Industrial Safety and Health for Goods and Materials Services - Chapter 16 pot

If a faulty ladder having structural defects such as, but not limited to, broken or missing rungs, cleats, steps, broken or split rails, corroded components, or other defective component

16 Ladder Safety

Ladders are one of the most useful tools in the workplace

When properly used ladder s are one of the most useful tools avail able to workers Improper uses, incl uding the follow ing, can result in inju ries, falls, and deaths :

This type of improper use of ladders results in an estimated 19,000 injuries and 24 fatalities per year according to Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Falls or slips account for 80% of accidents and almost half fell at least 8 ft While falling, 50% held on to other objects while 66% were not trained on how to inspect ladders and 73% were not instructed on the safe use of ladders In 73% of accidents, the ladders involved were extension or straight ladders and in 20% they were step ladders 16.1 LADDER SAFETY PROGRAM

16.1.1 MANAGEMENT’SCOMMITMENT

Employers need to ensure that they have policies for the use of ladders and workers need to understand that they are expected to comply with them such as the example

in Figure 16.2

16.1.2 TRAINING

Employers have a tendency to think that all workers know how to use ladders in a safe manner Many times it is the experienced worker who has a ladder accident All

Extension trestle ladder Decoratorladder

Platform ladder

Tripod ladder

Sectional/painter

ladder

FIGURE 16.1 Select the proper ladder for the task (Courtesy of Department of Energy.)

Company ladder safety policy The _ company is committed to preventing ladder related acci-dents It is expected that the company rules and policies for ladder safety are to be followed

by all employees The company is committed to providing you with safe and appropriate ladders for your work activities It is your responsibility to use ladders safely in accordance

FIGURE 16.2 Ladder safety and use policy

employees including management and supervisors are to receive ladder safety train-ing The content of the training shall include the following:

16.1.3 HAZARDIDENTIFICATION

Before using a ladder all employees should inspect the ladder in accordance with the

ladder inspection form to document the inspection (Figure 16.3) If a faulty ladder having structural defects such as, but not limited to, broken or missing rungs, cleats, steps, broken or split rails, corroded components, or other defective components is found, the ladder should be removed from service and marked prominently as

ladder is not used and it is either disposed of or repaired to a safe condition Any ladder accidents should be investigated thoroughly by the supervisor and recommendations

to prevent further occurrences should be made and implemented

16.1.4 LADDERSELECTION

the following manner relevant to their load capacity (Table 16.1)

Ladder inspection form

Name of

Inspector

Ladder

Serial #

Parts

Damage to Wood, Metal, Fiberglass

Soundness Structurally

Any Other Problems

FIGURE 16.3 Ladder inspection form

TABLE 16.1

Ladder Use and Load Capacities

Having the correct size ladder is imperative since using too short or too long a ladder is a common mistake that leads to potential hazards You can use the distance between the rungs (1 ft) to estimate the height requirements As for stepladders, the highest permitted standing level is two steps from the top A worker standing high

higher than the length of the ladder For example, a typical worker can reach 10 ft with a 6 ft ladder (Table 16.2)

point, which may be the wall or roof line This will allow enough length for proper setup, overlap ladder sections (3 ft), height restrictions for the highest standing level, and, where appropriate, the extension of the ladder above the roof line The highest standing level is four rungs from the top Never stand on the ladder above the support points Table 16.3 depicts the selection of length for extension ladders

The following points must be kept in mind when selecting a ladder: it should have unbroken rungs or steps and safety feet, functional spreaders that lock, it should comply with ANSI standards, must be of the right size, should not have

TABLE 16.2

Stepladder Size Selection Chart

Maximum Height

You Want to Reach (ft)

Purchase This Size Stepladder Level (ft)

Highest Standing Level

TABLE 16.3

Extension Ladder Size Selection Chart

Height to Top

Support Point (ft)

Buy This Size Extension Ladder (ft)

Maximum Working Ladder Length (ft)

Highest Standing Level

been painted or varnished, and should be made of fiberglass when used near electrical conductors since metal and wet wooden ladders will conduct electricity 16.1.5 CONTROL ANDPREVENTION

As part of control and prevention of ladder accidents the following guidelines are to

be used as constant reminders for the safe use of ladders The setup of the ladder is very important in preventing accidents such as the following:

or 75.5) as seen in Figure 16.4 Raise an extension ladder before extending it

prevent-ing accidents and injuries

Working length

3 ft min

A

A

4

Distance to top support

FIGURE 16.4 The 4 to 1 rule for ladders (Courtesy of Department of Energy.)

16.2 DOS

or two feet and one hand)

16.3 DON’TS

or hoist materials up with a rope

of an extension ladder

16.4 USE OF LADDERS BY THE SERVICE INDUSTRY

that most require ladders are the utilities, warehousing, wholesale trade, retail trade, telecommunication (information), other service, and maintenance personnel in the leisure, hospitality, education, health care, and administration sectors

Depending on the frequency of use, the degree of training and attention to ladder safety will be determined by the amount of emphasis that is needed to continue a program for the safe use of ladders

16.5 OSHA LADDER STANDARDS

The following is a summary of the OSHA standards for ladders and not the complete regulation

16.5.1 FIXEDLADDERS(29 CFR 1910.27)

between any two consecutive rungs Fixed ladders must also support added antici-pated loads caused by ice buildup, winds, rigging, and impact loads resulting from

the use of ladder safety device s Fixed ladders must be used at a pitch no great er than

landing plat form eith er by the c ontinuation of the rung spaci ngs as horiz ontal grab bars or by providing vertical grab bars that must ha ve the same late ral spaci ng as the

support a load of at least 250 lb appli ed in the middle of the step or rung

1991, must be corrugated, knurled, dimpled, coated with skid- resistant material , or

ladder rungs, cleat s, an d steps and any obstructi on behind the ladder must be 7 in., except that the clear ance for an elevator pit ladder must be 4.5 in The minimum

steps, and any obstr uction on the climbi ng side of the ladder must be 30 in If obstructio ns a re u navoidable, clear ance may be reduced to 24 in., provi ded a

nearest edge of a landi ng area must be no less than 7 in and no more than 12 in A landing platform must be provi ded if the step- across distance exceeds 12 in (30 cm) Fixed ladders without cages or wells must have at least a 15 in clear wi dth to the nearest perman ent object on each side of the center line of the ladder

Fixed ladder s must be provi ded with cages, wel ls, ladder safet y device s, or self-retracting lifelin es wher e the length of climb is less than 24 ft but the top o f the ladder

is at a distance great er than 24 ft above lower level s If the total length of the climb

fixed ladders must be equipped with either (1) ladder safety devices; (2) self-retracting lifelines and rest platforms at intervals not to exceed 150 ft; or (3) a cage or well, and multiple ladder sections, each ladder section not to exceed 50 ft

in length These ladder sections must be offset from adjacent sections, and landing

top level or landing platform served by the ladder Parapet ladders must have an access level at the roof if the parapet is cut to permit passage through it; if the parapet

is continuous, the access level is the top of the parapet Steps or rungs for through-fixed-ladder extensions must be omitted from the extension; and the extension of

rails When safety devices are provided, the maximum clearance distance between side rail extensions must not exceed 36 in

Cages must not extend less than 27 in., or more than 30 in from the centerline of the step or rung, and must not be less than 27 in wide The inside of the cage must be clear of projections

Horizontal bands must be fastened to the side rails of rail ladders or directly to the structure, building, or equipment for individual rung ladders Horizontal bands

must be spaced at intervals not more than 4 ft apart measured from centerline to centerline

Vertical bars must be on the inside of the horizontal bands and must be fastened

to them Vertical bars must be spaced at intervals not more than 9.5 in., measured centerline to centerline

The bottom of the cage must be between 7 and 8 ft above the point of access to

4 in between the bottom horizontal band and the next higher band The top of the cage must be a minimum of 42 in above the top of the platform or the point of access

at the top of the ladder Provisions must be made for access to the platform or any other point of access

Wells must completely encircle the ladder Wells must be free of projections The inside face of the well on the climbing side of the ladder must extend between

27 and 30 in from the centerline of the step or rung The inside width of the well must be at least 30 in The bottom of the well above the point of access to the bottom

of the ladder must be between 7 and 8 ft

All safety devices must be able to withstand, without failure, a drop test consisting of a 500 lb weight dropping 18 in They must permit the worker to ascend

or descend without continually having to hold, push, or pull any part of the device, leaving both hands free for climbing All safety devices must be activated within 2 ft

The connection between the carrier or lifeline and the point of attachment to the body harness must not exceed 9 in in length

Mountings for rigid carriers must be attached at each end of the carrier, with intermediate mountings, spaced along the entire length of the carrier, to provide the

with a spacing between 25 and 40 ft along the entire length of the carrier, to prevent wind damage to the system The design and installation of mountings and cable guides must not reduce the strength of the ladder Side rails and steps or rungs for

as with a plywood attachment that spans several rungs

16.5.2 PORTABLELADDERS(29 CFR 1910.25AND.26)

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 The ability of a self-supporting ladders to sustain loads must be determined by applying the load to the ladder in a downward vertical direction The ability of a non-self-supporting ladder to sustain loads must be determined by applying the load in a downward vertical direction

When portable ladders are used for access to an upper landing surface, the side rails must extend at least 3 ft 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 climbing up and down A ladder

supports

Ladders must be maintained free of oil, grease, and other slipping hazards Ladders must not be loaded beyond the maximum intended load for which they

for the purpose for which they were designed Non-self-supporting ladders must be used at an angle where the horizontal distance from the top support to the foot of the ladder is approximately one-quarter of the working length of the ladder Wood job-made ladders with spliced side rails must be used at an angle where the horizontal distance is one-eighth the working length of the ladder

Ladders must be used only on stable and level surfaces unless secured to prevent accidental movement Ladders must not be used on slippery surfaces unless secured

or provided with slip-resistant feet to prevent accidental movement Slip-resistant

feet must not be used as a substitute for the care in placing, lashing, or holding a ladder upon slippery surfaces Ladders placed in areas such as passageways,

must be secured to prevent accidental movement or a barricade must be used to keep

ladders must be kept clear

The top of a non-self-supporting ladder must be placed with two rails supported equally unless it is equipped with a single support attachment Ladders must not be displaced or extended while in use Ladders must have nonconductive side rails if used in proximity to exposed energized electrical equipment

The top step of a stepladder must not be used as a step Crossbracing on the rear section of stepladders must not be used for climbing unless the ladders are designed and provided with steps for climbing on both front and rear sections

Ladders must be periodically inspected by a competent person for visible defects and after any incident that could affect their safe use Single-rail ladders must not be used

When ascending or descending a ladder, the worker must face the ladder Each worker must use at least one hand to grasp the ladder when climbing A worker on a

and fall

A double-cleated ladder or two or more ladders must be provided when ladders are the only way to enter or exit a work area having 25 or more employees, or when a

parallel, level, and uniformly spaced when the ladder is in position for use Rungs,

Rungs, cleats, and steps of step stools must not be less than 8 in apart, nor more than

12 in apart, between centerlines of the rungs, cleats, and steps

Ladders must not be tied or fastened together to create longer sections unless

be provided on each stepladder to hold the front and back sections in an open position when the ladder is being used Two or more separate ladders used to reach an elevated work area must be offset with a platform or landing between the

Ladder components must be surfaced to prevent injury from punctures or lacerations, and prevent snagging of clothing Wooden ladders must not be coated

placed only on one face of a side rail

or steps, broken or split rails, corroded components or other faulty or defective

or something to that effect and withdrawn from service until repaired Ladder repairs must restore the ladder to its original design before the ladder can be reused Under the provisions of the OSHA standards, employers must provide a training program for each employee using ladders and stairways The program must enable each employee to recognize hazards related to ladders and stairways and to use

proper procedures to minimize these hazards For example, employers must ensure that each employee is trained by a competent person in the following areas, as applicable:

protection systems to be used

stair-ways and ladders

16.6 LADDER CHECKLIST

A checklist is an excellent method to determine ladder safety and OSHA compliance Figure 16.6 depicts an example of a ladder checklist

Ladder checklist Answer the following questions yes or no to determine compliance or presence of ladder hazards:

Yes & No & Are only Type 1 or Type 1A industrial ladders are used?

Yes & No & Do steps on ladders a minimum load capacity of 250 lb?

Yes & No & Are all ladders inspected for damage before use?

Yes & No & Are ladders shall not placed against movable objects?

Yes & No & Are ladders placed to prevent movement by lashing or other means? Yes & No & Are employees shoes are free of mud, grease, or other substances that

could cause a slip or fall?

Yes & No & Are ladders not placed on unstable bases such as boxes or barrels? Yes & No & Do employees not on the top two steps of a stepladder?

Yes & No & Is a ladder used to gain access to a roof extends at least 3 ft above the

point of support, at eave, gutter, or roof line?

Yes & No & Are stepladders fully opened to permit the spreaders to lock?

Yes & No & Are all labels in place and legible on ladders?

Yes & No & Are ladder always moved to prevent and avoid overreaching?

Yes & No & Are single ladders not more than 30 ft in length?

Yes & No & Do extension ladders up to 36 ft have a 3 ft overlap between sections? Yes & No & Do extension ladders over 36 ft and up to 48 ft have a 4 ft overlap between

sections?

Yes & No & Do extension ladders over 48 ft and up to 60 ft have a 5 ft overlap between

sections?

Yes & No & Do two-section extension ladders not exceed 48 ft in total length? Yes & No & Do ladders ever two-section not exceed 60 ft in total length?

Yes & No & Are ladders not used horizontally as scaffolds, runways, or platforms? Yes & No & Is the area around the top and base of ladders kept free of tripping hazards

such as loose materials, trash, cords, hoses, and leaves?

Yes & No & Is the base of a straight or extension ladders set back a safe distance from

FIGURE 16.6 Ladder safety checklist