Portable Ladders Checklist
(Taken from the "Tailgate Meetings that Work : A Guide
to Effective Construction Safety Training" series) |
|
Robin Baker, Robert
Downey, Mary Ruth Gross, Charles Reiter
Labor Occupational Health Program
(LOHP) School of Public Health,
University of California, Berkeley Ca.
These tailgate/toolbox
talks were developed for use under California OSHA regulations. The
complete set is available from the Labor Occupational Health Program
at UC Berkeley. For ordering information, visit the website (www.lohp.org)
The American Conference of Government Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH)
has adapted these talks to apply to federal OSHA regulations. To contact
ACGIH, visit its web site (www.acgih.org). |
Date Prepared:_________________________ |
By:_______________________ |
Project
Name/No.______________________ |
Location:__________________ |
- Check the
box if the statement is true.
- Citations
in brackets are from Title 8 of the California Administrative Code.
INSPECTIONS
- The company has
a written Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP) that meets all
Cal/OSHA requirements. It includes identification of ladder hazards
on the site, regular inspections, accident investigation, and correction
of hazardous conditions. [1509]
- All defective
ladders are tagged and immediately removed. [1675(b)]
- Ladders have no
broken or defective rungs or side rails, and rungs are firmly attached
to side rails. [1675(b)]
- Ladders have no
nails, screws, or splinters sticking out. [3278(c)]
- Rungs have no
oil or grease on them. [3278(e)(6) and 3279(d)(4)]
- Non-slip safety
feet or bases on ladders are in good condition.
- Non-slip safety
material on ladder rungs is in good condition.
- Interiors of open
end hollow rungs of metal ladders are free from corrosion. [1675(b)]
USE OF LADDERS
- Unless there are
stairways or ramps, ladders are provided at all points in frequently
traveled passageways, entries, or exits where there is a break in elevation
of 18 inches or more. [1629(a)(3)]
- Ladders are used
for access to working surfaces above or below ground level only on a
short-duration job before installing a permanent means of access. [1629(a)(1)]
- Ladders are used
for access to Roof and attic work areas in wood frame buildings. [1629(b)(1)(B)]
- Ladders are used
for access to points above the highest floor that has been planked or
decked in steel frame buildings. (Stairways should extend to the highest
planked floor.) [1629(b)(2)]
- Ladders are used
for access to scaffolds. [1637(n)]
- Ladders are used
for access to levels in a vertical shoring system above the lowest floor
in concrete buildings. (There must be at least two ladders in different
locations for each floor, and ladders may not be used for more than
three floors.) [1629(b)(3)]
LADDER SPECIFICATIONS
- Rungs are uniformly
spaced no more than 12 inches apart vertically. [1676(c)]
- Stepladders do
not exceed 20 feet. [3278(d)(1)(A)]
- Extension ladders
do not exceed 44 feet when extended. [1678(a)]
- Extension ladders
are not used fully extended. There is an overlap between sections, not
less than 10% of the working length of the ladder. [1678(b)]
- Portable metal
ladders are marked with a sign cautioning against use near electrical
equipment. [3279(d)(11)]
- Portable ladders
purchased after July 1, 1992 are labeled as being in accordance with
American National Standards Institute (ANSI)
standards A 14.1 1982, Portable Wood Ladders, or A 14.2 1982,
Portable Metal Ladders. [1675(c) and (d)]
USE OF CORRECT LADDER
- No portable metal
ladder is being used for electrical work, near live electrical parts,
or within six feet of high voltage electrical lines. (Increase the distance
for very high voltage). [1675(l), 2946, and 3279(d)(11)]
- Double cleat ladders
are used if there is 2-way traffic or traffic by 25 or more workers.
(Double cleat ladders should not exceed 30 feet in length.) [1629(c)]
- Single-rail ladders
are prohibited on the site. [3276(a)(4)]
- Short ladders
are not spliced together to make a longer one. [3278(e)(13)]
PLACEMENT
- Areas where ladders
are placed are clear at the top and bottom, and are not greasy or muddy.
[1675(e)]
- Ladders are placed
on firm dry ground, so they wont slip or sink, and are not placed
on boxes or other unstable bases. [1675(e)]
- Ladders are not
placed where they can be bumped (for example, a doorway, passageway,
or driveway). Ladders which may be struck or displaced are barricaded
or guarded. [1675(h)]
- Portable ladders
are tied, blocked, or otherwise secured. [1675(j)]
- Portable ladders
are placed 1 foot out from the wall for every 4 feet of ladder length
(75° pitch). [1675(g)]
WORK PRACTICES
- No one stands
or works on the top three rungs of a ladder that has no handholds, unless
the structure provides a firm handhold or the worker is tied off. [1675(k)]
- Workers face a
ladder while climbing and descending. [3276(a)(2)]
- Stepladders are
always opened fully.
- Workers do not
stand or work on the top (cap) of a stepladder, or the step below the
cap. [1675(n)]
- Planks are not
placed on the top (cap) of a stepladder. [1675(f)]
- Workers use a
ladder one at a time unless the ladder is specially designed for more
people. [3278(e)(8)]
- Ladders are not
used as guys, braces, skids, gin poles, or for other than their intended
purpose. [3278(e)(15) and 3279(d)(10)]
- Workers adjust
extension ladders only when standing at the base, not while on or above
the ladder. .
- Ladders are placed
so that side rails extend at least 3 feet above the landing or level
they serve. [1629(c)(3)]
- Workers do not
carry tools, equipment, or materials (except on a tool belt) while on
a ladder. [3276(a)(1)]
Tailgate
Meetings That Work : Collection
Published in June, 1994 by: Labor Occupational Health Program, School
of Public Health, 2515 Channing Way, University of California, Berkeley,
CA 94720. Phone: (510) 642-5507.
Permission is granted to duplicate these materials for non-profit educational
purposes, provided that copies are not offered for sale.
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