ladder may collapse when sufficient weight is placed on it possibly causing the user to fall.

Employers must comply with the manufacturer's recall instructions and stop using the ladders immediately. Keller is offering a replacement ladder, refund of the purchase price or rung lock replacement. Keller is recalling 29,691 of these Types I and IA (heavy duty) industrial ladders.

The following ladders are the subject of this recall:

Trade Name Model No. Length Color Type Dates Manufactured Number Sold
Keller
Keller
Keller
Keller
Keller
Keller
Columbia
Columbia
Columbia
Columbia
Columbia		 5016
5028
5128
5132
5136
5140
FE4128
EF1028
EF1032
EF1036
EF1040		 16ft.
28ft.
28ft.
32ft.
36ft.
40ft.
28ft.
28ft.
32ft.
36ft.
40ft.		 Yellow
Yellow
Orange
Orange
Orange
Orange
Yellow
Orange
Orange
Orange
Orange		 I
I
IA
IA
IA
IA
I
IA
IA
IA
IA		 3/1/93-12/31/94
3/1/93-12/31/95
7/1/90-12/31/95
7/1/90-5/31/94
3/1/91-12/31/95
3/1/91-12/31/95
3/1/93-12/31/95
7/1/90-12/31/95
7/1/90-5/31/94
3/1/91-12/31/95
3/1/91-12/31/95		 635
1,533
19,283
5,353
221
367
40
1,103
677
151
328


Please distribute this bulletin to all Area Offices, State Plan States, Consultaion Project Offices, and appropriate labor and industry groups.