All three get you up to a high shelf. The difference is how long you stay up there and how often you move. Pick the wrong type and someone ends up stretching off the top step, which is exactly what you're trying to avoid.
Compact step ladders
The Little Monstar comes in 2, 3 and 4 step heights. It's aluminium, rated to 150 kg and light enough to carry from aisle to aisle, and rear roller castors let you wheel it along a run of shelving. A safety bracket at the top holds small tools.
It's built for quick reaches, like grabbing a box from the top shelf or swapping a label. For jobs where you stand up there for a while, a platform ladder is safer and more comfortable.
Platform ladders
A Monstar platform ladder gives you a checkerplate platform to stand on (700 × 400 mm on the 2 and 3 step), so both hands are free for the job. It wheels into position on retractable castors, then sits on rubber feet. Platform heights run from 0.57 m on the 2 step to 1.69 m on the 6 step, on a wide base with a fully welded frame.
They suit signage, lighting, stocktakes and maintenance: jobs where you're up there for minutes rather than seconds. Handrails and a safety gate are optional, and worth adding on the 4 step and above.
Order picker ladders
An order picker ladder is built for stepping on and off all shift. Its spring-loaded castors let it roll freely along an aisle, then settle onto the floor as soon as you put weight on the steps, so there's nothing to set between picks. A safety gate closes off the platform, the treads are ribbed and the aluminium frame is fully welded.
| Steps | Platform ladder | Order picker | Order picker working height |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0.57 m | 0.57 m | 0.92–2.3 m |
| 3 | 0.85 m | 0.84 m | 1.2–2.5 m |
| 4 | 1.13 m | 1.11 m | 1.5–2.8 m |
| 5 | 1.41 m | 1.39 m | 1.7–3.1 m |
| 6 | 1.69 m | 1.66 m | 2.0–3.4 m |
Platform heights shown. Every model is rated to 150 kg.
Which height?
Pick the ladder for the shelf you reach most often, not the highest one in the building. You want the work somewhere between your waist and your shoulders, and the working heights in the table are a good guide. On the 5 and 6 step models, check overhead clearance and aisle width before you order.
Only need a little extra height?
If about 375 mm is enough, a ladder is more than you need. The Monstar safety step weighs 3.5 kg and you can step on from any side. Our safety step guide compares it with the other two types.
The full Monstar range is under ladders and access.
