About OSHA Regulations Ladders

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration develops safety standards and guidelines that are meant to keep employees safe. OSHA devises safety regulations for ladders so that workers know how to safely use and place ladders in a way that prevents accidents and injuries.

Loads

• In order for foldout and leaning portable ladders to be considered safe to use, OSHA says they must have the capability to hold, at minimum, four times the maximum intended load. This regulation serves as a precaution to ensure that the weight of workers who climb portable ladders will be properly supported. Extra-heavy-duty metal and plastic ladders only need to support 3.3 times the maximum weight.

Slip Prevention

• Slipping on the step of a ladder can result in a serious injury, so OSHA ladder regulations state that ladders must always be kept free of oil, paint, liquids and other slippery substances. The steps of ladders should be maintained in a dry condition, and whenever debris is leftover from workers' shoes the steps should be washed off prior to the next use.

Angles

• The way a ladder is positioned can impact how safe it is to climb. Leaning ladders rely on walls or other solid structures to lean against, and must be tilted at an angle that is not too narrow and not too wide.