603 Stairway and Ladder Safety

Portable Ladders

Portable ladders help you access a work area or provide support while you work. Portable ladders make accessing a work area easy, but they can increase the potential for falls if not used properly.

Portable ladders are versatile, economical, and easy to use. However, workers sometimes use them without thinking about safety. The Bureau of Labor and Statistics reports that 20 percent of fatal falls at work occur from heights less than 15 feet (4.5 m), and 50 percent of fatal falls are from a height less than 35 feet (10.6 m).

Ladder Selection

Be sure the ladder being used has the proper duty rating to carry the combined weight of the user and the material being installed. A ladder's duty rating tells you its maximum weight capacity.

There are five type classifications with associated duty ratings:

• Type IAA - These are special duty ladders. Type IAA ladders are for extra-heavy-duty professional use only.
• Type IA - These ladders have a duty rating of 300 pounds. Type IA ladders are recommended for extra-heavy-duty industrial use.
• Type I - These ladders have a duty rating of 250 pounds. Type I ladders are manufactured for heavy-duty use.
• Type II - These ladders have a duty rating of 225 pounds. Type II ladders are approved for medium-duty use.
• Type III - These ladders have a duty rating of 200 pounds. Type III ladders are rated for light-duty use.

Here are some OSHA requirements for using portable ladders:

• The minimum clear distance between side rails for all portable ladders must be 11.5 inches (29 cm).
• The rungs and steps of portable metal ladders must be corrugated, knurled, dimpled, coated with skid-resistant material, or treated to minimize slipping.
• Non-self-supporting and self-supporting portable ladders must support at least four times the maximum intended load; extra heavy-duty type 1A metal or plastic ladders must sustain 3.3 times the maximum intended load.
• When portable ladders are used for access to an upper landing surface, the side rails must extend at least 3 feet (0.9 m) above the upper landing surface. When such an extension is not possible, the ladder must be secured and a grasping device such as a grab rail must be provided to assist workers in mounting and dismounting the ladder.
• A ladder extension must not deflect under a load that would cause the ladder to slip off its supports.

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