Safety at every rung

Page 2 of 2

Inspections

Ladders must “be inspected by a competent person for visible defects on a periodic basis and after any occurrence that could affect their safe use,” according to OSHA regulation 1926.1053(b)(15).

Under OSHA’s general industry rules – 1910.23(b)(9): “Ladders are inspected before initial use in each work shift, and more frequently as necessary, to identify any visible defects that could cause employee injury.”

Both sets of regulations require employers to mark defective ladders with “Do not use” or similar words, and remove them from service.

Where do physical issues often appear on ladders? One area is the feet. Patterson said when he’s looking at a ladder, he’ll have a co-worker stand it up and see if all four feet touch the ground evenly. “If all four feet don’t have firm contact, it’s time to get rid of it,” he said.

Along with the feet, CPWR recommends a check of the rails, rungs, rung locks and spreaders before each use of the ladder. ALI provides an inspection checklist on its website.

Additionally, make sure labels are attached, especially the danger labels on the top step and top cap as well as the load-rating label, Patterson said. If any labels come off, he advised getting replacement danger labels or using an indelible marker to write the load-rating information on the ladder while seeking replacement labels.

Tools

ALI has a webpage to help employers and workers choose the right ladder for the job. One aspect to check is the maximum weight the ladder can support, also known as its duty rating. That weight includes the employee, clothing/personal protective equipment, and any tools or supplies. Ladder duty ratings range from Type III (light duty) – able to support up to 200 pounds – to Type IAA (extra heavy duty), able to support a max weight of 375 pounds.

NIOSH debuted its ladder safety phone app in 2013 and updated it in 2016. The tool shows how to pick the right ladder based on user characteristics and tasks. This includes avoidance of electrical hazards.

The app also features an inspection tool and a way to ensure a ladder is level or set at the proper angle if resting against a structure such as a wall, also known as the “4-to-1 rule.” This means that for every 4 feet above the surface level, the ladder is moved 1 foot away from the vertical structure on which it’s resting.

Although not required under OSHA standards, performing a risk assessment of which type of ladder or other equipment to use could aid in their safe use. Such an assessment is required by the Health and Safety Executive – the United Kingdom’s version of OSHA.

“They recognize that ladders can be a higher-risk type of device,” Patterson said.