Fixed Ladders
OSHA's rules for fixed ladders in both general industry and construction focus on safety, design, and fall protection. Here is a brief overview for each:
Employee using a ladder safety system in addition to a cage.
OSHA recognizes various types of fixed ladders, including:
- Caged Ladders: Equipped with a cage around the climbing area to provide fall protection, although OSHA no longer allows cages as the primary means of fall protection on ladders over 24 feet, requiring a personal fall arrest or ladder safety system.
- Ladder Safety Systems: Ladders integrated with a safety device, such as a rope grab or cable, to prevent falls from height.
- Walk-through Fixed Ladders: These ladders have extended side rails that offer support as workers exit the top of the ladder.
- Vertical Fixed Ladders: These extend directly upward and are commonly used on towers, silos, and similar structures.
- Parapet Ladders: Designed to allow safe access to rooftops that have parapet walls. These ladders extend over the wall for easy access.
- Access Ladders: Fixed ladders that are used to gain entry into hatches, manholes, and similar confined spaces.
Below are OSHA requirements and guidelines for fixed ladders:
- Support: Fixed ladders must support their maximum intended load.
- Clearance: The distance from the center of the rungs to any permanent object behind the ladder must be at least 7 inches, except for elevator pit ladders, which require 4.5 inches.
- Grab Bars: Grab bars must not extend beyond the rungs they serve.
- Side Rails: Side rails of through or side-step ladders must extend at least 42 inches above the top of the landing platform.
- Parapet Ladders: For parapet ladders, the access level is either the roof (if the parapet is cut) or the top of the parapet (if it is continuous).
- Through Ladders: Rungs are omitted from the extensions, and the side rails are flared to provide 24-30 inches of clearance. With a ladder safety system, the clearance can be up to 36 inches.
- Side-step Ladders: Side rails, rungs, and steps must be continuous in the extension.
- Grab Bars Extension: Grab bars must extend 42 inches above the landing platform.
- Grab Bar Size: The cross-section of grab bars must match the size of the rungs.
- Hatch Ladders: If a ladder terminates at a hatch, the hatch must open with enough clearance and at least 70 degrees from horizontal if counterbalanced.
- Rung Construction: The rungs must prevent feet from sliding off the ends.
- Pitch: Ladders with a pitch greater than 90 degrees from horizontal are not allowed.
- Step-across Distance:
- For through ladders: 7-12 inches from the rungs to the nearest structure.
- For side-step ladders: 15-20 inches to the access points of the platform.
- Ladders Without Cages or Wells:
- A clear width of at least 15 inches on each side of the ladder centerline.
- A minimum perpendicular distance of 30 inches from the centerline of the steps or rungs to the nearest object on the climbing side (can be reduced to 24 inches with deflector plates).
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
1-11. What type of fixed ladders extend directly upward and are commonly used on towers, silos, and similar structures?
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