Ladder
Safety |
|
OSHA
If you have
questions about lader safety requirements, contact your local or state
OSHA office (in the U.S.) or CPWR – Center for Construction Research and Training,
301-578-8500. |
The most recent accident
statistics suggest that the working men and women in America abuse and
misuse ladders in the workplace as a rule rather than an exception.
These accidents can
be avoided. The fact is, a ladder is one of the simplest most easy-to-use
tools in the construction industry.
Under the provisions
of 29 CFR 1926, Sub Part X employers must provide a training program to
reach employees using ladders. The training must enable each employee
to recognize hazards related to ladders. This training must be conducted
by a competent person as per 29 CFR 1926.
Most ladder accidents
are the result of careless or improper ladder usage, making a well-designed
and well-taught ladder safety program well worth the effort.
The following information
serves as a quick and easy reference for employers and employees on the
requirements of the OSHA regulations and some learned common sense rules
for the safe use of ladders.
INTRODUCTION
To use ladders safely
and effectively, craftsmen must:
- Know the rules
of ladder safety.
- Observe these
rules at all times.
Remember that practically
all falls from ladders can be traced to using them in an unsafe manner.
When a fall occurs, the person who falls usually gets hurt. This means
that you must observe ladder safety rules because you are the one who
will get hurt if you don't. Others may be injured also.
OSHA requires that
safe equipment be furnished for use. But it is the responsibility of the
user to USE THIS SAFE EQUIPMENT SAFELY. A fall from a ladder can kill.
It can disable a person for the rest of their life. Or it can injure him
so severely that his earning power is cut off for a long time. None of
these are happy prospects. They can be avoided by working safely on and
around ladders.
TECHNICAL INFORMATION
Ladder safety begins
with the selection of the proper ladder for the job and includes inspection,
setup, proper climbing and standing, proper use, care, and storage. In
addition to the general safety rules for all ladders there are special
rules for using stepladders and for single and extension ladders.
These safety rules
are a combination of OSHA regulations and proven commonsense procedures.
This combination of safe equipment and its safe use can eliminate most
ladder accidents.
General Safety
Rules for All Ladders
Ladder Selection
- Be sure the ladder
being used has the proper duty rating to carry the combined weight of
the user and the material being installed.
- A ladder's duty
rating tells you its maximum weight capacity. There are four categories
of duty ratings:
Type
IA
These ladders have a duty rating of 300 pounds. Type IA ladders
are recommended for extra-heavy-duty industrial use. |
Type
I
These ladders have a duty rating of 250 pounds. Type I ladders
are manufactured for heavy-duty use. |
Type
II
These ladders have a duty rating of 225 pounds. Type II ladders
are approved for medium-duty use. |
Type
III
These ladders have a duty rating of 200 pounds. Type III ladders
are rated for light-duty use. |
- Type IA and
Type I ladders are the only acceptable ladders on a construction jobsite.
- The American
National Standards Institute (ANSI) requires that a duty rating sticker
be placed on the side of every ladder so users can determine if they
have the correct type ladder for each task/job.
- Be sure that
metal steps and rungs are grooved or roughened to prevent slipping.
Use the proper
size ladder for the job. The average craftsman will generally work most
comfortably at his shoulder level, which is about 5 feet above where he
stands. Since the craftsman must stand at least 2 feet down from the top
of a ladder, the maximum working height would be about 3 feet above the
top of the ladder or 5 feet minus 2 feet. For example, a 5-foot stepladder
would give an effective working height of 8 feet or 5 feet plus 3 feet.
When using straight or extension ladders, the craftsman stands 3 feet
down from the top, which gives an effective working height of 2 feet above
the ladder top.
Ladder Inspection
- Always check a
ladder before using it. Inspect wood ladders for cracks and splits in
the wood. Check all ladders to see that steps or rungs are tight and secure.
Be sure that all hardware and fittings are properly and securely attached.
Test movable parts to see that they operate without binding or without
too much free play. Inspect metal and fiberglass ladders for bends and
breaks.
- Never use a damaged
ladder. Tag it "Defective" and report it to the boss so that
it may be removed from the job.
Ladder Setup
- Place ladder feet
firmly and evenly on the ground or floor. Make sure the ladder is sitting
straight and secure before climbing it. If one foot sits in a low spot,
build up the surface with firm material.
- Do not try to
make a ladder reach farther by setting it on boxes, barrels, bricks, blocks
or other unstable bases.
- Do not allow ladders to lean sideways. Level them before using.
- Brace the foot of
the ladder with stakes or place stout boards against the feet if there
is any danger of slipping.
- Never set up
or use a ladder in a high wind, especially a lightweight metal or fiberglass
type. Wait until the air is calm enough to insure safety.
- Never set up
a ladder in front of a door unless the door is locked or a guard is
posted.
- Do not use ladders
on ice or snow unless absolutely necessary. If they must be used on
ice or snow, use spike or spur-type safety shoes on the ladder feet
and be sure they are gripping properly before climbing.
- Use Safety shoes
on ladder feet whenever there is any possibility of slipping.
Ladder Climbing
and Standing
- Keep the steps
and rungs of ladders free of grease, oil, wet paint, mud, snow, ice, paper
and other slippery materials. Also clean such debris off your shoes before
climbing a ladder.
- Always face a
ladder when climbing up or down. Use both hands and maintain a secure
grip on the rails or rungs.
- Never carry heavy
or bulky loads up a ladder. Climb up yourself first, and then pull up
the material with a rope.
- Climb and stand
on a ladder with your feet in the center of the steps or rungs.
- Do not overreach
from a ladder, or lean too far to one side. Overreaching is probably the
most common cause of falls from ladders. A good rule is to always keep
your belt buckle inside the rails of a ladder. Work as far as you can
reach comfortably and safely, then move the ladder to a new position.
- Never climb onto
a ladder from the side, from above the top or from one ladder to another.
- Never slide down
a ladder.
Proper Use of
Ladders
- Never use metal
ladders around exposed electrical wiring. Metal ladders should be marked
with tags or stickers reading "CAUTION-Do Not Use Around Electrical
Equipment" or similar wording. RULE of THUMB: If the overhead power
line is 50 kV or less, then stay at least 10 feet away. For everything
else, keep at least 35 feet away.
- When using a ladder where there is traffic, erect warning signs or
barricades to guide traffic away from the foot of the ladder. If this
is not possible, have someone hold and guard the bottom of the ladder.
- Do not try to
move a ladder while you are on it by rocking, jogging or pushing it away
from a supporting wall.
- Never use a ladder
when under the influence of alcohol, on drugs or medication, or in ill
health.
- If you get sick,
dizzy or panicky while on a ladder, do not try to climb down in a hurry.
Wait. Drape your arms around the rungs; rest your head against the ladder
until you feel better. Then climb down slowly and carefully.
- Do not leave tools
or materials on top of ladders. If they fall on you, you can be hurt.
If they fall on someone else, your company can be sued.
- Never push or
pull anything sideways while on a ladder. This puts a side load on the
ladder and can cause it to tip out from under you.
- Allow only one
person at a time on a ladder unless the ladder is specifically designed
for two people.
- Never use a ladder
as a horizontal platform, plank, scaffold or material hoist.
- Be cautious about
homemade ladders. Never use ladders made by fastening cleats across a
single narrow rail, post or pole.
- Never use a ladder
on a scaffold platform. If you need to reach higher, the scaffold should
be higher.
Proper Ladder
Care and Storage
- Maintain ladders
in good condition.
- Keep all ladder
accessories, especially safety shoes, in good condition.
- Wood ladders,
which are to be used outside, should be treated to prevent weather damage.
A clear finish or transparent penetrating preservative should be used.
Linseed oil is a good treatment for a wood ladder, although it does add
some weight to the ladder. An oil treatment also helps to rustproof the
metal parts of a wood ladder.
- Never paint a
wood ladder. This will cover dangerous cracks or fill and hide them.
- Never sit on ladder
side rails.
- Never use a metal or fiberglass ladder which has been exposed to fire
or strong chemicals, it should be discarded.
- Never store materials
on a ladder.
- Store wood ladders
where they will not be exposed to excessive heat or dampness. Store fiberglass
ladders where they will not be exposed to sunlight or other ultraviolet
light sources.
- Be sure that ladders
are properly supported and secured when in transit. Vibration and bumping
against other objects can damage them.
- Store ladders
on racks, which give them proper support when not in use.
Additional Safety
Rules for Stepladders
- Never use a stepladder
over 20 feet long.
- Always open a
stepladder completely and make sure the spreader is locked open before
using the ladder.
- Never substitute
makeshift devices of wire or rope for stepladder spreaders.
- Do not stand higher
than the second step from the top of a stepladder. Especially, do not
stand or sit on the top cap, or stand on the pail shelf, or on the back
of a stepladder.
- Do not straddle
the front and back of a stepladder.
Additional Safety
Rules for Single Ladders and Extension Ladders
Ladder Selection
and Inspection
- Remember that
the sections of an extension ladder should overlap enough to retain
the strength of the ladder using the following table:
Length
of Ladder |
Required
Overlap |
Up
to 36 feet |
3
feet |
Over
36 to 48 feet |
4
feet |
Over
48 to 60 feet |
5
feet |
Of course, the
usable length of the ladder is shortened by the amount of the overlap.
- Never splice or
tie two short ladders together to make a long section.
- Top support for
a ladder is as important as good footing. The top should rest evenly
against a flat, firm surface. If a ladder is to be leaned against roof
gutters, the strength and stability of the gutters should first be tested.
- When a ladder
is used for access to an upper landing surface, it must extend three
rungs, or at least three feet above the landing surface.
- A ladder used
for access to an upper landing surface should be secured against sideways
movement at the top or held by another worker whenever it is being used.
- Extend an extension
ladder only from the ground. Determine the needed height, extend and
lock the fly section securely in place then set it up against the wall.
Check for stability and support before climbing.
- If possible, the
base of a long ladder should be secured to the ground and the top should
be tied to the upper landing surface.
- The technically
proper angle for a non-self-supporting ladder is about 75 degrees above
horizontal. This means that the base should be set out one-fourth of
the ladder's height to its top support point. For example, if a ladder
is to be supported at a point 20 feet off the ground, its base should
be set 5 feet out from the wall (20 feet divided by 4= 5feet). An easy
way to measure this, if the ladder top will rest against the wall, is
to pace off the length of the ladder or count the rungs, and divide
by four to get the proper distance form the wall for placing the foot
of the ladder.
- If ladders are
set up at a steeper angle than 75 degrees above horizontal they are
more likely to tip backward in use. As a minimum they must be tied off
at the top to prevent this form happening.
- If ladders are
set up at an angle less than 75 degrees above horizontal they are more
likely to slide out from the bottom. Safety ladder shoes or base tying
is a must in this case.
- The distance from
the foot of a ladder to the wall should never be more than one-half
the height to the support point, an angle of about 63 degrees above
horizontal. Otherwise, more strain will be put on the side rails than
they are designed to carry.
Ladder Climbing
and Standing
1. Never stand on
the two top rungs of a straight or extension ladder.
Proper Ladder
Care and Storage
1. Metal bearings
of extension ladder rung locks and pulleys should be lubricated periodically,
and between regular maintenance periods whenever necessary.
2. Ropes on extension
ladders should be in good condition. If they become frayed or badly worn,
replace them.
Setting Up a Straight
or Extension Ladder
It is very important
to learn the proper methods for setting up ladders. Unless setting up
is done correctly, it can cause damage to the ladder and excessive physical
strain on the user.
Step 1. Lay
the ladder on the ground with the base resting against the bottom of the
wall and the top pointing away from the wall.
Step 2. Starting
at the top of the ladder, lift the end over your head and walk under the
ladder to the wall, moving your hands from rung to rung as you go.
Step 3. When
the ladder is vertical, and the op touches the wall, pull out the base
so that the distance away from the wall is about one-fourth of the height
to the point of support.
Step 4. Reverse
this process to take down the ladder. Remember that you will be walking
backwards, so check for obstacles in your path before starting. Also be
careful to lower the ladder slowly so that you can keep it under control
and prevent its falling on you.
TECHNICAL REFERENCES
- Subpart X, Title
29 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 1926.1050 through 1926.1060
- OSHA Informational
Booklet 3124, 1997 (revised)
- Step-By-Step,
Louisville Ladder Corporation Safety Training Program - 1994
- Painting &
Decorating Contractors of America, Supervisor's Safety Manual - 1992
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