Portable ladder users must comply with OSHA and the law of gravity
The most common causes of falls from portable ladders include using an extension ladder at the wrong angle and ladders tipping from unstable footing or employees overreaching. Employees can easily avoid these hazards with proper training and diligence, whereas carelessness could give them an unpleasant lesson on gravity.
The OSHA regulation on fall protection at 1910.28 does not apply to portable ladders. Most locations where employees use ladders do not have a suitable anchor point, so a requirement for fall protection would be burdensome. Employees must therefore rely on safe work practices like ensuring a stable surface.
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health found that about 40 percent of ladder-related falls occur when the base of an extension ladder slides out because it was too far from the wall. The American Ladder Institute noted that tips commonly occur due to unstable ground, or because the employee reached too far to the side.
Safe work practices
Although employees must maintain three points of contact while climbing or descending a ladder, they can use both hands to perform tasks upon reaching the working height. Whenever possible, however, they should work with only one hand and maintain a grip on the ladder with the other. Rather than reaching to the side, employees should climb down and move the ladder closer to the task area.
Employees are not generally required to tie off an extension ladder. However, the regulation at 1910.23(c)(4) states that ladders must be used only on stable and level surfaces “unless they are secured or stabilized to prevent accidental displacement.” If the ground is soft or uneven, employees must secure the ladder. This could prevent the base from sliding if the angle was not ideal, and it could help avoid a fall if the ladder feet shift.
The most common ladder violation is failing to extend the rails at least three feet above an upper landing surface, such as a roof, as required under 1910.23(c)(11). Likely related to this (and to unstable ground), the California Department of Industrial Relations reported that twice as many falls occur when descending a ladder as compared to climbing.
Training should cover ladder use and inspections, evaluating the work area for hazards, and ensuring proper setup and stability. For related information, see our article Stepping up safety with proper ladder inspections.
Guarding the work area
Warning cones or signs around ladders aren’t required if anyone approaching the work area can see the ladder from a safe distance. However, the regulation at 1910.23(c)(7) states that if ladders are used in passageways, doorways, driveways, or similar areas, the ladder must either be secured against displacement or guarded by traffic cones, caution tape, or similar means.
Since portable ladders are often used where pedestrians or vehicles pass by, employees should place cones or other warning signs around the work area. Maintaining a clear area around the ladder can also help prevent injuries if the employee on the ladder accidentally drops a tool or other object. Gravity applies to objects as well!
Key to remember: Evaluating a ladder work area for hazards, ensuring proper setup, and following safe work practices will significantly reduce the risk that employees become victims of gravity.