The International Roofing Expo (IRE) and METALCON trade shows have always been an excellent venue to demonstrate the Level Rite Ladder Safety Tools.    Our next show is at Metalcon 2010 on October 20-22, 2010 in the Las Vegas Convention Center.  Visit Booth 1876 to see new and innovative ladder safety tools manufactured only by Level Rite.

New on the market are 5 styles (sold as "packages") of Material Transports that move materials, supplies and solar panels from the ground level to the roof eave or from the roof eave to the roof ridge.

LEVEL RITE LLC manufactures (4) ladder roof anchors: a Ladder Ridge Anchor, a Portable Tether/Ladder Roof Anchor, A Quick-Release Ladder Anchor, and a small Ladder Roof Anchor.  Also available are (2) ladder levelers - a (construction) Single Leg Leveler and a Dual-Leg Leveler available for nationwide distribution. Almost all of the tools have add-on accessories that expand the usefulness of the tools.  These tools make the work environment safer, contribute to productivity which improves a company's "bottom line". (see below the highlighted comments from satisfied consumers.) More recently (see tab labeled Material Transport) a Rooftop Material Transport (patent pending) was designed to move material up a roof using the worker's own ladder.  The ladder is suspended by a Portable Tether/Ladder Roof Anchor (see above) that holds the ladder at the pitch of the roof.  This Transport has recently been modified to accomodate the movement of solar panels, either from the ground to the roof eave OR from the roof eave to the roof pitch. Several accessories expand the usefulness of the Transport(s).

A Little History......

       LEVEL RITE LLC was formed in 2003 by Berle and Kay Blehm, and is available for a licensing contract to a qualified business.  Berle has designed 8 new and unique ladder safety tools that have never been on the market.  Berle has filed 5 patents and two patent-pending applications. Most of the tools that Berle designed, feature add-on "accessories" (sold separate) that expand the usefulness of the tool(s).        

Berle and Kay Blehm, Owners, Level Rite Ladder Safety Tools 

  

Berle began working on ladder safety after watching a man paint his house that was situated on a hillside.  The tilted ladder was precariously balanced on a block, and the painter was in jeopardy of falling.  Blehm decided that there had to be a better way, so he designed a (mechanical) adjustable Ladder Leveler.   The Leveler is made of industrial-stength 6061 T6 (aircraft) aluminum, can be easily installed on a fiberglass or aluminum ladder, and stores on the ladder until needed  It does not interfere with the ladder shoe (foot) or the mechanisms on an extension ladder - and there is no need to remove the original shoe of the ladder.  This sturdy tool can be transferred to the next new ladder, when the old ladder needs to be replaced.

       CONSUMERS who have purchased the product appreciate the mechanical feature of the Level Rite Ladder Leveler.  Some had used the automatic and semi-automatic ladder levelers that are on the market, but most have gears and  "teeth" that wear.   Some "clog" and become useless appendages because rocks and dirt get inside the mechanism. 

      Kurt Meelheim, Operations Supervisor for Comcast Cable Co. in Grass Valley, CA wrote, "The addition of Level Rite ladder levelers to my teams twenty eight foot span ladders was welcomed with an overwhelming good response from my technicians. 

Christopher Ragan, owner of Christopher's Painting Service in East Carbon, Utah writes: "I'm honored to endorse such a safe, quality product.  I have two adjustable ladder levelers and one Ladder Roof Anchor.  Everytime I use one or both, I'm amazed about how safe I feel, and thank the people at Level Rite for these products."

     

       HOMEOWNERS and INTERIOR DECORATORS said that they needed a ladder leveler around the house, but didn't want to spend too much on a tool that they would  use only a few times a year.  Blehm modified the (single-leg) Ladder Leveler into a Dual-Leg Leveler that is affordable for the homeowner and for contractors. This Leveler has is mounted on both ladder rails.  The (9") leg is easily transferred from one side to the other, and the tool stores on the ladder, until needed.  A Leveler "accessory" (purchased separate), adds an additional 8" extension onto the leveler leg for those hard to reach areas, such as a stairwell.

       A ROOFER watched Blehm demonstrate the adjustable Ladder Leveler at his worksite.  He said, "If you want to invent something else, .....make something that holds the ladder to the top of the roof!"  Taking up the challenge, Blehm developed and patented the portable Ladder Roof Anchor.  This tool anchors the ladder to the roof ridge and, in many instances, replaces the common fireman hooks.  It is easy to install, adjusts to any roof pitch, and securely anchors the ladder.

      THIS SAFETY DEVICE was well-received, but  roofers began to recall to Blehm their frightening experiences when working on extremely steep roofs.  It was difficult to climb safely to the ridge of the roof and - once there - finding something stable to "tie off" their safety lanyards.  Blehm spent the next 5 months redesigning, strengthening and testing the portable Ladder Roof Anchor to serve as a fall protection device and serve as a Portable Tether (fall arrest and fall restraint).  The Portable Tether can be used as a Ladder Roof Anchor (see above) on any pitch roof, but also as a portable tether/anchor on a 12/12 pitch roof or steeper, when used in conjunction with an approved safety lanyard, soft stop and safety harness.  It has been tested to meet fall arrest/fall restraint guidelines provided by OSHA, ANSI, and NFPA.

     THE Ladder Ridge Anchor was designed to meet the needs of a metal roofing contractor.  The ladder that he was using would get in the way as he placed pans up the (narrowing) valley of a roof.  The Ladder Ridge Anchor works as an independent tool (not attached to a ladder) and is placed on the ridge line first.  Then a ladder is brought up and the rung of the ladder is placed in to the hooks (recepticals) on the tool, securing the ladder to the ridge line.  The ladder may be moved up vertically at any time to "shorten" the bottom of the ladder as one works up a valley.  It is also useful when working past an apperture on the roof such as a chimney, solar panels, air conditioner, etc. This tool is not designed for fall protection.

David Mackey (photo below) of Mackey Metal Roofing Company in Champlain, NY wrote an e-mail in July, 2007.  He said, "I'm six stories up on a ladder, and using the Ladder Ridge Anchor.  Wow!  What a beautifully designed and ingenious product!"

        

       

       TESTING the safety devices was an important step to improving the work environment for contractors, roofers, painters, installers, homeowners and more.....  The Ladder Leveler was tested for strength by Certified Testing and Consulting in Lincoln, CA., using the guidelines for ladders provided by ANSI and OSHA.  The Leveler performed dramatically well, because of the engineering and the superior quality of the materials that were used to produce them.  The Portable Tether was tested by the National Hose Testing Specialities, Inc. (certified to test fireman hose and ladders) in Dallas, Oregon to meet guidelines provided by OSHA, ANSI and NFPA.  An Oregon OSHA Safety Engineer said "Finally there is a tool for the FIRST MAN UP.  Now the contractor has a tool that a worker can use to go from the ground safely to the pitch of a roof, do the required work, and return safely to the ground". 

 MEETINGS with California OSHA in March and June 2005, Oregon OSHA in April 2005, Washington OSHA in June 2005 and Michigan OSHA in August 2006, have resulted in favorable comments from OSHA safety engineers. 

         The Rooftop Material Transport that "rides the rails" of your ladder to transport roofing material and tools, was introduced at the International Roofing Expo in Reno, NV in February 2009. 

        Consumers using the Level Rite products have often written to express their satisfaction with the quality and durability of the products.  Substantial effort in bringing these new (and in most instances) one-of-a-kind ladder safety tools to market, supports the on-going commitment by LEVEL RITE to help contractors improve safety on the job.

LEVEL RITE LADDER SAFETY TOOLS are designed to put.............

SAFETY AT YOUR FEET

LEVEL RITE, LLC, 3120 Foothill Blvd., Oroville, CA 95966              Ph (530) 534-6000      e-mail  bgblehm@comcast.net    See Terms/policies

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