Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
side-rails. if. they. are. used. where. the. worker. or. the. ladder. could. contact. exposed.
energized.electrical.equipment.
A.double-cleated.ladder,.or.two.or.more.ladders,.must.be.provided.when.ladders.
are.the.only.way.to.enter.or.exit.a.work.area.having.twenty-ive.or.more.employees,.
or.when.a.ladder.serves.simultaneous.two-way.trafic..Ladder.rungs,.cleats,.and.steps.
must.be.parallel,.level,.and.uniformly.spaced.when.the.ladder.is.in.position.for.use..
Rungs,. cleats,. and. steps. of. portable. and. ixed. ladders. (except. as. provided. below).
must.not.be.spaced.less.than.10.inches.apart,.or.more.than.14.inches.apart,.along.
the.ladder's.side-rails..Rungs,.cleats,.and.steps.of.step.stools.must.not.be.less.than.
8 inches. apart,. nor. more. than. 12. inches. apart,. between. center. lines. of. the. rungs,.
cleats,.and.steps.
Ladders.must.be.inspected.by.a.competent.person.for.visible.defects.on.a.peri-
odic.basis.and.after.any.incident.that.could.affect.their.safe.use..Single-rail.ladders.
must.not.be.used..When.ascending.or.descending.a.ladder,.the.worker.must.face.the.
ladder..Each.worker.must.use.at.least.one.hand.to.grasp.the.ladder.when.climbing..
A.worker.on.a.ladder.must.not.carry.any.object.or.load.that.could.cause.him.or.her.
to.lose..balance.and.fall..The.top.or.top.step.of.a.stepladder.must.not.be.used.as.a.
step..Cross.bracing.on.the.rear.section.of.stepladders.must.not.be.used.for.climbing.
unless.the.ladders.are.designed.and.provided.with.steps.for.climbing.on.both.front.
and.rear.sections.
Ladders. must. not. be. tied. or. fastened. together. to. create. longer. sections. unless.
they.are.speciically.designed.for.such.use..A.metal.spreader.or.locking.device.must.
be.provided.on.each.stepladder.to.hold.the.front.and.back.sections.in.an.open.posi-
tion.when.the.ladder.is.being.used..Two.or.more.separate.ladders.used.to.reach.an.
elevated.work.area.must.be.offset.with.a.platform.or.landing.between.the.ladders,.
except.when.portable.ladders.are.used.to.gain.access.to.ixed.ladders.
Ladder.components.must.be.surfaced.to.prevent.injury.from.punctures.or.lacera-
tions.and.prevent.snagging.of.clothing..Wood.ladders.must.not.be.coated.with.any.
opaque.covering,.except.for.identiication.or.warning.labels,.which.may.be.placed.
only.on.one.face.of.a.side-rail.
Portable.ladders.with.structural.defects.(such.as.broken.or.missing.rungs,.cleats,.
or.steps,.broken.or.split.rails,.corroded.components,.or.other.faulty.or.defective.com-
ponents). must. immediately. be. marked. defective. or. tagged. with. “Do. Not. Use”. or.
similar. language. and. withdrawn. from. service. until. repaired.. Ladder. repairs. must.
restore.the.ladder.to.a.condition.meeting.its.original.design.criteria.before.the.ladder.
is.returned.to.use.
Under.these.provisions.of.the.OSHA.standard,.employers.must.provide.a.train-
ing. program. for. each. employee. using. ladders. and. stairways.. The. program. must.
enable. each. employee. to. recognize. hazards. related. to. ladders. and. stairways. and.
to.use.proper.procedures.to.minimize.these.hazards..For.example,.employers.must.
ensure.that.each.employee.is.trained.by.a.competent.person.in.the.following.areas,.
as.applicable:
.
1.. The.nature.of.fall.hazards.in.the.work.area
.
2.. The. correct. procedures. for. erecting,. maintaining,. and. disassembling. the.
fall.protection.systems.to.be.used
