['Walking Working Surfaces', 'Fall Protection']
['Fall Protection', 'Ladders', 'Falling Object Protection', 'Walking Working Surfaces']
03/28/2025
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Washington’s state requirements regarding ladders include a substantial amount of regulatory information beyond the federal requirements. A summary of the additional requirements includes the following:
- Train and retrain employees who use ladders according to WAC 296-876-150 and WAC 296-876-15005.
Our summary for portable ladders is as follows:
- Washington state’s portable ladder design/construction requirements do not apply to “special purpose ladders.”
- Portable ladders and wooden job-made ladders must meet the following American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standards as appropriate:
Portable ladders manufactured: Must meet: On or after 1/1/2006 ANSI A14.1-2000 ANSI A14.2-2000 ANSI A14.5-2000 ANSI A14.4-2002 Before 1/1/2006 ANSI A14.1 (in effect on date of manufacture) ANSI A14.2 (in effect on date of manufacture) ANSI A14.5 (in effect on date of manufacture) - Portable ladder side rails must not be split.
- A competent person must inspect portable ladders according to WAC 296-876-30005.
- Before subjecting a portable ladder to acid or alkali, talk to a qualified person about possible ladder corrosion and weakening.
- Repair portable ladders only according to WAC 296-876-30010.
- Store portable ladders only according to WAC 296-876-30015.
- Transport portable ladders only according to WAC 296-876-30020.
- Unlike OSHA, Washington state allows for a more upright placement for job-made ladders with splice side rails. Washington state allows these ladders to be placed so that the horizontal distance from the top support to the foot of the ladder is 1/8 or less of the working length of the ladder (the length along the ladder between the foot and the top support).
- Keep the area near the top and bottom of a portable ladder clear.
- Unlike OSHA, Washington state allows employers to use a ladder that is not long enough to reach three feet above the landing surface, but only if the criteria at WAC 296-876-40030 are met.
- Use a platform or landing between two or more ladders used to reach a work area.
- Meet the criteria set at WAC 296-876-40035 when using metal ladders or other ladders around high static electrical fields.
- Protect employees on ladders by ensuring they and their ladders meet WAC 296-876-40040.
- Ensure multisection ladders are used according to 296-876-40045, including required overlap.
- Unlike OSHA, Washington state allows employees to stand on the top step of a stepladder or trestle ladder, but only if the top step is 18 inches or more below the top cap.
- Washington state, unlike OSHA, defines the several additional terms at WAC 296-876-099, including: failure, job-made ladder, ladder type, maximum intended load, reinforced plastic, reinforced plastic ladder, and working length.
Our summary for fixed ladders is as follows:
- If fixed ladders are installed on or after December 1, 2006, they must meet ANSI A14.3-2002, American National Standard for Ladders-Fixed-Safety Requirements.
- If fixed ladders are installed before December 1, 2006, they must meet WAC 296-876-600. However, employers may install fixed ladders according to ANSI A14.3-2002, in order to meet WAC 296-876-600.
- WAC 296-876-60010 differs considerably from OSHA regulations as it relates to load design. Moreover, fixed wooden ladders must meet ANSI A14.1, American National Standard for Ladders-Portable Wood-Safety Requirements (the ANSI edition effective at installation), with regard to design stresses for wood components.
- WAC 296-876-60020 says that fixed ladders must meet ANSI A14.3, American National Standard for Ladders-Fixed-Safety Requirements (the ANSI edition effective at installation), with regard to welding.
- Rung, cleat, and step diameter and spacing must follow 296-876-60030.
- WAC 296-876-60035 calls for uniform side rails. Also, if side rails are spliced, they must have strength equivalent to a single side rail.
- WAC 296-876-60040 adds a clearance exception for fixed ladders in elevator pits.
- WAC 296-876-60045 calls for a step-across distance not less than 7 inches, but not greater than 12 inches, for through ladders and for side-step ladders.
- WAC 296-876-60050 calls for the rungs to have not less than 24 nor more than 30 inches clearance between the side rails. However, if a ladder safety device is provided, the clearance may go up to 36 inches.
- WAC 296-876-60055 differs from OSHA regulations as it relates to hatch design.
- WAC 296-876-60060 calls for landing platforms 30 inches or more in width.
- WAC 296-876-60065 calls for cages, wells, or ladder safety systems where the top is over 24 feet, but the climb length is less than 24 feet. However, if the ladder has a single length of 24 feet or more, then a ladder safety device must be used, or multiple ladder sections are provided in accordance with WAC 296-876-60065. An exception is provided for construction activities. New fixed ladders constructed after October 1, 2020, must incorporate ladder safety systems. Employers have until October 1, 2040, to equip preexisting fixed ladders with ladder safety systems/personal fall arrest systems.
- WAC 296-876-60070 adds that cages must “have provisions for accessing and egressing the platform or the point of access or egress of the ladder.”
- WAC 296-876-60070 says that the cage must not extend less than 27 nor more than 30 inches from the centerline of the rung or step of the ladder, except for cage flares.
- WAC 296-876-60070 adds fastening requirements for horizontal bands.
- WAC 296-876-60075 adds that wells must encircle the ladder and be free of projections, and adds design requirements for the wall at the bottom of the well.
- WAC 296-876-60080 adds several requirements for ladder safety devices.
- WAC 296-876-70005 requires protecting metal ladders against corrosion and deterioration.
- WAC 296-876-70010 adds several requirements for fixed ladder inspection and repair.
- WAC 296-876-80010 adds requirements for climbing and descending fixed ladders.
- Washington state defines the several additional terms at WAC 296-876-099.
To ensure that you are in compliance with these requirements, click on the following links to view the state and federal regulations regarding ladders:
Washington:
WAC 296-876 Portable and fixed ladders
WAC 296-878 Safety standards for window cleaning
WAC 296-880 Unified safety standards for fall protection
Federal: 29 CFR 1910.23 and .28
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['Walking Working Surfaces', 'Fall Protection']
['Fall Protection', 'Ladders', 'Falling Object Protection', 'Walking Working Surfaces']
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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.