['Walking Working Surfaces', 'Fall Protection']
['Falling Object Protection', 'Fall Protection', 'Walking Working Surfaces', 'Ladders']
03/26/2025
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Most of California’s requirements for ladders are identical to the federal requirements; however, the state adds further requirements. Click the link below to view the applicable requirements.
Citations
California: Title 8, Division 1, Chapter 4, Subchapter 7
Federal: 29 CFR 1910.23 and .28
A summary of the additional requirements includes the following:
- 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.
- Cleat Ladders longer than 30 feet cannot be used.
- The wood side rails of ladders having cleat steps cannot be less than 1 1/2 inches thick and 3 1/2 inches deep (2 by 4 inches nominal).
- Wood cleats need to be inset into side rails not less than 1/2-inch or attached directly to the edge of the side rails. Filler blocks of the thickness of the cleats need to be securely attached to the edge of the rail for the full length between cleats, or equivalent construction. The cleats need to be fastened to each rail by three 10-d wire nails or equivalent.
- The cleats on a double cleat ladder must extend the full width of the ladder.
- Employees must not sit, kneel, step or stand on the pail shelf, topcap or the step below the topcap of a stepladder.
- Exception:Employees may stand on the step below the topcap provided it is located 18 inches under the topcap.
Extra requirements for portable metal ladders
- Cross-bracing on the rear section of stepladders cannot be used for climbing unless the ladders are designed and provided with steps for climbing on both front and rear sections.
- These ladders cannot be used near electrical circuits if there is a risk of coming in contact with the circuits. The ladders need to be legibly marked with “CAUTION—Do Not Use Around Electrical Equipment” or equivalent.
Extra requirements for fixed laddersInclude the following:
- If materials other than steel, aluminum, and wood are used, they must meet the design, fabrication, and erection requirements.
- Wood ladders may be coated with a clear sealant after inspection.
- Ladder safety system, which includes a carrier and its associated attachments, safety sleeve, and full body harness and connectors.
- Ladder cage extensions and vertical guardrail extensions.
- More stringent measurements for deflector plates for head hazards, relationship of fixed ladder to a safe access hatch, suggested design for rungson individual-rung ladders, and cages for ladders more than 20 feet high.
- There are specific requirements for the use of ladders that are permanently attached to date palm trees, including the use of 12-gauge galvanized wire fasteners, which are securely connected to the ladder section in three places; and corrosion-resistant steel safety chains that securely attach to the ladder rails below the top rung and around the crown of the tree. When ladders are used in tandem, they must be connected to each other by a safety chain that securely attaches the ladder rails to the tree. The ladder requirements prohibit more than two ladder sections to be permanently attached to a date palm, and more than one worker on the ladder at any one time. Specific ladder and chain dimensions are also included in Cal/OSHA Regulation 3458.1.
Specific requirements for fixed ladder use on outdoor advertising structures.
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['Walking Working Surfaces', 'Fall Protection']
['Falling Object Protection', 'Fall Protection', 'Walking Working Surfaces', 'Ladders']
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Copyright 2025 J. J. Keller & Associate, Inc. For re-use options please contact copyright@jjkeller.com or call 800-558-5011.