Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 38, September 20, 2024
(a)
Scope. This section is intended to prescribe rules and establish minimum
requirements for the design, construction, selection, care, and use of all
self-supporting and non-self-supporting portable ladders, in order to insure
safety under normal conditions of usage. This section does not apply to ladder
type step stools or other types of step stools except for the definition of
"step stool (ladder type)" in subsection (b) and the design and construction
requirements of subsection (c)(5).
(b) Definitions.
Extension Ladder. An extension ladder is a
non-self-supporting portable ladder adjustable in length. It consists of two or
more sections traveling in guides or brackets so arranged as to permit length
adjustment. Its size is designated by the sum of the lengths of the sections
measured along the side rails.
Extension Trestle Ladder. An extension trestle ladder
is a self-supporting portable ladder, adjustable in length, consisting of a
trestle ladder base and a vertically adjustable single ladder, with suitable
means for locking the ladders together. The size is designated by the length of
the trestle ladder base.
Ladders. A ladder is an appliance usually consisting of
two side rails joined at regular intervals by crosspieces called steps, rungs,
or cleats, on which a person may step in ascending or descending.
Sectional Ladder. A sectional ladder is a
non-self-supporting portable ladder, nonadjustable in length, consisting of two
or more sections of ladder so constructed that the sections may be combined to
function as a single ladder. Its size is designated by the overall length of
the assembled sections.
Side-Rolling Ladder. A side-rolling ladder is a
semifixed ladder, nonadjustable in length, supported by attachments to a guide
rail, which is generally fastened to shelving, the plane of the ladder being
also its plane of motion.
Single Ladder. A single ladder is a non-self-supporting
portable ladder, nonadjustable in length, consisting of but one section. Its
size is designated by the overall length of the side rail.
Single-Rail Ladder. A ladder with rungs, cleats, or
steps mounted on a single-rail instead of the normal two rails used on most
other ladders.
Special-Purpose Ladder. A special-purpose ladder is a
portable ladder which represents either a modification or a combination of
design or construction features in one of the general-purpose types of ladders
previously defined, in order to adapt the ladder to special or specific
uses.
Step Ladder. A step ladder is a self-supporting
portable ladder, nonadjustable in length, having flat steps and a hinged back.
Its size is designated by the overall length of the ladder measured along the
front edge of the side rails.
Step stool (ladder type). A self-supporting, foldable,
portable ladder, nonadjustable in length, 32 inches or less in length, with
flat steps and without a pail shelf, designed so that the ladder top cap as
well as all steps can be climbed on. The side rails may extend above the
top-cap but such extension is not considered as part of the step stool
length.
Trestle Ladder. A trestle ladder is a self-supporting
portable ladder, nonadjustable in length, consisting of two sections hinged at
the top to form equal angles with the base. The size is designated by the
length of the side rails measured along the front edge.
Trolley Ladder. A trolley ladder is a semifixed ladder,
nonadjustable in length, supported by attachments to an overhead track, the
plane of the ladder being at right angles to the plane of
motion.
(c) Design and
Construction.
(1) Portable wood ladders
placed in service after January 7, 2011 shall meet the design and construction
requirements of ANSI A14.1-2007, American National Standard for Ladders -- Wood
Safety Requirements, which is hereby incorporated by reference. Portable wood
ladders placed in service on or before January 7, 2011, shall meet the design
and construction requirements of the ANSI A14.1 standard in effect at the time
such ladders were placed in service.
EXCEPTION: Portable job-made cleat ladders that are
designed and constructed in accordance with the requirements of Section
1676 of the Construction Safety
Orders.
(2) Portable metal
ladders placed in service after January 7, 2011, shall meet the design and
construction requirements of ANSI A14.2-2007, American National Standard for
Ladders -- Portable Metal -- Safety Requirements, which is hereby incorporated
by reference. Portable metal ladders placed in service on or before January 7,
2011, shall meet the design and construction requirements of either the ANSI
A14.2 standard or the ANSI A14.10 standard, American National Standard for
Ladders -- Portable Special Duty Ladders, in effect at the time such ladders
were placed in service.
(3)
Portable reinforced plastic ladders placed in service after January 7, 2011,
shall meet the design and construction requirements of ANSI A14.5-2007,
American National Standard for Ladders -- Portable Reinforced Plastic -- Safety
Requirements, which is hereby incorporated by reference. Portable reinforced
plastic ladders placed in service on or before January 7, 2011, shall meet the
design and construction requirements of either the ANSI A14.5 standard or the
ANSI A14.10 standard in effect at the time such ladders were placed in
service.
(4) Portable special
purpose ladders that are not covered by one of the ANSI A14 standards
referenced in this section shall be designed and constructed in accordance with
sound engineering principles and approved per Section
3206.
(5) Ladder type step stools shall be designed
and constructed such that the rungs, cleats, and steps are not less than 8
inches apart, or more than 12 inches apart, as measured between center lines of
the rungs, cleats, and steps.
(d) Selection.
(1) Ladders shall be selected and their use
restricted to the purpose for which the ladder is designed. Single-rail ladders
shall not be used.
(A) Scaffolds or other
worker positioning equipment shall be used when work cannot be safely done from
ladders.
(B) Portable ladders are
generally designed for one-person use to meet the requirements of the person,
the task, and the environment. When selecting a ladder for use, consideration
shall be given to the ladder length or height required, the working load, the
duty rating, worker position to the task to be performed, and the frequency of
use to which the ladder will be subjected.
NOTE: Subsection (e)(16)(D) prohibits the use of
ladders that exceed specified maximum lengths.
(2) Ladders shall be used according to the
following duty classifications:
| Duty
Rating | Ladder Type | Working
Load (Pounds) |
| Special Duty | IAA | 375 |
| Extra Heavy-Duty | IA | 300 |
| Heavy-Duty | I | 250 |
| Medium-Duty | II | 225 |
| Light-Duty | III | 200 |
(3) Ladders used in connection with ladder
jack scaffolds shall be Type I, IA, or IAA duty rated ladders and shall be
installed and used in accordance with the Construction Safety Orders, Section
1648.
(4) Ladders used in connection with outdoor
advertising structures shall be Type I, IA, or IAA duty rated and shall be used
in accordance with Section
3413.
(e) Care, Use, Inspection and Maintenance of
Ladders.
(1) Maintenance. Ladders shall be
maintained in good condition at all times, the joint between the steps and side
rails shall be tight, all hardware and fittings securely attached, and the
movable parts shall operate freely without binding or undue play. Metal ladders
shall not be exposed to acid or alkali materials that are capable of corroding
the ladder and reducing the ladder's strength, unless the employer obtains and
follows the recommendations of the ladder manufacturer or a qualified person
regarding exposure to corrosive materials.
(2) Inspection. Ladders shall be inspected by
a qualified person for visible defects frequently and after any occurrence that
could affect their safe use.
(3)
Damaged Ladders. Ladders that have developed defects shall be withdrawn from
service for repair or destruction; and tagged or marked as "Dangerous, Do Not
Use" or with similar language. Ladders with broken or missing steps, rungs,
cleats, safety feet, side rails, or other defects shall not be used.
(4) Cleaning. Ladders shall be free of oil,
grease, or slippery materials.
(5)
Surface Coatings.
Wood ladders shall not be painted with other than a
transparent material.
(6)
Loading. Portable ladders shall not be overloaded when used.
(7) Footing Support. The ladder base section
of surface supported ladders shall be placed on a secure and level footing.
When necessary, ladder levelers shall be used to achieve equal rail support on
uneven surfaces. Ladders shall not be placed on boxes, barrels or other
unstable bases to obtain additional height. Ladders shall not be used on ice,
snow or slippery surfaces unless suitable means to prevent slippage have been
employed.
(8) Top Support. The top
of non-self-supporting ladders such as single and extension ladders shall be
placed with the two rails supported equally, unless a single support attachment
is provided and used.
The top rest for portable rung and cleat ladders shall
be reasonably rigid and shall have ample strength to support the applied
load.
(9) Angle of
Inclination. Non-self-supporting ladders such as single ladders and extension
ladders shall, where possible, be used at such a pitch that the horizontal
distance from the top support to the foot of the ladder is one-quarter of the
working length of the ladder (the length along the ladder between the foot and
the top support). The ladder shall be so placed as to prevent slipping, or it
shall be tied, blocked, held, or otherwise secured to prevent slipping. Ladders
shall not be used in a horizontal position as platforms, runways, or scaffolds
unless designed for such use.
(10)
Access to Elevated Work Areas. Except when portable ladders are used to gain
access to fixed ladders (such as those on utility towers, billboards, and other
structures where the bottom of the fixed ladder is elevated to limit access),
when two or more separate ladders are used to reach an elevated work area, the
ladders shall be offset with a platform or landing between the
ladders.
(11) Access to Landings.
When portable ladders are used for access to an upper landing surface, the side
rails shall extend not less than 36 inches above the upper landing surface to
which the ladder is used to gain access; or when such an extension is not
possible, then the ladder shall be secured at its top to a rigid support that
will not deflect, and a grasping device, such as a grab-rail, shall be provided
to assist employees in mounting and dismounting the ladder. In no case shall
the extension be such that ladder deflection under a load would, by itself,
cause the ladder to slip off its support.
EXCEPTION NO . 1: A grasping device such as a grab-rail
is not required where the employee is protected by personal fall protection
system in accordance with Article 24 of the Construction Safety Orders, Article
36 of the High-Voltage Electrical Safety Orders, Article 12 of the General
Industry Safety Orders, or Article 1 of the Telecommunication Safety Orders.
Operations or conditions not specifically covered by Article 36 of the
High-Voltage Electrical Safety Orders, Article 12 of the General Industry
Safety Orders, or Article 1 of the Telecommunication Safety Orders shall comply
with the fall protection provisions of Article 24 of the Construction Safety
Orders.
EXCEPTION NO . 2: The provisions of this subsection do
not apply to emergency rescue and emergency rescue training operations where it
is not practical to extend a portable ladder 36 inches or more above the
landing surface.
(12)
Fastening Together. Ladders shall not be tied or fastened together to provide
longer sections unless the ladders are designed for such use and equipped with
the necessary hardware fittings.
(13) Erection of Extension Ladders. Extension
ladders shall always be erected so that the top section (fly section) is above
and resting on the bottom section (base section) with the rung locks
engaged.
(14) Ladder Placement.
Ladders shall not be placed in passageways, doorways, driveways, or any
location where they may be displaced by activities being conducted on any other
work, unless protected by barricades or guards.
(15) Climbing and Working on Ladders.
(A) The employee shall climb or work with the
body near the middle of the step or rung and shall not overreach from this
position. When necessary to avoid overreaching, the employee shall descend and
reposition the ladder. When it is not practical to work with the body near the
middle of the step or rung, the ladder shall be secured to the top support, and
the employee shall be protected by a personal fall protection system in
accordance with Article 36 of the High-Voltage Electrical Safety Orders,
Article 24 of the Construction Safety Orders, Article 12 of the General
Industry Safety Orders, or Article 1 of the Telecommunication Safety Orders.
Operations or conditions not specifically covered by Article 36 of the
High-Voltage Electrical Safety Orders, Article 12 of the General Industry
Safety Orders, or Article 1 of the Telecommunication Safety Orders shall comply
with the fall protection provisions of Article 24 of the Construction Safety
Orders.
(B) Employees shall be
prohibited from carrying equipment or materials which prevent the safe use of
ladders.
(C) When ascending or
descending a ladder, the user shall face the ladder and maintain contact with
the ladder at three-points at all times.
NOTE: Contact with the ladder at three points means two
feet and one hand, or two hands and one foot which is safely supporting the
user's weight.
(D) An
employee shall not be permitted to stand and work on the top 3 rungs of a
single or extension ladder unless there are members of the structure that
provide a firm handhold or the employee is protected by a personal fall
protection system in accordance Article 24 of the Construction Safety Orders,
Article 36 of the High Voltage Electrical Safety Orders, Article 12 of the
General Industry Safety Orders, or Article 1 of the Telecommunication Safety
Orders.
(E) Employees shall not
sit, kneel, step or stand on the pail shelf, topcap or the step below the
topcap of a step ladder.
EXCEPTION: Employees may stand on the step below the
topcap provided it is located 18 inches under the topcap.
(F) Cross-bracing on the rear section of step
ladders shall not be used for climbing unless the ladders are designed and
provided with steps for climbing on both front and rear sections.
(G) Ladders shall not be moved, shifted, or
extended while occupied, unless the ladder is designed and recommended for this
purpose by the manufacturer.
(16) Prohibited Uses.
(A) Ladders shall not be used as a brace,
skid, guy or gin pole, gang-way, or for other uses than that for which they
were intended, unless specifically recommended for use by the
manufacturer.
(B) Planks shall not
be used on the top step or topcap of step ladders.
(C) Step ladders shall not be used as single
ladders or in the partially closed position.
(D) Ladders that exceed the following maximum
lengths shall not be used:
| Ladder
Type | Maximum Length (Feet) |
| Step
ladder.......................... | ..........................20 |
| Two-section extension ladder
(wood).......................... | ..........................60 |
| Two-section extension ladder
(metal).......................... | ..........................48 |
| Three-section extension ladder
(metal).......................... | ..........................60 |
| Two-section extension ladder (reinforced
plastic).......................... | ..........................72 |
| Trestle
ladder.......................... | ..........................20 |
| Extension trestle ladder base
section.......................... | ..........................20 |
| Extension trestle ladder extension
section.......................... | ..........................20 |
| Painter's step
ladder.......................... | ..........................12 |
| Mason's
ladder.......................... | ..........................40 |
| Cleat
ladder.......................... | ..........................30 |
| Trolley ladder or side-rolling
ladder.......................... | ..........................20 |
| Single
ladder.......................... | ..........................30 |
(E) Two section extension ladders shall not
be used when the overlap between the sections is less than the following
minimum overlap:
| Ladder Size
(Feet) | Minimum Overlap (Inches) |
| Up to and including
32.......................... | ..........................36 |
| Over 32, up to and including
36.......................... | ..........................46 |
| Over 36, up to and including
48.......................... | ..........................58 |
| Over 48, up to and including
60.......................... | ..........................70 |
(17) Portable rung ladders with reinforced
rails shall be used only with the metal reinforcement on the under
side.
(18) Electrical Hazards.
Non-conductive ladders shall be used in locations where the ladder or user may
contact unprotected energized electrical conductors or equipment. Conductive
ladders shall be legibly marked with signs reading "CAUTION--Do Not Use Around
Electrical Equipment," or equivalent wording.
NOTE: Additional requirements for working in proximity
to energized electrical equipment can be found in Article 37 of the Electrical
Safety Orders.
(19) The area
around the top and bottom of a ladder shall be kept clear.
(f) Employee Training. Before an employee
uses a ladder, the employee shall be provided training in the safe use of
ladders, unless the employer can demonstrate that the employee is already
trained in ladder safety as required by this subsection. Supervisors of
employees who routinely use ladders shall also be provided ladder safety
training, unless the employer can demonstrate that the supervisor is already
trained in ladder safety as required by this subsection. The training may be
provided as part of the employer's Injury and Illness Prevention Program
required by Section
3203. The training shall address
the following topics, unless the employer can demonstrate a topic is not
applicable to the safe use of ladders in the employer's workplace.
(1) Importance of using ladders safely,
including: frequency and severity of injuries related to falls from
ladders.
(2) Selection, including:
types of ladders, proper length, maximum working loads, and electrical
hazards.
(3) Maintenance,
inspection, and removal of damaged ladders from service.
(4) Erecting ladders, including: footing
support, top support, securing, and angle of inclination.
(5) Climbing and working on ladders,
including: user's position and points of contact with the ladder.
(6) Factors contributing to falls, including:
haste, sudden movement, lack of attention, footwear, and user's physical
condition.
(7) Prohibited uses,
including: uses other than designed, climbing on cross bracing, maximum
lengths, and minimum overlap of extension ladder sections.
1.
Renumbering and amendment of former section 3276 to section
3275 and new section 3276 filed
12-11-90; operative 1-10-91 (Register 91, No. 3). For prior history, see
Register 85, No. 9).
2. Amendment of subsection (a)(3) and new
subsection (a)(4) filed 6-1-92; operative 7-1-92 (Register 92, No.
23).
3. New subsection (b) and explanatory Note filed 6-16-98;
operative 7-16-98 (Register 98, No. 25).
4. Renumbering of former
section 3276 to section
3278 and renumbering and amendment
of former section
3278 to new section 3276 filed
12-8-2010; operative 1-7-2011 (Register 2010, No. 50).
5. Amendment
of subsection (e)(15)(E) and new EXCEPTION filed 12-29-2011; operative
1-28-2012 (Register 2011, No. 52).
6. Amendment of subsections (b)
and (d)(1) filed 2-8-2012; operative 3-9-2012 (Register 2012, No.
6).
Note: Authority cited: Section
142.3, Labor
Code. Reference: Section
142.3, Labor
Code.
