OSHA Ladder Safety Requirements (1926.1053): What NJ, NY & PA Contractors Need to Know
Choose the ladder for the task
Before anyone climbs, check the task, access point, load and work area. The ladder should be in good condition, suited to the job and set up where it will not be displaced by traffic or other work.
Set the angle and access point
For a non-self-supporting portable ladder, OSHA calls for a horizontal distance from the top support to the foot of about one-quarter of the ladder’s working length. That is commonly called the 4:1 rule. When a portable ladder provides access to an upper landing, its side rails generally extend at least 3 feet above the landing. If the ladder’s length prevents that, the standard calls for securing the top to a rigid support and providing a grasping device.
Use ladders on stable, level surfaces unless they are secured against displacement. Keep the area at the top and bottom clear. Do not move, shift or extend a ladder while it is occupied. The standard also requires nonconductive side rails when the worker or ladder could contact exposed energized electrical equipment.
Inspect and remove damaged ladders
Under 29 CFR 1926.1053(b)(15), a competent person inspects ladders for visible defects periodically and after any event that could affect safe use. The rule does not set a daily inspection schedule. Portable ladders with structural defects must be marked or tagged as defective and withdrawn from service until repaired.
Put the checks in your procedure
- Confirm the ladder type and rated capacity suit the task and expected load.
- Check rails, rungs, feet, locks and other parts for visible damage before use.
- Plan where the ladder will stand, how it will be secured and how workers will step on and off.
- Keep ladders clear of traffic and exposed electrical hazards, or use the protections required for those conditions.
- Make sure workers know how to report a damaged ladder and keep it out of service.
If you are reviewing a written safety program or toolbox talk, Mike can start with the work your company performs and the documents you already use. Request a free 30-minute preliminary consultation to discuss the scope.