Ladders and Stairways
Ladders and stairways are common sources of injuries and fatalities among construction workers.
OSHA estimates that there are over 24,000 injuries and as many as 36 fatalities per year due to falls on stairways and ladders used in construction. Nearly half of these injuries were serious enough to require time off the job.
Training
Employers must train each employee exposed to hazards while using ladders or stairways. The training program must train each employee how to recognize ladder and stairway hazards and minimize the hazards. Employees should be trained by a competent person in the following areas:
- nature of fall hazards in the work area
- correct procedures for erecting, maintaining, and disassembling the fall protection systems to be used
- proper construction, use, placement, and care in handling of all stairways and ladders
- maximum intended load-carrying capacities of ladders
Employers must retrain each employee as necessary to maintain their understanding and knowledge on the safe use and construction of ladders and stairs.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
3-1. Which ladder and stairway training topics should be taught to all construction workers?
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