Roof ladder, yes or no?

myredracer wrote:
I vote no. A vertical ladder just isn't safe compared to a portable extension ladder. An extension ladder should be at an angle based on the 4 to 1 rule - 1 foot out for every 4' in height and should be min. 3' above the roof. OSHA ladder safety- same in Canada. Falls from ladders are a leading cause of worker injuries from mild to death and doesn't have to be a tall ladder to get seriously injured. Same with homeowners too. I fell off a 6' stepladder 20 years and still have hip pain and can't sleep on one side. I can't imagine how difficult it would be to climb up to the roof on a fixed vertical RV ladder and get yourself over and onto the roof surface - worse going down too. Do RV ladders have an ANSI duty/safety rating or is it from RVIA?

Consider safety first. Use a quality extension ladder. The only time I use ours is for cleaning and putting the cover on which gets done at home. DW works at our workers comp. board (WorksafeBC) and she won't even let me use a step stool without a hardhat and fall restraint. :( Having said the above, a factory ladder on an RV is great for hanging a tote tank, bike. etc. :)

The reason for the 4 to 1 rule has nothing to do with safety of vertical vs angle, it has to do with the safety of the 'non-fixed' ladder falling backwards if the angle is too steep. A fixed vertical ladder is always safer then a non-fixed ladder of ANY angle. You forget to mention possible side to side issues with an extension ladder, or the fact that a telescoping ladder is NOT the same as an ANSI rated extension ladder.

I would always trust a fixed ladder to a non-fixed ladder. That being said, you made some valid points about the actual safety rating of the fixed ladder... they are clearly not designed or load tested to the same standards as a proper extension ladder.