MODULE 19: Stairways and Ladders

Metal pan landings. Metal pan landings and metal pan treads must be secured in place before filling

Door opens directly to a stairway. In those places where doors or gates open directly to a stairway, a platform must be provided that is at least 20 inches in width beyond the swing of the door.

A platform's swinging door has a potential fall of 10 feet. Remember that a guardrail system may be needed on a platform with a swinging door to protect from potential falls of six feet or more.

Riser height or tread depth. Stairways must have uniform riser height and tread depth; variations in riser height or tread depth shall not be over ¼ inch in any stairway system.

Stairway isn't a permanent part of the structure. Stairway landings at least 30 inches deep and 22 inches wide, at every 12 feet or less of vertical rise, are essential for stairways which are not a permanent part of the structure.

No Handrails and stair rails are used to protect workers from falling when using stairways. The clearance of temporary handrails must be at least three inches between handrail and walls, stair rail systems, and other objects.

No The ends of stair rail systems and handrails must be constructed to prevent dangerous projections such as rails protruding beyond the end posts of the system.

Yes Stair rail systems and handrails must be surfaced to prevent injuries such as punctures or lacerations and to keep clothing from snagging. Furthermore, unprotected sides and edges of stairway landings must be provided with a guardrail system.

Yes Stairway landings at least 30 inches deep and 22 inches wide, at every 12 feet or less of vertical rise, are essential for stairways which are not a permanent part of the structure.

No Stairways must have uniform riser height and tread depth; variations in riser height or tread depth shall not be over ¼ inch in any stairway system.

Yes It is mandatory for employers to provide a stairway or ladder at points of access where the elevation between 2 steps is 19 inches or more.

19 inches

30 and 50 degrees

30

4

200

When stairways are not a permanent part of the structure, the stairway landing must be at least 30 inches deep and 22 inches wide, at every 12 feet or less of vertical rise.

30 Handrails must be provided for all stairways that have four or more risers, or are higher than 30 inches. If there is a fall hazard of six feet or more on an exposed side of the stairs, then a stair rail system must be provided to prevent workers from falling off the side.

30 and 50 Stairways must be between 30 and 50 degrees from the horizontal.

Not higher than 37 inches nor less than 30 inches Normally, handrails must not be higher than 37 inches nor less than 30 inches when measured from the upper surface of the handrail to the surface of the tread. However, if the top edge of a stair rail system is serving as a handrail, it cannot be less than 36 inches, nor more than 37 inches, from the upper surface of the rail to the tread.

3 Handrails and stair rails are used to protect workers from falling when using stairways. The clearance of temporary handrails must be at least three inches between the handrail and walls, stair rail systems, and other objects.

Safe Before using portable ladders always inspect for cracks, dents, and missing rungs; rungs must be designed to minimize slipping risk.

Unsafe Ladders shall not be used on slippery surfaces unless secured or provided with slip-resistant feet to prevent accidental displacement. Slip-resistant feet shall not be used as a substitute for care in placing, lashing, or holding a ladder that is used upon slippery surfaces including, but not limited to, flat metal or concrete surfaces that are constructed so they cannot be prevented from becoming slippery.

Unsafe Portable ladders must be able to withstand four times their maximum load.

Unsafe Never try to use the top or top step of a stepladder as a step; otherwise, it could lead to a severe accident.

Safe Never try to overload ladders beyond their capacities; the manufacturer's rated capacity must be taken into consideration.

Unsafe Side rails of portable ladders must be at least 11.5 inches apart.

Never Never try to use the top or top step of a stepladder as a step; otherwise, it could lead to a severe accident.

Sometimes Do not use crossbracing on the rear of stepladder for climbing, unless the ladders are designed for that purpose.

Always This is always a good idea. And the broken ladder should be removed from use and fixed.

Sometimes Always use ladders on stable and level surfaces, unless they are precisely designed for other surfaces.

Never Never try to overload ladders beyond their capacities; the manufacturer's rated capacity must be taken into consideration.

Sometimes Do not lash ladders together to make a long ladder, unless they are designed for that purpose.

Always Always use ladders only for their designed purposes. Better safe than sorry.

Never Ladders must be kept in a safe and good working condition. This ladder needs to be tagged and removed from use until it has been fixed.

Ladder in a doorway Ladders placed in areas such as passageways, doorways, or where they can be displaced by workplace activities or traffic must be secured to prevent accidental movement, or a barricade must be used to keep traffic or activities away from the ladder.

Ladder used for two-way simultaneous traffic Always use double-cleated ladders when ladders are the only way to enter and exit a working area with 25 or more employees and when ladders are used for two-way simultaneous traffic.

Ladder with missing rung Ladders with structural defects such as broken or missing rungs, cleats, or steps; broken or split rails must be immediately marked or tagged with "Do Not Use" or similar language, and should be removed from service until they have been properly repaired.

Ladder used near energized electrical equipment Ladders must be constructed with nonconductive side rails if they are used in places where the employee or the ladder could contact exposed energized electrical equipment.

Using a stepladder to change a light bulb A metal spreader or locking device must be provided on each stepladder to hold the front and back sections in an open position when the ladder is being used.

Correct Fixed ladders must be able to support at least two loads of 250 pounds each, concentrated between any two consecutive attachments.

Incorrect

Correct Never use varnish or any other opaque covering on wood ladders.

Correct It is mandatory to equip fixed ladders of 24 feet or more in height by using methods of protection such as ladder safety devices or a cage or well, and multiple ladder sections, each section not exceeding 50 feet.

Incorrect When portable ladders are used to access an upper landing surface, the side rails must extend at least three feet above the upper landing surface.

The distance between the foot and the top support The working length of a ladder is the distance between the foot and the top support.

3 feet When portable ladders are used to access an upper landing surface, the side rails must extend at least three feet 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.

On the outside face of one side rail Warning labels may be placed on the outside face of one side rail.

4 Portable ladders must be able to withstand four times their maximum load.

Mark it as defective and tag it DO NOT USE. A competent person must inspect ladders for visible defects like broken or missing rungs. If a defective ladder is found, it must be immediately marked as defective, or tagged DO NOT USE, and removed from the jobsite immediately.

Yes The top of a non-self-supporting ladder shall be placed with the two rails supported, unless it is equipped with a single support attachment.

No Non-self-supporting ladders shall be used at an angle such that the horizontal distance from the top support to the foot of the ladder is approximately one-fourth of the working length of the ladder (the distance along the ladder between the foot and top support).

Yes Ladder rungs and steps shall be parallel, level, and uniformly spaced when the ladder is in position for use.

No Ladder rungs and steps shall be parallel, level, and uniformly spaced when the ladder is in position for use.

No Single-rail ladders shall not be used.

Ladder rungs are 10 inches apart, A portable ladder with a maximum intended load of at least 200 pounds, End frames ladders in elevator shafts have rungs spaced 6 inches apart, A portable ladder with a maximum intended load of at least 300 pounds, The minimum toe clearance between ladder rungs and obstructions behind the ladder is seven inches. Ladders have to be able to handle the weight of an average worker plus any tools. Regular ladder rungs need to be further apart than those on ladders in elevators shafts or on scaffolds.

You're using a portable ladder to get to an upper landing, but you can't extend the side rails three feet above it like you're supposed to. What should you use? When portable ladders are used to access an upper landing surface, the side rails must extend at least three feet 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.

What is required for stairways that have four or more risers? Handrails must be provided to all stairways that have four or more risers, or are higher than 30 inches. If there is a fall hazard of six feet or more on an exposed side of the stairs, then a stair rail system must be provided to prevent workers from falling off the side.

What's a good way to protect workers on a platform with a swinging door when there's a risk of falling six feet or more? A guardrail system may be needed on a platform with a swinging door to protect from potential falls of six feet or more.

When two or more separate ladders are used to reach a work area, what should be used to offset the ladders? Ladders should be offset with a landing platform between each ladder when two or more separate ladders are used to reach a work area.

When you're using a stepladder what would be a good thing to hold the front and back sections securely in an open position? A metal spreader or locking device shall be provided on each stepladder or combination ladder when used in the stepladder mode to hold the front and back sections securely in an open position.

What should you always do before you use any kind of ladder? Before using portable ladders, or any other type of ladder, always inspect for cracks, dents, and missing rungs; rungs must be designed to minimize slipping risk.

What is required for a ladder with broken or missing rungs? It is necessary that a competent person must inspect ladders for visible defects, like broken or missing rungs; if a defective ladder is found, immediately mark it defective or tag it "Do Not Use".

Which type of ladder must be used at an angle such that the horizontal distance from the top support to the foot of the ladder is approximately one-fourth of the working length of the ladder? Which type of ladder must be used at an angle such that the horizontal distance from the top support to the foot of the ladder is approximately one-fourth of the working length of the ladder?

What is required when you're going to be using a ladder near exposed energized electrical equipment? Ladders must be constructed with nonconductive side rails if they are used in places where the employee or the ladder could contact exposed energized electrical equipment.

What do you need when ladders are the only way to enter and exit a working area with 25 or more employees? Always use double-cleated ladders when ladders are the only way to enter and exit a working area with 25 or more employees and when ladders are used for two-way simultaneous traffic.

Single-rail ladders should not be used. Ladders should be used only on stable and level surfaces unless secured to prevent their accidental displacement. Non-self-supporting ladders should not be used on slippery surfaces unless secured or provided with slip-resistant feet to prevent accidental displacement. Single-rail ladders should not be used.Single-rail ladders should not be used.

For a ladder to be considered in position and ready to use, its rungs and steps must be level and uniformly spaced. Ladder rungs and steps must not be spaced less than 10 inches apart or more than l4 inches apart, as measured between the centerlines of the rungs, cleats, or steps.

The ladder must be secured at the top and a grasping device must be provided to assist workers with mounting and dismounting. When a ladder used to access an upper landing surface does not extend at least three feet above that surface, the ladder must be secured at the top and a grasping device must be provided to assist workers with mounting and dismounting.

6 Workers who use ladders higher than six feet must receive training on how to inspect ladders and use them properly.

When they are specifically designed for that purpose. Ladders and ladder sections should not be tied or fastened together to provide longer length unless they are specifically designed for that purpose.

A nonconductive material All ladders should be made of a non-conductive material, such as fiberglass, when using the ladder near energized electrical equipment or power lines.

In the conical sections of manholes For example, in conical sections of manholes, ladders having a pitch in excess of 90 degrees from the horizontal can be used.

Ladders that are purposely manufactured for scaffolds access and egress Ladders that are purposely manufactured for scaffolds access and egress are not covered by the OSHA standards for stairways and ladders.

Not higher than 37 inches nor less than 36 inches A top edge of a stair rail system serving as a handrail must not be higher than 37 inches nor less than 36 inches when measured from the upper handrail surface to the tread.

19 According to OSHA employers must provide a stairway or a ladder at points of access where the elevation between two steps is 19 inches or more.

Between 10 and 14 inches Ladder rungs must be spaced between 10 and 14 inches from each other.

A platform OSHA Standards state that a platform must be provided where doors or gates open directly onto a stairway.

1/4 OSHA requires that workers should always position a ladder at an angle where the horizontal distance from the top support to the foot of the ladder is 1/4 the working length of the ladder.

At least 11.5 inches apart According to OSHA, the side rails of portable ladders must be at least 11.5 inches apart.

200 OSHA Standards require that handrails and guardrails must withstand 200 pounds or more.