OSHA offers safety tips for using tripod orchard ladders

Washington – Employers of fruit pickers and landscapers have new resources – in both English and Spanish – to help keep workers safe on and near tripod orchard ladders.

An OSHA fact sheet and QuickCard detail the types of hazards ladders pose – including slip, fall, collapsing and struck-by hazards – and list the precautions employers should take to prevent worker injuries.

According to the fact sheet, falls are the most common hazard, and many occur on the upper part of the ladder. Fall hazards can be prevented by placing the ladder firmly in the ground, routinely inspecting the ladder and not overfilling produce bags.

In addition, the fact sheet recommends that workers move ladders to perform orchard work instead of reaching beyond the ladder’s side rails, and carry ladders in a horizontal position.