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The fixed ladder requirements are in addition to the requirements for all ladders. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) also uses performance-based requirements for fixed ladders.
OSHA has several requirements for fixed ladders, including:
OSHA focused on the requirements for fixed ladder extension areas. The goal is to allow workers to safely transfer from the fixed ladder to the landing surface. Several requirements include:
OSHA requires the following when a fixed ladder ends at a hatch cover:
Note: In a letter of interpretation (LOI) from July 27, 2000, OSHA addressed a question of whether fixed ladders that terminate at a hatch must have grab bars extending above, since they may interfere with closing the hatch. OSHA noted that the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standard A14.3-1992, Safety Requirements for Fixed Ladders, section 5.2.3.1, Extensions for Individual Rung Ladders, stipulates that the general requirement for extension of the ladder above the access/egress level does not apply to ladders “intended for manholes and terminations with hatches.” However, OSHA also noted that guardrails around the opening may be necessary. If the hinged cover is left up while workers are on the roof, the hole would need to be guarded.
Additional fixed ladder requirements include:
OSHA requires that fixed ladders without cages or wells have a clear width of at least 15 inches (38 cm) on each side of the ladder centerline to the nearest object (e.g., a wall) and a minimum perpendicular distance of 30 inches (76 cm) from the centerline of the steps or rungs to the nearest object on the climbing side.
The fixed ladder requirements are in addition to the requirements for all ladders. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) also uses performance-based requirements for fixed ladders.
OSHA has several requirements for fixed ladders, including:
OSHA focused on the requirements for fixed ladder extension areas. The goal is to allow workers to safely transfer from the fixed ladder to the landing surface. Several requirements include:
OSHA requires the following when a fixed ladder ends at a hatch cover:
Note: In a letter of interpretation (LOI) from July 27, 2000, OSHA addressed a question of whether fixed ladders that terminate at a hatch must have grab bars extending above, since they may interfere with closing the hatch. OSHA noted that the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standard A14.3-1992, Safety Requirements for Fixed Ladders, section 5.2.3.1, Extensions for Individual Rung Ladders, stipulates that the general requirement for extension of the ladder above the access/egress level does not apply to ladders “intended for manholes and terminations with hatches.” However, OSHA also noted that guardrails around the opening may be necessary. If the hinged cover is left up while workers are on the roof, the hole would need to be guarded.
Additional fixed ladder requirements include:
OSHA requires that fixed ladders without cages or wells have a clear width of at least 15 inches (38 cm) on each side of the ladder centerline to the nearest object (e.g., a wall) and a minimum perpendicular distance of 30 inches (76 cm) from the centerline of the steps or rungs to the nearest object on the climbing side.