9.2: Ladder Safety Requirements

Falls from ladders account for 20 percent of all fatal and lost work-day injuries in general industry. The new rule includes requirements to protect workers from falling off fixed and portable ladders as well as mobile ladder stands and platforms. (The ladder requirements do not apply to ladders used in emergency operations or ladders that are an integral part of or designed into a machine or piece of equipment).

In general, ladders must be capable of supporting their maximum intended load, while mobile ladder stands and platforms must be capable of supporting four times their maximum intended load. Each ladder must be inspected before initial use in a work shift to identify defects that could cause injury.

All Ladders

The following rules apply to all ladders:

■ Maintain ladders free of oil, grease and other slipping hazards.

■ Do not load ladders beyond their maximum intended load nor beyond their manufacturer’s rated capacity.

■ Use ladders only for their designed purpose.

■ Use ladders only on stable and level surfaces unless secured to prevent accidental movement.

■ Do not use ladders on slippery surfaces unless secured or provided with slip-resistant feet to prevent accidental movement. Do not use slip resistant feet as a substitute for exercising care when placing, lashing or holding a ladder upon slippery surfaces.

■ Secure ladders placed in areas such as passageways, doorways or driveways, or where they can be displaced by workplace activities or traffic to prevent accidental movement. Or use a barricade to keep traffic or activity away from the ladder.

■ Keep areas clear around the top and bottom of ladders.

■ Do not move, shift or extend ladders while in use.

■ Use ladders equipped with nonconductive side rails if the worker or the ladder could contact exposed energized electrical equipment.

■ Face the ladder when moving up or down.

■ Use at least one hand to grasp the ladder when climbing.

■ Do not carry objects or loads that could cause loss of balance and falling.

In addition, the following general requirements apply to all ladders, including ladders built at the jobsite:

■ Double-cleated ladders or two or more ladders must be provided when ladders are the only way to enter or exit a work area where 25 or more employees work or when a ladder serves simultaneous two-way traffic.

■ Ladder rungs, cleats and steps must be parallel, level and uniformly spaced when the ladder is in position for use.

■ Rungs, cleats and steps of portable and fixed ladders (except as provided below) must not be spaced less than 10 inches (25 cm) apart, nor more than 14 inches (36 cm) apart, along the ladder’s side rails.

■ Rungs, cleats and steps of step stools must not be less than 8 inches (20 cm) apart, nor more than 12 inches (31 cm) apart, between center lines of the rungs, cleats and steps.

■ Rungs, cleats and steps at the base section of extension trestle ladders must not be less than 8 inches (20 cm) nor more than 18 inches (46 cm) apart, between center lines of the rungs, cleats and steps. The rung spacing on the extension section must not be less than 6 inches (15 cm) nor more than 12 inches (31 cm).

■ Ladders must not be tied or fastened together to create longer sections unless they are specifically designed for such use.

■ When splicing side rails, the resulting side rail must be equivalent in strength to a one-piece side rail made of the same material.

■ Two or more separate ladders used to reach an elevated work area must be offset with a platform or landing between the ladders, except when portable ladders are used to gain access to fixed ladders.

■ Ladder components must be surfaced to prevent snagging of clothing and injury from punctures or lacerations.

■ Wood ladders must not be coated with any opaque covering except for identification or warning labels, which may be placed only on one face of a side rail.

Stepladders

A stepladder is a portable, self-supporting, A-frame ladder. It has two front side rails and two rear side rails. Generally, there are steps mounted between the front side rails and bracing between the rear side rails. Do not use the top or top step of a stepladder as a step. Do not use cross bracing on the rear section of stepladders for climbing unless the ladders are designed and provided with steps for climbing on both front and rear sections. Metal spreader or locking devices must be provided on stepladders to hold the front and back sections in an open position when ladders are being used.

Fixed Ladders

Fixed ladders are permanently attached to a structure, building, or equipment. These include individual-rung ladders, but not ship stairs, step bolts, or manhole steps. Fixed ladders must meet the following requirements: Fixed ladders must be able to support at least two loads of 250 pounds (114 kg) each, concentrated between any two consecutive attachments. Fixed ladders also must support added anticipated loads caused by ice buildup, winds, rigging and impact loads resulting from using ladder safety devices. Individual rung/step ladders must extend at least 42 inches (1.1 m) above an access level or landing platform either by the continuation of the rung spacings as horizontal grab bars or by providing vertical grab bars that must have the same lateral spacing as the vertical legs of the ladder rails. Each step or rung of a fixed ladder must be able to support a load of at least 250 pounds (114 kg) applied in the middle of the step or rung. Minimum clear distance between the sides of individual rung/step ladders and between the side rails of other fixed ladders must be 16 inches (41 cm). Rungs of individual rung/step ladders must be shaped to prevent slipping off the end of the rungs. Rungs and steps of fixed metal ladders manufactured after March 15, 1991, must be corrugated, knurled, dimpled, coated with skid-resistant material or treated to minimize slipping. Minimum perpendicular clearance between fixed ladder rungs, cleats, and steps and any obstruction behind the ladder must be 7 inches (18 cm), except that the clearance for an elevator pit ladder must be 4.5 inches (11 cm). Minimum perpendicular clearance between the centerline of fixed ladder rungs, cleats and steps, and any obstruction on the climbing side of the ladder must be 30 inches (76 cm). If obstructions are unavoidable, clearance may be reduced to 24 inches (61 cm), provided a deflection device is installed to guide workers around the obstruction. Step-across distance between the center of the steps or rungs of fixed ladders and the nearest edge of a landing area must be no less than 7 inches (18 cm) and no more than 12 inches (30 cm). A landing platform must be provided if the step-across distance exceeds 12 inches (30 cm).

Fixed ladders without cages or wells must have at least a 15-inch (38 cm) clearance width to the nearest permanent object on each side of the centerline of the ladder. Fixed ladders must be provided with cages, wells, ladder safety devices or self-retracting lifelines where the length of climb is less than 24 feet (7.3 m) but the top of the ladder is at a distance greater than 24 feet (7.3 m) above lower levels. Side rails of through or side-step fixed ladders must extend 42 inches (1.1 m) above the top level or landing platform served by the ladder. Parapet ladders must have an access level at the roof if the parapet is cut to permit passage through it. If the parapet is continuous, the access level is the top of the parapet. Steps or rungs for through-fixed-ladder extensions must be omitted from the extension; and the extension of side rails must be flared to provide between 24 inches (61 cm) and 30 inches (76 cm) clearance between side rails. When safety devices are provided, the maximum clearance distance between side rail extensions must not exceed 36 inches (91 cm). Fixed ladders must be used at a pitch no greater than 90 degrees from the horizontal, measured from the back side of the ladder.

Portable ladders usually consist of side rails joined at intervals by steps, rungs, or cleats. They can be self-supporting or lean against a supporting structure. The final rule will be easier for employers and workers to understand and follow because it uses flexible performance-based language instead of detailed specification and design requirements. Under the revisions, employers must ensure that: rungs and steps are slip resistant; portable ladders used on slippery surfaces are secured and stabilized; portable ladders are not moved, shifted, or extended while a worker is on them; top steps and caps of stepladders are not used as steps; ladders are not fastened together to provide added length unless designed for such use; and ladders are not placed on boxes, barrels, or other unstable bases to obtain added height.

The minimum clear distance between side rails for all portable ladders must be 11.5 inches (29 cm). In addition, the rungs and steps of portable metal ladders must be corrugated, knurled, dimpled, coated with skid-resistant material or treated to minimize slipping. Non-self-supporting and self-supporting portable ladders must support at least four times the maximum intended load; extra heavy-duty type 1A metal or plastic ladders must sustain 3.3 times the maximum intended load. To determine whether a self-supporting ladder can sustain a certain load, apply the load to the ladder in a downward vertical direction with the ladder placed at a horizontal angle of 75.5 degrees. When portable ladders are used for access to an upper landing surface, the side rails must extend at least 3 feet (.9 m) above the upper landing surface. When such an extension is not possible, the ladder must be secured and a grasping device such as a grab rail must be provided to assist workers in mounting and dismounting the ladder. A ladder extension must not deflect under a load that would cause the ladder to slip off its supports.

Extension Ladders

Also known as “portable ladders,” extension ladders usually have two sections that operate in brackets or guides allowing for adjustable lengths. Because extension ladders are not self-supporting they require a stable structure that can withstand the intended load. Workers who use extension ladders risk permanent injury or death from falls and electrocutions. These hazards can be eliminated or substantially reduced by following good safety practices.

Portable Ladder Safety

The OSHA Standard for portable ladders contains specific requirements designed to ensure worker safety:

Loads: Self-supporting (foldout) and non-self-supporting (leaning) portable ladders must be able to support at least four times the maximum intended load, except extra-heavy-duty metal or plastic ladders, which must be able to sustain 3.3 times the maximum intended load.

Angle: Non-self-supporting ladders, which must lean against a wall or other support, are to be positioned at such an angle that the horizontal distance from the top support to the foot of the ladder is about ¹⁄₄ the working length of the ladder. In the case of job-made wooden ladders, that angle should equal about ¹⁄₈ the working length. This minimizes the strain of the load on ladder joints that may not be as strong as on commercially manufactured ladders.

Rungs: Ladder rungs, cleats, or steps must be parallel, level, and uniformly spaced when the ladder is in position for use. Rungs must be spaced between 10"-14" inches apart. For extension trestle ladders, the spacing must be 8"-18" inches for the base, and 6"-12" inches on the extension section. Rungs must be so shaped that an employee's foot cannot slide off and must be skid-resistant.

Slipping: Ladders are to be kept free of oil, grease, wet paint, and other slipping hazards. Wood ladders must not be coated with any opaque covering, except identification or warning labels on one face only of a side rail.

Other Requirements: Foldout or stepladders must have a metal spreader or locking device to hold the front and back sections in an open position when in use. When two or more ladders are used to reach a work area, they must be offset with a landing or platform between the ladders. The area around the top and bottom of ladder must be kept clear. Ladders must not be tied or fastened together to provide longer sections, unless they are specifically designed for such use. Never use a ladder for any purpose other than the one for which it was designed.

Misuse of Portable Ladders

You risk falling if portable ladders are not safely positioned each time they are used. While you are on a ladder, it may move and slip from its supports. You can also lose your balance while getting on or off an unsteady ladder. Falls from ladders can cause injuries ranging from sprains to death.

How Do I Avoid Hazards? Position portable ladders so the side rails extend at least 3 feet above the landing. Secure side rails at the top to a rigid support and use a grab device when 3-foot extension is not possible. Make sure that the weight on the ladder will not cause it to slip off its support. Before each use inspect ladders for cracked or broken parts such as rungs, steps, side rails, feet and locking components. Do not apply more weight on the ladder than it is designed to support. Use only ladders that comply with OSHA design standards.