Environmental Health & Safety

Ladder Safety Self-Study Unit

INTRODUCTION

The chief hazard when using a ladder is falling. A poorly designed, maintained, or improperly used ladder may collapse under the load placed upon it and cause the employee to fall.

A ladder is an appliance consisting of two side rails joined at regular intervals by crosspieces on which a person may step to ascend or descend.

Stepladder – A self-supporting portable ladder, non-adjustable in length, having flat steps and hinged back.

Single Ladder – A non self-supporting portable ladder, nonadjustable in length, consisting of but one section. Its size is designed by overall length of the side rail.

Extension Ladder – A non self-supporting portable ladder adjustable in length.

Portable stepladders longer than 20 feet shall not be used.

Stepladders shall be equipped with a metal spreader or locking device of sufficient size and strength to securely hold the front and back sections in open position.

Single ladders longer than 30 feet shall not be used.

Extension ladders longer than 60 feet shall not be used.

Ladders shall be maintained in good condition at all times.

Ladders shall be inspected frequently and those which have developed defects shall be tagged or marked (Dangerous, Do Not Use) and removed from service for repair or destruction.

Proper use of ladders is essential in preventing accidents. Even a good ladder can be a serious safety hazard when used by workers in a dangerous way.

OSHA standards require the following safety precautions for ladder use:

• Ladders shall be placed with a secure footing, even surface when possible, or they shall be tied off at the top, middle, and bottom to prevent slipping.

• Ladders used to gain access to the roof or other area shall extend at least three feet above the roof it provides a point of support when stepping on the roof.

• The foot of a ladder shall have a horizontal distance from the top support to the foot of the ladder one-quarter of the working length of the ladder.  Divide the length of the building from the ground to the top support by four. 

  If the top of the ladder is at sixteen (16) feet, and the ladder extends to twenty (20) feet, the base should be four (4) feet from the building.

  The base of the ladder should be placed so that it is one foot away from the building for every four feet of hight to where the ladder rests against the building.  This is known as the 4 to 1 rule.

• The worker shall always face the ladder when climbing up or down.

• Short ladders shall not be spliced together to make long ladders.

• Ladders shall never be used in the horizontal position as scaffolds or work platforms.

• The top of a regular stepladder shall not be used as a step.

• Use both hands when climbing or descending ladders.

• Metal ladders shall never be used near electrical equipment.

We would like to assess your learning and also document  your participation in this self study.  To do this,, we have provided a short multiple choice test.  To take this test, you may click on the highlighted Post Test now.