- Standard
Number: 1917.119
- Standard
Title: Portable ladders.
- SubPart
Number: F
- SubPart
Title: Terminal Facilities
- Applicable
Standard: Applicable Standard:
(a)
Scope
and applicability. This section applies to all portable
ladders, including job-made ladders for temporary use,
unless otherwise specified.
(b)
Standards
for existing manufactured portable ladders.
(b)(1)
Rungs
of manufactured portable ladders obtained before October
3, 1983, shall be capable of supporting a 200-pound (890
N) load without deformation.
(b)(2)
Rungs
shall be evenly spaced from 9 to 16 1/2 inches (22.9 to
41.9 cm), center to center.
(b)(3)
Rungs
shall be continuous members between rails. Each rung of
a double-rung ladder (two side rails and a center rail)
shall extend the full width of the ladder.
(b)(4)
Width
between side rails at the base of the ladder shall be
at least 12 inches (30 cm) for ladders 10 feet (3.05 m)
or less in overall length, and shall increase at least
1/4 inch (0.6 cm) for each additional 2 feet (0.61 m)
of ladder length.
..1917.119(c)
(c)
Standards
for manufactured portable ladders. Portable manufactured
ladders obtained after January 21, 1998 shall bear identification
indicating that they meet the appropriate ladder construction
requirements of the following standards:
ANSI
A14.1-1990 Safety Requirements for Portable Wood Ladders
ANSI A14.2-1990 Safety Requirements for Portable Metal
Ladders
ANSI A14.5-1992 Safety Requirements for Portable Reinforced
Plastic Ladders
(d)
Standards
for job-made portable ladders. Job-made ladders shall:
(d)(1)
Have
a minimum and uniform distance between rungs of 12 inches
(30 cm), center to center;
(d)(2)
Are
capable of supporting a 250-pound (1120 N) load without
deformation; and
(d)(3)
Have
a minimum width between side rails of 12 inches (30 cm)
for ladders 10 feet (3.05 m) in height. Width between
rails shall increase at least 1/4 inch (0.6 cm) for each
additional 2 feet (0.61 m) of ladder length.
(e)
Maintenance
and inspection.
(e)(1)
The
employer shall maintain portable ladders in safe condition.
Ladders with the following defects shall not be used and
either shall be tagged as unusable if kept on the premises
or shall be removed from the worksite:
(e)(1)(i)
Broken,
split or missing rungs, cleats or steps;
..1917.119(e)(1)(ii)
(e)(1)(ii)
Broken
or split side rails;
(e)(1)(iii)
Missing
or loose bolts, rivets or fastenings;
(e)(1)(iv)
Defective
ropes; or
(e)(1)(v)
Any
other structural defect.
(e)(2)
Ladders
shall be inspected for defects prior to each day's use,
and after any occurrence, such as a fall, which could
damage the ladder.
(f)
Ladder
usage.
(f)(1)
Ladders
made by fastening rungs or devices across a single rail
are prohibited.
(f)(2)
Ladders
shall not be used:
(f)(2)(i)
As
guys, braces or skids; or
(f)(2)(ii)
As
platforms, runways or scaffolds.
(f)(3)
Metal
and wire-reinforced ladders with wooden side rails shall
not be used when employees on the ladder might come into
contact with energized electrical conductors.
..1917.119(f)(4)
(f)(4)
Individual
sections from different multi-sectional ladders or two
or more single straight ladders shall not be tied or fastened
together to achieve additional length.
(f)(5)
Except
for combination ladders, self-supporting ladders shall
not be used as single straight ladders.
(f)(6)
Unless
intended for cantilever operation, non-self-supporting
ladders shall not be used to climb above the top support
point.
(f)(7)
Ladders
shall extend at least 36 inches (0.91 m) above the upper
support level if employees are to leave or mount the ladder
at that level, except that where such extension is impractical
other equivalent means such as grab bars may be used to
provide a hand grip.
(f)(8)
Ladders
shall be securely positioned on a level and firm base.
(f)(9)
Ladders
shall be fitted with slip-resistant bases and secured
at top or bottom to prevent the ladder from slipping.
(f)(10)
The
employer shall direct that ladders shall be placed so
that employees climbing are not exposed to injury from
projecting objects or doors that open toward the ladder.
[62
FR 40141, July 25, 1997]
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