"Please Read"

     I established this web-site because I believe that many others have been hurt by this ladder design.  Please understand that I am not an attorney or any legal entity, but a victim.  I want the manufacturer to re-evaluate their product design to protect the safety of the consumer.  I am a married father with two children. My oldest  just turned three. Walking is very painful and the quality of my life has drastically changed.   All my recreational hobbies I enjoyed before, I can't do! 

     On March of 2004 I was repairing the trim on my house when standing on the ladder about 16 feet above the ground when the ladder abruptly dropped down about an inch starting a chain of events leading to my injuries.  I see it as cause and effect.  In my opinion the cause of the ladder kicking out was directly related to the initial drop at the Shu-Lok base causing the Shu-Lok to become dislodged and unsafely repositioned.  The effect was how the ladder unsafely without my control attempted to reposition itself. It is important to consider all factors and not just one by it self to fully understand my concerns that lead to my horrific injuries.

     The first would relate to basic physics in regard to equilibrium. Think of it as balancing a pencil on your finger and how weight position is vital. In my case the higher I climbed up the ladder the equilibrium changed and causes more force to be displaced against the structure of my home and pressure is dispersed differently at the Shu-Lok base.  I believe the ladders initial drop followed immediately by a unsafe repositioned Shu-base configuration combined with my weight distribution caused enough downwards force resulting in a KICK-OUT motion.  This initiated the ladder to slide

away from my house with myself on it. As a result this ladder design can fail causing a person like myself or others to fall and become seriously injured. In my situation it resulted in at least a 16-foot fall upon my concrete driveway, breaking both wrist and shattering my left kneecap into at  east five pieces.

     On the day of the injury I was using my Werner fiberglass extension ladder utilizing the Shu-Lok ladder feet base pictured at the bottom and on the following page (Accident Scene).  In my opinion the ladder malfunctioned. It is also my Opinion the Manufacturer the Werner Ladder Company was informed and aware of potential hazards of the Shu-Lok base foot design and the groves that the bolt could and will catch on. The pictures at the bottom of the page will demonstrate the groves and the catching point that could result in serious injuries or even death to an unsuspecting victim.

     The CPSC is aware of this hazard of the Werner/Keller Shu-Lok base and my question remains the same. How many injuries or deaths does it take before reform becomes a reality?

I rejected Werner's offer 3 times for their lack of product safety concerns.

     Werner's Senior Counsel David Stankovich on numerous occasions in April, May and June  told me he has never herd of

any incidents similar to mine regarding the ladders Shu-Lok system or its bolts catching in the Shu-Lok groves or any injuries

resulting from this design.  I was the first!  According to e-mails and U.S. government documentation I do believe he was full

of (@X@X@X) with his statement. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reports to all manufactures regarding

complaints and injuries.  I have documented complaints from the CPSC regarding inquires of the safety and merits of the product

in question. 

     The horrific issue at hand was why Werner's senior Counsel  David Stankovich discounted the merits of my

accident even though the CPSC in 2003 reported to Werner regarding a Keller ladder with the Shu-Lok base

foot (For reference Werner owns Keller) a very similar accident as mine with similar problems including the

victims statement and pictures that could present questionable validity of the design in question.

THE TOP THREE QUESTIONS ASKED

     1) Is Werner aware of my safety concerns? Yes, Werner is aware of my safety concerns and

could work directly with me to correct the safety issues, but they choose not to talk with me.

     2) Are retailers and distributors aware of this problem? Yes, many of them are fully aware

and have even visited this site, but at this time I will not provide contact names on the Internet.

One of my goals is that (CSR) Corporate Social Responsibility with Werner and their distributors

will help regulate themselves.

     3) Do I have better documentation of the problem area?  Yes, I have more defined pictures and

a video demonstration of the area of concern.  The video demonstrates a brand new Werner

fiberglass extension ladder placed against a house with a person standing on it while it is caught

in a groove.

     We all know ladder safety and training is extremely important, but selling a accident waiting to happen

is outrageous.

     Question the retailers such as: Lowe's (336-658-4000), Grainger (847-535-1000)

Sam's Club (888-746-7726) and Menards (715-876-5911) and ask them their view on (CSR)   

Corporate Social Responsibility. Profits are nice but not when consumer safety is at risk! 

     Home Depot stopped selling Werner Ladders and sells in my opinion a better and safer foot

design with the Louisville Ladder and I just thank God for Corporate Social Responsibility. 

 HERE ARE TWO BRAND NEW 11/2004 WERNER LADDERS BOTH USING THE SHU-LOK FOOT SYSTEM PICTURED BELOW.

PLEASE NOTICE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BOTH THE WERNER FIBERGLASS AND WERNER

ALUMINUM EXTENSION LADDERS PICTURED ABOVE.  (CURVED ARCH)

Additional pictures can be seen at "Competitors or Home page"