<div dir="ltr"><div>Hi Tonya,</div><div>I think the kind of ladder you described in your message is sometimes called a "lift table ladder". We looked at some of these for getting down specimens and trays from our upper levels:</div><div><a href="https://www.cotterman.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/cotterman-ltl-3000.pdf">https://www.cotterman.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/cotterman-ltl-3000.pdf</a></div><div><br></div><div>However, we ended up going with a motorized "stock picker" for safety, speed, maneuverability, and height. The main disadvantage (other than cost) is that training is required for users (U-M has a permitting process). I normally use the <a href="https://bigjoeforklifts.com/products/joey">Big Joe J1 Joey</a> with the extra-large load platform and find it works quite well. The <a href="https://www.crown.com/en-us/forklifts/man-up-order-pickers/wav-wave-work-assist-vehicle.html">Crown WAV</a> is a smaller option we use occasionally.</div><div>Good luck!<br></div><div>-Adam</div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Fri, Mar 15, 2024 at 3:15 PM Bentley, Andrew Charles <<a href="mailto:abentley@ku.edu">abentley@ku.edu</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div class="msg-5593055540422907619">
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt">Tonya<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt">At various times we have used two different types of rolling ladders in our collections - the original ladders we bought for our wet collection facility some time ago now and a more recent ladder we bought
for our paleobotany space. Both have their pros and cons and we have learnt some lessons along the way:<u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<li class="m_-5593055540422907619MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt">Make sure that all four wheels can swivel. The more recent ladder we ordered only has one set of swivel wheels while the other set are fixed and it
is much less maneuverable making cornering and moving into tight spaces more difficult.<u></u><u></u></span></li><li class="m_-5593055540422907619MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt">Our wet collection ladders have weight induced stabilization (you step on it and springs in the wheels compress to stabilize it to the floor) while the
newer one has a kick mechanism that achieves the same. I have found the kick mechanism to be vey finicky and unreliable and much prefer the weight-based solution although, as John mentions, it needs to be calibrated correctly (and recalibrated over time)
to ensure that it works efficiently for all people weights.<u></u><u></u></span></li><li class="m_-5593055540422907619MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt">The bigger and bulkier the ladder the more stable it is but the less maneuverable it is so there is a trade off in what application you need the ladder.
If you are going to handling large, heavy trays or drawers you probably want something with a staging area at the top that will add weight to the ladder but will make handling those that much easier.<u></u><u></u></span></li></ol>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt">This is similar to our newer ladder -
<a href="https://www.uline.com/BL_3863/Rolling-Ladders?keywords=Rolling+Ladders" target="_blank">
https://www.uline.com/BL_3863/Rolling-Ladders?keywords=Rolling+Ladders</a><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt">This is similar to our wet collection ladders -
<a href="https://www.stokeslightingandelectric.com/brand-louisville-ladder/louisville-ladder-gsw2402/sku-V7778-gsw2402" target="_blank">
https://www.stokeslightingandelectric.com/brand-louisville-ladder/louisville-ladder-gsw2402/sku-V7778-gsw2402</a><u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt">Hope that helps<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt">Andy<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size:11pt"> A : A : A :<br>
}<(((_°>.,.,.,.}<(((_°>.,.,.,.}<)))_°><br>
V V V<br>
Andy Bentley<br>
Ichthyology Collection Manager<br>
University of Kansas<br>
Biodiversity Institute<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size:11pt">Dyche Hall<br>
</span><a><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size:11pt;color:rgb(5,99,193)">1345 Jayhawk Boulevard</span></a><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size:11pt"><br>
</span><a><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size:11pt;color:rgb(5,99,193)">Lawrence, KS, 66045-7561</span></a><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size:11pt"><br>
</span><a><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size:11pt;color:rgb(5,99,193)">USA</span></a><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size:11pt"><br>
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Tel: </span><a href="tel:%28785%29%20864-3863" target="_blank"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size:11pt;color:rgb(5,99,193)">(785) 864-3863</span></a><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size:11pt"><br>
Fax: </span><a href="tel:%28785%29%20864-5335" target="_blank"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size:11pt;color:rgb(5,99,193)">(785) 864-5335</span></a><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size:11pt"> <br>
Email: </span><a href="mailto:abentley@ku.edu" target="_blank"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size:11pt;color:rgb(5,99,193)">abentley@ku.edu</span></a><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size:11pt"> <u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt">ORCID: </span><a href="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3093-1258" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:rgb(5,99,193);background:white">https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3093-1258</span></a><span style="font-size:11pt;color:rgb(73,74,76);background:white"><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://ichthyology.biodiversity.ku.edu/" target="_blank"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size:11pt;color:rgb(5,99,193)">http://ichthyology.biodiversity.ku.edu</span></a><span style="font-size:11pt"><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt"> A : A : A :<br>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"> Nhcoll-l <<a href="mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces@mailman.yale.edu" target="_blank">nhcoll-l-bounces@mailman.yale.edu</a>>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>John E Simmons<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Thursday, March 14, 2024 9:08 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> Haff, Tonya (NCMI, Crace) <<a href="mailto:Tonya.Haff@csiro.au" target="_blank">Tonya.Haff@csiro.au</a>><br>
<b>Cc:</b> <a href="mailto:nhcoll-l@mailman.yale.edu" target="_blank">nhcoll-l@mailman.yale.edu</a><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [Nhcoll-l] Museum platform ladders<u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black">Tonya,<u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black">When the fluid preserved specimen facility at the University of Kansas was built, we were required (by the university safety office) to purchase safety ladders to access the upper
shelves. Although we thought these would be a problem, they actually worked very well and are still in use more than 25 years later. <u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black">The style we purchased are similar these--rolling ladders, with the wheels on springs, and a platform and railing:<u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.uline.com/Product/Detail/H-3132-24/Ladders/7-Step-Safety-Angle-Rolling-Ladder-Assembled-with-24-Top-Step?pricode=WA9521&gadtype=pla&id=H-3132-24&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwwMqvBhCtARIsAIXsZparSypH65kAU7w_vJjYfk1Ro-0LTxtfU-tfUQQYnbnynPmuOpXU-pUaAnCGEALw_wcB" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">https://www.uline.com/Product/Detail/H-3132-24/Ladders/7-Step-Safety-Angle-Rolling-Ladder-Assembled-with-24-Top-Step?pricode=WA9521&gadtype=pla&id=H-3132-24&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwwMqvBhCtARIsAIXsZparSypH65kAU7w_vJjYfk1Ro-0LTxtfU-tfUQQYnbnynPmuOpXU-pUaAnCGEALw_wcB</span></a><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black"><u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black">As Dirk mentioned, the most important thing is to match the ladder to the width of the aisles and the width of the area where the ladders are to be turned around. Even the narrow
25 inch wide ladders (such as are in use at KU) cannot be turned around within the aisle, but this is not a problem--just as with compactors, you quickly adjust your work habits to accommodate moving the ladders and opening and closing aisles. The ladders
need a fairly wide space to be turned around, so make sure the ladders you purchase will fit your space. We cut a shape of the base of a ladder out of cardboard and used that to make sure the ladders could be easily wheeled about and turned around in your
space.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black">Another important factor is to adjust the springs so that the weight of the lightest person using the ladders will cause them to settle on the floor. If they are adjusted for heavier
people only, the ladders can slide.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black">We also found that having the railing around the platform is very useful for moving boxes or, in your case, heavy trays.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black">If you have any questions about using safety ladders in your collection space, you might want to check with Andy Bentley at the University of Kansas, who has now used the ladders
longer than I did while there.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black">--John<u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">John E. Simmons<br>
Writer and Museum Consultant</span><u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">Museologica<br>
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Investigador Asociado, Departamento de Ornitologia<br>
Museo de Historia Natural, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima</span><u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">On Wed, Mar 13, 2024 at 8:27<span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"> </span>PM Haff, Tonya (NCMI, Crace) <<a href="mailto:Tonya.Haff@csiro.au" target="_blank">Tonya.Haff@csiro.au</a>> wrote:<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU">Hello again everyone,<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU"> <u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU">I am wondering if any of you have ladder recommendations that you would be willing to share. We are moving to new taller cabinetry for our study skins. The trays
are also quite heavy, as they are large and made of powder coat steel. I think I would like some ladders that have a moveable platform on them, in order to be able to retrieve trays from height and then lower them down mechanically. Ideally, they would also
be manoeuvrable so that we could easily get them down aisles and around corners in very full collection halls. Any thoughts or recommendations on something like this, or alternatives I should look into, would be greatly appreciated!<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU"> <u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU">Cheers,<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU"> <u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU">Tonya<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU"> <u></u><u></u></span></p>
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