


The ladder safety guidelines within your organization should include a system for inspecting and maintaining ladders and taking them out of commission when necessary. Whose responsibility is it to keep ladders in good condition? Hint – it’s not up to each employee. Now that we’ve covered some of the types of ladders OSHA recognizes, how can employers ensure that employees use them safely? Below, we cover five crucial ladder safety guidelines and their corresponding OSHA ladder safety rules and standards from. In addition, these ladders cannot move while employees are on them, and the base frame must encompass the standing area of the mobile ladder system. Mobile ladder stands and platforms must be slip-resistant and capable of supporting four times their max load. Mobile Ladder Stands and Mobile Ladder Stand Platforms The steps need to have skid-resistant material or design and some locking mechanism to ensure the ladder system doesn’t adjust while someone is using it. This can include self-supporting variants or ladders that must lean against a structure. Portable ladders refer to side rails with rungs, steps, or cleats joining them. Ladder steps need to be seven inches from the object they’re mounted to, and grab bars must extend three and a half feet above the above surface to which they lead.

Fixed Laddersįixed ladders generally are permanently secured to equipment, buildings, and structures. Title 29 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 1910.23 helps break down OSHA guidelines for ladders on a high level.23 covers the application of its rules, general requirements for all ladders (minus those used in rescue, firefighting, and tactical law enforcement), and specifics about fixed ladders, portable ladders, and mobile ladder stands and platforms. Did you know that 20% of lost work-day and fatal workplace injuries are caused by ladder falls in general industry? This article attempts to cover some core ladder safety standards that can help keep your employees safe while avoiding OSHA fines and penalties. OSHA ladder safety rules are a popular topic, and rightly so.
