Subpart XSubpart XLadders and StairwaysLadders and Stairways

29 CFR 1926.1050-106029 CFR 1926.1050-1060

Presented By:Presented By:

Joshua C. RohrigJoshua C. Rohrig

E-Mail E-Mail josh.rohrig@gtri.gatech.edujosh.rohrig@gtri.gatech.edu

General Requirements:General Requirements:29 CFR 1926.105129 CFR 1926.1051

A stairway or ladder must be provided A stairway or ladder must be provided when there is a break of elevation 19 when there is a break of elevation 19 inches or greater.inches or greater.

Spiral staircases shall not be used Spiral staircases shall not be used unless it is part of the permanent unless it is part of the permanent structure.structure.

Passageways must be clear if it is the Passageways must be clear if it is the only means of access or egress on any only means of access or egress on any working level. working level.

General Requirements General Requirements Cont.Cont.

When work is required to be done in When work is required to be done in the access/egress area, another the access/egress area, another means must be provided for the means must be provided for the employees to exit and/or enter.employees to exit and/or enter.

A Double-cleated ladder or two or A Double-cleated ladder or two or more separate ladders must be more separate ladders must be provided when there are 25 or more provided when there are 25 or more employees on any working level.employees on any working level.

StairwaysStairways29 CFR 1926.105229 CFR 1926.1052

Stairway Requirements: A) Stairway Requirements: A) Temporary stairways must have 30 Temporary stairways must have 30 inch landing in the inch landing in the direction of travel and 22 inches wide every direction of travel and 22 inches wide every 12 feet. 12 feet.

B) Riser height and tread depth must B) Riser height and tread depth must be be uniform and variations must uniform and variations must not not exceed 1/4 inch. exceed 1/4 inch.

C) Stairways must be installed between 30 C) Stairways must be installed between 30 and 50 degrees from horizontal.and 50 degrees from horizontal.

Stairway Requirements Stairway Requirements Cont.Cont.

D) A platform must be provided when D) A platform must be provided when doors or gates open into the stairways. doors or gates open into the stairways. E)E) All parts of the stairway system All parts of the stairway system shall be free from hazardous shall be free from hazardous projections. projections.

F) Metal pans must be filled prior to F) Metal pans must be filled prior to use.use. G) Slippery conditions must be G) Slippery conditions must be eliminated prior to use.eliminated prior to use.

Handrail, Stairrail and Handrail, Stairrail and Midrail RequirementsMidrail Requirements

Stairrail Requirements:Stairrail Requirements:

A) Stairrails are required when there are A) Stairrails are required when there are 4 or more risers or an elevation change 4 or more risers or an elevation change of 30+ inches.of 30+ inches.

B) The height of stairrails must be:B) The height of stairrails must be:

1) 36 inches installed after 1) 36 inches installed after March 15, 1991. March 15, 1991.

2) Between 30-34 inches before 2) Between 30-34 inches before March 15, 1991. March 15, 1991.

Handrail, Stairrail and Midrail Handrail, Stairrail and Midrail Requirements (Cont.)Requirements (Cont.)

Midrail Requirements:Midrail Requirements:A) Midrails must be installed A) Midrails must be installed

midway between the steps and the top midway between the steps and the top rail.rail. B) When screens or mesh are B) When screens or mesh are used as a midrail, they must used as a midrail, they must extend extend from the top rail to from the top rail to the floor.the floor. C) Vertical members C) Vertical members used as midrails must not exceed 19 used as midrails must not exceed 19 inches between members.inches between members.

Handrail, Stairrail and Midrail Handrail, Stairrail and Midrail Requirements (Cont.)Requirements (Cont.)

Handrail and Starrail Requirements: Handrail and Starrail Requirements: A) Must be able to withstand 200 A) Must be able to withstand 200

lbs force applied in any lbs force applied in any direction. direction. B) Must be separated B) Must be separated from the wall by at least 3 inches. from the wall by at least 3 inches. C) Must have a C) Must have a safe surface. safe surface. D) The ends D) The ends cannot be a projection cannot be a projection hazard. hazard.

LaddersLadders29 CFR 1926.105329 CFR 1926.1053

Ladders must be able to hold the Ladders must be able to hold the following loads without failure:following loads without failure: A) A) Self-supporting and non-self supporting Self-supporting and non-self supporting portable ladders. portable ladders.

1) Must be able to withstand 4 1) Must be able to withstand 4 times the maximum times the maximum

intended intended load. (3.3 for extra load. (3.3 for extra heavy heavy duty ladders) duty ladders)

Ladders Loading Ladders Loading Requirements Cont.Requirements Cont.

B) Fixed LaddersB) Fixed Ladders

1) Must be able to hold 250 1) Must be able to hold 250 lbs lbs on two consecutive rungs. on two consecutive rungs.

Ladder RequirementsLadder Requirements

Ladder rungs must be spaced evenly.Ladder rungs must be spaced evenly. Ladder rungs must be made out of a slip Ladder rungs must be made out of a slip

resistant material.resistant material. Ladders should not be tied or fastened Ladders should not be tied or fastened

together to provide longer sections together to provide longer sections unless it was designed that way.unless it was designed that way.

Step ladders are required to have a Step ladders are required to have a locking spreader bar.locking spreader bar.

Ladder Requirements Ladder Requirements Cont.Cont.

Wood ladders can’t be covered with any Wood ladders can’t be covered with any opaque material.opaque material.

Ladder components should be surfaced Ladder components should be surfaced to prevent injury.to prevent injury.

Fixed LaddersFixed Ladders

Fixed ladders should have one of the Fixed ladders should have one of the following safety devices installed if it following safety devices installed if it extends above 24 feet: extends above 24 feet: A) Cage or wellA) Cage or wellB) Ladder safety devicesB) Ladder safety devices C) C) Self retracting lifelines Self retracting lifelines

*Refer to *Refer to 1926.1053(a)(19-22) for specific 1926.1053(a)(19-22) for specific requirements on fixed ladder safety requirements on fixed ladder safety devices.devices.

Use of Ladders Cont.Use of Ladders Cont.

Ladders should extend 3 feet Ladders should extend 3 feet above the landing above the landing surface.surface.

A 4/1 ratio should be used to set up A 4/1 ratio should be used to set up ladders.ladders.

Use of ladders Cont.Use of ladders Cont.

Ladders should be maintained free from Ladders should be maintained free from oil, grease, and other slipping hazards.oil, grease, and other slipping hazards.

Ladders should not be loaded beyond Ladders should not be loaded beyond the manufacturers intended loading the manufacturers intended loading capacity.capacity.

Ladders should be used only for the Ladders should be used only for the purpose it was designed.purpose it was designed.

Use of Ladders Cont.Use of Ladders Cont.

Ladders should only be used on level Ladders should only be used on level and secure ground unless it is and secure ground unless it is stabilized. stabilized.

Ladders should not be used on slippery Ladders should not be used on slippery surfaces unless it is secured or it has surfaces unless it is secured or it has slip-resistant feet.slip-resistant feet.

Ladders placed in areas where they can Ladders placed in areas where they can be displaced should be secured or be displaced should be secured or barricaded. barricaded.

Use of Ladders Cont.Use of Ladders Cont.

The area around the top and bottom of The area around the top and bottom of the ladder should be kept clear.the ladder should be kept clear.

Ladders should not be moved, shifted, Ladders should not be moved, shifted, or extended while occupied.or extended while occupied.

Employees working around electrical Employees working around electrical sources should use nonconductive sources should use nonconductive ladders.ladders.

The top of a step ladder should not be The top of a step ladder should not be used.used.

Use of Ladders Cont.Use of Ladders Cont.

Ladders should be inspected by a Ladders should be inspected by a competent person on regular intervals competent person on regular intervals or after an occurrence that could affect or after an occurrence that could affect its safe use.its safe use.

Any ladder with structural defects Any ladder with structural defects should be tagged out of service.should be tagged out of service.

Single-rail ladders should not be used.Single-rail ladders should not be used.

Use of Ladders Cont.Use of Ladders Cont.

When ascending or descending the When ascending or descending the ladder, the user should always face the ladder, the user should always face the ladder.ladder.

Employees should use at least one hand Employees should use at least one hand to grasp the ladder when ascending or to grasp the ladder when ascending or descending the ladder.descending the ladder.

Employees should not carry any items Employees should not carry any items that may cause the employee to loose that may cause the employee to loose balance.balance.

Training RequirementsTraining Requirements29 CFR 1926.106029 CFR 1926.1060

Training is required for all employees Training is required for all employees that use ladders and stairways.that use ladders and stairways.

Training must be conducted by a Training must be conducted by a competent person. The competent competent person. The competent person must address the following person must address the following items: items:

A) The nature of all hazards in the A) The nature of all hazards in the work area. work area.

Training Cont.Training Cont.

B) Procedures for erecting, B) Procedures for erecting, maintaining, and disassembling the fall maintaining, and disassembling the fall protection used.protection used.C) The proper construction, use, C) The proper construction, use, placement, and care of stairways placement, and care of stairways

and ladders. and ladders.D) The maximum intended load of D) The maximum intended load of laddersladdersE) The standards.E) The standards.