what is the minimum length ladder that a worker needs to access a landing

Stock-still Ladder Safety: Summarizing OSHA Requirements

The Importance of Ladder Safety

Ladders are essential for many types of workplace operations. Folding ladders, extension ladders, and congenital-in ladders are all used regularly in many types of piece of work. For instance, in agricultural settings, these ladders may be encountered in packinghouses, food processing facilities, and chemical or equipment visitor establishments. Safe ladder use is necessary to foreclose serious injury or expiry.

Falls, including falls from ladders, are amidst the summit three causes of workplace-related injury and expiry (NSC 2021). More than 500,000 people per twelvemonth are treated for injuries related to falls from ladders—with nigh 300 deaths. Surprisingly, most ladder fall-related deaths involved a fall of less than x anxiety (CDC 2014). This is a serious concern for both workers and employers. The estimated cost of these injuries each year is $24 billion, which includes the cost of medical and legal services, lost work, liability, and pain and suffering judgments.

For these reasons, the Occupational Rubber and Health Administration (OSHA) has established standards for the ladders that workers utilize in the workplace to help prevent unsafe equipment use and falls or other injuries from ladders. OSHA Standard 1910.23—Ladders covers all categories of workplace ladders, including portable, fixed, and mobile ladders (OSHA 2019). OSHA Standard 1910.28 covers autumn protection and falling object protection. This publication summarizes the parts of the OSHA Standard 1910.23 and 1910.28 that apply to fixed ladders.

This article is for interested residents who use stock-still ladders for either piece of work or non-piece of work-related purposes.

General Employer Responsibilities

The requirements of the standard are the employer's responsibility. Employers are required to ensure that ladder equipment is in good condition and that employees apply ladders safely. Daily safety precautions include the following:

Ladders may only exist used for the purposes for which they were designed.
Ladders must be inspected earlier use in each work shift, and more frequently every bit necessary, to identify any visible defects that could crusade employee injury.
Any ladder with structural or other defects must exist immediately tagged "Dangerous: Practise Not Use" (or with like linguistic communication) and removed from service until repairs are completed.

Some ladders are non covered by OSHA Standard 1910.23. These include:

Ladders used in emergency operations (e.chiliad., firefighting, rescue, and police enforcement operations) or training for these operations.
Ladders that are designed into or are an integral part of machines or equipment (eastward.thou., the ladders built into large mechanism such as harvesters). These ladders are covered by other standards.

Stock-still Ladders

OSHA defines a stock-still ladder equally "a ladder with rail or individual rungs that is permanently attached to a structure, edifice, or equipment" (OSHA 2016). Before using a stock-still ladder, make certain that it meets general structure, structural integrity, and full general safety standards.

Stock-still Ladder Surfaces

Ladder surfaces must be free of puncture and laceration hazards, such as sharp edges, metallic spurs, or splinters. Fixed ladders having a pitch greater than 90 degrees from the horizontal should not be used.

Fall Protection for Fixed Ladders

Fixed ladders must have structural protections for climbers. Employers must provide fall protection for employees on fixed ladders. OSHA Standard 1910.29 gives the criteria for fall protection.

A fixed ladder should have a muzzle or a well. If a fixed ladder does non have a cage or a well, it must take the following:

A clear width of at least xv inches (38 cm) on each side of the ladder centerline to the nearest permanent object.
A minimum perpendicular distance of xxx inches (76 cm) from the centerline of the steps or rungs to the nearest object on the climbing side (i.e., behind the climber). When unavoidable obstructions are encountered, the minimum clearance at the obstacle may exist reduced to 24 inches (61 cm), provided deflector plates are installed.

Fixed ladders that extend more than 24 anxiety (seven.3 1000) in a higher place a lower level must exist equipped with:

A personal autumn arrest organisation, ladder safety organisation, muzzle, or well (existing fixed ladders installed before November nineteen, 2018).
A personal autumn arrest system or a ladder rubber arrangement (new fixed ladders installed on or later Nov 19, 2018).
A personal fall arrest system or ladder safety arrangement (on and after November 18, 2036). After this date, the cage or the well volition not exist allowed to be used every bit a form of autumn protection.

Proper Installation of Fixed Ladders

Basic Fixed Ladders

Grab bars must non protrude on the climbing side beyond the rungs of the ladder that they serve. Grab bars extend 42 inches (1.1 g) in a higher place the admission level or landing platforms served by the ladder. The minimum size (cross-department) of grab bars is the same size every bit the rungs of the ladder.

When a fixed ladder terminates at a hatch, the hatch comprehend opens with sufficient clearance to provide like shooting fish in a barrel access to or from the ladder; it opens at least lxx degrees from the horizontal if the hatch is counterbalanced.

Basic configuration of a fixed ladder. — Effigy 1. Basic configuration of a stock-still ladder.
Credit: Charles Brown, University of Florida

Through Ladders

The minimum perpendicular distance from the centerline of the steps or rungs, or take hold of bars, or both, to the nearest permanent object behind the ladder is vii inches (18 cm), except for elevator pit ladders, which accept a minimum perpendicular altitude of 4.five inches (eleven cm).

For through ladders, the steps or rungs are omitted from the extensions, and the side rail are flared to provide no fewer than 24 inches (61 cm) and no more than 30 inches (76 cm) of clearance. When a ladder safety organization is provided, the maximum clearance between side rails of the extension must not exceed 36 inches (91 cm).

The side runway of through ladders extend at least 42 inches (i.i m) to a higher place the top of the access level or landing platform served by the ladder. For parapet ladders, the access level is:

The roof, if the parapet is cutting to permit passage through the parapet; or
The height of the parapet, if the parapet is continuous.

Figure two. The grab bars at the top of a fixed ladder provide extra width for safer passage to the access level.
Credit: Charles Chocolate-brown, University of Florida

Side-Step Ladders

The side track of side-step ladders extend at to the lowest degree 42 inches (1.1 k) above the meridian of the admission level or landing platform served past the ladder. For parapet ladders, the access level is:

The roof, if the parapet is cut to permit passage through the parapet; or
The elevation of the parapet, if the parapet is continuous.

For side-footstep ladders, the side rails, rungs, and steps must be continuous in the extension.

Side-step ladders must provide continuous protection to the climber while stepping onto the adjacent platform or access level. — Effigy 3. Side-pace ladders must provide continuous protection to the climber while stepping onto the side by side platform or access level.
Credit: Charles Chocolate-brown, University of Florida

Rungs, Steps, and Cleats: Treads, Spacing, and Width for Fixed Ladders

For all ladders, the employer must ensure that rungs, steps, and cleats are parallel, level, and uniformly spaced. Rung, footstep, or cleat means the cantankerous-piece of a ladder on which an employee steps to climb upwards and downward (OSHA 2016). The standard specifies the spacing and width.

Spacing Requirements for Rungs, Steps, and Cleats

The employer must ensure that all ladder rungs, steps, or cleats are evenly spaced betwixt 10 inches (25 cm) and fourteen inches (36 cm) measured between the centerlines of the rungs, cleats, and steps.

Spacing Exceptions

Lift shafts: Ladder rungs and steps in lift shafts must be evenly spaced between 6 inches (15 cm) and sixteen.5 inches (42 cm) measured along the ladder side rails.
Telecommunications towers: Stock-still ladder rungs and steps on telecommunication towers must be evenly spaced betwixt vi inches (xv cm) and 18 inches (46 cm) measured betwixt the centerlines of the rungs or steps.

Width Requirements for Rungs, Steps, and Cleats

Fixed ladder rungs, steps, and cleats must have a minimum clear width of sixteen inches (41 cm) (measured earlier installation of ladder safety systems).

Width Exceptions

Attached manhole entry ladders: Rungs and steps of manhole entry ladders that are supported by the manhole opening must take a minimum clear width of 9 inches (23 cm).
Telecommunications centers: Rungs and steps on rolling ladders used in telecommunications centers must take a minimum clear width of viii inches (20 cm).

Individual-rung ladders must be constructed to forestall the employee'southward anxiety from sliding off the ends of the rungs.

The step-beyond distance from the centerline of the rungs or steps is:

For through ladders—no fewer than 7 inches (18 cm) and no more 12 inches (thirty cm) to the nearest border of the structure, building, or equipment accessed from the ladders.
For side-pace ladders—no fewer than xv inches (38 cm) and no more than 20 inches (51 cm) to the access points of the platform edge.

Working Safely with a Stock-still Ladder

Know your fixed ladder's intended maximum load, and do not exceed it.

The total maximum load must accommodate the total weight of the employee and all tools, equipment, and materials the employee is carrying.

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 2014. "Occupational Ladder Autumn Injuries — United States, 2011." Morbidity and Bloodshed Weekly Written report 63(16): 341–346. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6316a2.htm

National Safety Council (NSC). 2021. "Top 10 Preventable Injuries." Itasca, IL: National Safe Council. https://injuryfacts.nsc.org/all-injuries/deaths-by-demographics/summit-10-preventable-injuries/

OSHA. 2016. "Walking-Working Surfaces: Telescopic and Definitions." Standard Number: 1910.21. https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1910/1910.21

OSHA. 2019. "Walking-Working Surfaces: Ladders." Standard Number: 1910.23. https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1910/1910.23

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Source: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/AE570