step and straight Ladder safety, usage, requirements

Ladder
Safety Training
1
This material was produced under grant number SH-17787-08 from the Occupational Safety and
Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor. It does not necessarily reflect the views or policies
of the U.S. Department of Labor, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or
organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. Revisions were made to this material
under grant number SH-05059-SH8 from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S.
Department of Labor.

Disclaimer
• This material was produced under grant number SH-17787-08 from the
Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor.
It does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. Department
of Labor, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or
organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. Revisions were
made to this material under grant number SH-05059-SH8 from the
Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor.
• This presentation is intended to discuss Federal Regulations only - your
individual State requirements may be more stringent as many states
operate their own state OSHA and they may have adopted construction
standards that are different from information presented in this training. If
you live in a state with an OSHA approved state plan, you should contact
your local administrator for further information on the standards applicable
in your state.
• These materials are meant for informational purposes only.
• No representation is made as to the thoroughness of the presentation.
2

Disclaimer, cont.
• It is not the intent to provide compliance-based training in this
presentation, the intent is more to address hazard awareness in the
residential construction (i.e. home building) industry, and to recognize the
overlapping hazards present in many construction workplaces.
• Photos shown in this presentation may depict situations that are not in
compliance with applicable OSHA/safety requirements.
• No legal advice is offered or implied, and no attorney-client relationship is
intended or established. If legal advice or other expert assistance is
required the services of a competent professional person should be
sought.
• It is the responsibility of the employer and its employees to comply with all
pertinent OSHA/safety rules and regulations in the jurisdiction in which
they work.
• Revisions were made to this material under grant number SH05059-SH8
from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department
of Labor.
3

Introduction
 Falls from ladders are a leading cause of serious and fatal
injuries in residential construction.
 The goals of this course are to help you:
 understand how to correct or eliminate fall hazards on your
job sites related to ladder use.
 understand the OSHA ladder safety requirements.
4

Course Objectives
1. Identify the importance of preventing
falls from ladders.
2. Recognize fall hazards associated with
ladder use.
3. Identify OSHA requirements for
ladders.
4. Identify work practices for using ladders
safely.
5

Course Agenda
• Section 1: Overview
• Section 2: Ladder Safety
• Section 3: Group Workshop
• Section 4: Post Test and Review
6

Why is Preventing Falls from Ladders Important?
• Falls continue to be the leading cause of
fatalities in residential construction.
• Falls (602) were responsible for 45% of
residential construction fatalities from
2003 to 2006.
• 135 (22%) were falls from ladders.
Source: NAHB Residential Construction Industry Fatalities 2003-2006
(www.nahb.org/fatalitystudy )

Fatalities by Event or Exposure: Residential Construction
9

Fall Fatalities: Residential Construction
40%
22%
15%
9%
8%
1% 1%
2%
1% 1%
Fall from roof (232)
Fall from ladder (135)
Fall from scaffold, staging (89)
Fall to lower level, unspecified or
not elsewhere classified (57)
Fall from floor, dock, or ground
level (47)
Fall from nonmoving vehicle (12)
Fall from building girders or
other structural steel (9)
Fall, other or unspecified (7)
Fall on the same level (7)
Fall down stairs or steps (6)
Source: NAHB Residential Construction Industry Fatalities 2003-2006 (www.nahb.org/fatalitystudy )

OSHA Fall Protection Requirements
• Subpart L - 1926.451(g)
Each employee on a scaffold more than 10’
(3.1M) above a lower level shall be protected
from falling to a lower level.
• Subpart X – Ladders
Fall protection is not required for workers
climbing or working on portable ladders.
• Subpart X – Stairways
Stairways having four (4) or more risers or rising
more than 30 inches must be equipped with at
least one handrail; and one stair rail system
along each unprotected side or edge.
11

OSHA Fall Protection Requirements cont.
12
• Subpart M - 1926.501(b)(13)
Residential construction. Each employee engaged in
residential construction activities 6’ or more above lower
levels must be protected by conventional or alternative fall
protection:
Exemption: When the employer can demonstrate the
protection is infeasible or creates a greater hazard the
employer must develop an alternative fall protection plan.

How do you prevent falls from ladders?
13
• Implement a comprehensive safety program.
• Understand OSHA ladder regulations.
• Train workers to identify hazards associated with
ladder use.
• Use safe work practices.

Ladder Safety
Section 2:
Ladder Safety
14

Learning Objectives: Section 2
• Determine the proper ladder to use based on weight
capacity and height.
• Calculate the proper pitch of extension ladders for
proper set-up, and identify how to secure and stabilize
ladders.
• Identify how to maintain a safe position when using a
ladder.
15

Common Ladder Hazards
• Improper set-up.
• Portable ladders not 3 feet above landing surface.
• Not securing ladder correctly.
• Standing on the top two steps of a stepladder.
• Overreaching when working from a ladder.
16

Choosing the Right Ladder
Before stepping onto a ladder, think about these
things:
• Duty rating of the ladder—what capacity can it hold?
• Height of the ladder—too short or too tall?
• Condition of the ladder and instructions unique to
the ladder selected.
17

Proper Duty Rating/Capacity
OSHA Requirement
Ladders shall not be loaded beyond the
maximum intended load for which they were built
nor beyond their manufacturer's rated capacity.
18

Proper Duty Rating/Capacity, cont.
19
Select a ladder with the proper duty rating for your
weight and the materials you are handling.

Proper Ladder Set-up
21
• Consider placement and pitch
of the ladder.
• Secure and stabilize the
ladder.

Pitch Extension Ladders
22
Extension ladders should be used
at a 4 to 1 pitch (1.2 to .3 m).
For every 4 ft. (1.2 m) in height,
the bottom of the ladder should be
1 ft. (.3 m) away from the
structure.
Example:
20 ft. (height) ÷ 4 ft. = 5 ft. pitch

Pitch Extension Ladders, continued

Proper Height Extension Ladders
When accessing
another level, the ladder
must extend at least 3ft.
(0.9m) above the
landing to provide a
hand hold for getting on
and off the ladder.

Proper Height for Extension Ladders, continued
Choose the right ladder for the height you need to reach.
25
Ladder
Height (ft.)
Maximum
Reach (ft.)*
Height to Gutter or
Top Support Point+
16 15 9 ft. max.
20 19 9-13 ft.
24 23 13-17 ft.
28 27 17-21 ft.
32 31 21-25 ft.
36 34 25-28 ft.
40 37 28-31 ft.
*Assume a 5 ft.-6 in. person with a vertical reach of 12 in.
+Support points for extension ladders reflect section overlap, ladder angle, or 3-ft. extension above roof
line

Secure and Stabilize Ladders
26
• Extension ladders should be secured
at the top or bottom to prevent
movement.
• The base of an extension ladder
must be secured in place by using
the safety feet on the ladder or other
effective means.

Secure and Stabilize Ladders, continued
27

Secure and Stabilize Ladders - continued

`Secure and Stabilize Ladders, continued

Step Ladders, continued
• Only use in the fully open position on
firm level ground.
• Do not use a step ladder that is folded
or in a leaning position.
• Never sit/stand on the top two rungs.
• Consider work height when selecting a
step ladder.
32

Step Ladders, continued
• Step ladders are designed for
use in an opened-and-locked
position.

Step Ladders Hazard
 Do NOT use a step ladder that is folded or in a leaning
position.
34

Proper Height of Stepladders
Choose a step
ladder that is no
more than 4ft.
Shorter than the
height you want to
reach.
Maximum Height
You Need to Reach
Stepladder Height
7 3
8 4
9 5
10 6
12 8
14 10
15 11
16 12
18 14
20 16

Maintain a Safe Position on Ladders
36
• Face the ladder when ascending or
descending.
• Maintain three points of contact at all times.
• Keep your body centered on the ladder.
• Never let your belt buckle pass either side
rail.

Maintain a Safe Position on a Ladder
37

Ladder Inspections
• Ladders must be inspected before each
use.
• Broken or weak ladders or ladders that
are not stable must be marked or tagged
as defective and taken out of service.
• Look for cracks and weak points.
• Competent person must periodically
inspect ladders.

Ladder Inspection, continued
39

Review the Safety Labels on the Ladder

Additional Safe Work Practices: Ladders
41
• Extension ladders should not be
separated to create two ladders.
• Keep the areas around the tops and
bottoms of all ladders clear to prevent
trip-and-fall hazards.
• Avoid setting ladders up in high traffic
areas or barricade the area around
ladder.

Additional Work Practices: Ladder Safety
42
• Ladders must be kept free of oil, grease,
and other slipping hazards.
• Consider using a rope to raise/lower
materials instead of carrying items while
climbing a ladder.
• Do NOT use metal or aluminum ladders
near exposed energized electrical
equipment.

Workshop
43
Section 4:
Group
Workshop

Hazard Violation Workshop
44
Students will review a series of photographs of
ladders and scaffolds in use on a jobsite. The
assignment is to identify the hazards in each
photo and discuss the corrective action required to
correct the hazard. (Note: Some of the photos are
of correct safe work practices.)
You Play OSHA!

step and straight Ladder safety, usage, requirements

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