Using a ladder may seem like a basic task, but ladder-related injuries continue to be a serious problem in workplaces across all industries. Whether the job requires climbing a few feet or reaching significant heights, improper ladder use can quickly lead to severe injuries or fatalities.
Many ladder incidents are preventable. Choosing the wrong ladder, using damaged equipment, setting a ladder on an unstable surface, overreaching, standing on the top step, or carrying an awkward load while climbing can turn an ordinary task into a fall hazard.
Ladder Safety in the Workplace
Knowing how to safely use a ladder should be a basic part of workplace safety training. Even a fall from a relatively low height can cause fractures, head injuries, back injuries, or other serious harm.
According to OSHA, falls from portable ladders are one of the leading causes of occupational fatalities and injuries. NIOSH reports that more than 500,000 people in the United States are treated for ladder injuries each year, including both workplace and non-workplace incidents, and approximately 300 people die annually from ladder-related incidents.
OSHA Ladder Safety Requirements
OSHA establishes requirements for ladders used in the workplace. The specific requirements that apply can depend on the industry and type of ladder being used.
OSHA Standard 1910.23 covers ladders in general industry and includes requirements for ladder condition, inspection, use, positioning, and load capacity. Construction employers must also follow applicable requirements under OSHA’s construction ladder standard, 1926.1053.
Following OSHA requirements is important, but safe ladder use also depends on workers recognizing hazards and using ladders according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
OSHA Ladder Inspection Requirements
A ladder should never be assumed safe simply because it was used without a problem the day before. Damage can occur during use, transportation, handling, or storage.
OSHA Standard 1910.23(b)(9) states that the employer must ensure that ladders are inspected before initial use in each work shift, and more frequently as necessary, to identify any visible defects that could cause employee injury.
Inspect Ladders Before Every Use
Before climbing a ladder, visually inspect it for conditions that could make it unsafe. Look for:
- Missing, broken, cracked, or damaged rungs or steps
- Bent, cracked, split, or damaged side rails
- Loose, missing, or damaged bolts, rivets, screws, or other fasteners
- Damaged or missing feet
- Defective spreaders or locking devices
- Corrosion or other deterioration
- Oil, grease, mud, or other slippery substances on steps, rungs, or feet
- Damaged labels or markings that are necessary for safe use
- Any other visible condition that could affect the ladder’s strength or stability
A ladder with structural or other defects must be removed from service. OSHA requires defective ladders to be tagged with “Dangerous: Do Not Use” or similar language and removed from service until properly repaired or replaced.
Workers should not improvise ladder repairs with wire, tape, screws, or other makeshift fixes.
Choose the Right Ladder for the Job
Ladder safety starts with selecting the correct ladder. Workers sometimes create unnecessary hazards because the ladder available nearby is not actually the right ladder for the task.
Consider the ladder’s type, length, duty rating, material, and the conditions where it will be used.
Check the Ladder’s Load Capacity
Never exceed a ladder’s maximum intended load. Remember that the load includes more than the worker’s body weight. Tools, equipment, materials, and anything else being carried or supported by the ladder contribute to the total load.
Read the manufacturer’s labels and markings before use and make sure the ladder is rated for the work being performed.
Use Ladders Only as Designed
OSHA requires ladders to be used only for the purposes for which they were designed.
A step ladder should not be folded or leaned against a wall and used like a straight ladder unless it was specifically designed for that configuration. One side of a disassembled step ladder should never be used as an extension or straight ladder.
Do not improvise with chairs, boxes, buckets, shelving, or other objects when the correct ladder is not available.
Set Up the Ladder on a Stable Surface
Even a ladder in perfect condition can become dangerous when it is set up improperly.
Portable ladders should be placed on stable and level surfaces unless they are properly secured or stabilized to prevent accidental displacement. Before climbing, check the area around the ladder and make sure its feet have firm support.
Do not place a ladder on boxes, barrels, pallets, or other unstable objects to gain additional height.
The surrounding work area also matters. A ladder positioned in a doorway, passageway, driveway, or other traffic area can be struck or displaced by people, vehicles, equipment, or opening doors. Where necessary, secure the ladder or protect the area with an appropriate temporary barricade.
Safe Climbing and Ladder Use Practices
Once the correct ladder has been inspected and properly positioned, workers still need to use safe climbing practices.
OSHA Standard 1910.23(b)(11) states that the employer must ensure that each employee faces the ladder when climbing up or down it.
OSHA also requires employees to use at least one hand to grasp the ladder while climbing and prohibits carrying objects or loads that could cause a worker to lose balance and fall.
Maintain Control While Climbing
When climbing a ladder:
- Face the ladder while climbing up or down.
- Maintain secure contact with the ladder.
- Keep your body centered between the side rails.
- Climb slowly and deliberately.
- Wear footwear appropriate for the work and conditions.
- Keep ladder rungs and steps free from slippery materials.
- Avoid carrying anything that could interfere with your balance or ability to climb safely.
OSHA’s portable ladder safety guidance recommends maintaining three-point contact while climbing, meaning two hands and one foot or two feet and one hand are in contact with the ladder.
Proper Step Ladder Safety
Step ladders are common in workplaces, but their familiar design can sometimes lead workers to underestimate the hazards.
Before using a step ladder, fully open it and make sure the spreaders or locking devices are engaged. All four feet should have stable contact with the supporting surface.
When using a step ladder:
- Never use the top step or cap as a step.
- Never face away from the ladder while climbing.
- Do not overreach or lean excessively to one side.
- Do not move or shift the ladder while someone is on it.
- Do not use a step ladder in a closed or partially closed position unless it was specifically designed for that use.
- Keep your body centered between the side rails.
- Climb down and reposition the ladder when you cannot comfortably reach the work.
Trying to save a few seconds by stretching or leaning from a ladder can significantly increase the chance of losing balance or causing the ladder to tip.
Extension Ladder Safety
Extension ladders present additional hazards because they are non-self-supporting and must be positioned correctly against a stable support.
The ladder’s angle is especially important. NIOSH identifies incorrect extension ladder setup angle as one of the major causes of ladder falls.
A common guideline for positioning a straight or extension ladder is the 4-to-1 rule. For approximately every four feet of vertical working length, the base should be positioned about one foot away from the supporting surface.
When an extension ladder is used to access an upper landing, OSHA construction requirements generally require the side rails to extend at least 3 feet above the landing surface. When that extension is not possible, the ladder must be secured at the top to a rigid support and a grasping device must be provided to assist workers when getting on and off the ladder.
Never move, shift, or extend an extension ladder while someone is on it.
Ladder Safety Around Electrical Hazards
Electrical hazards should be considered when selecting and positioning a ladder.
Before setting up or carrying a ladder, look for overhead power lines, exposed energized electrical equipment, and other potential sources of electrical contact.
Metal ladders conduct electricity and can create an electrocution hazard when used near energized electrical equipment or power lines. Select an appropriate nonconductive ladder when electrical hazards are present and maintain required clearances from energized equipment and power lines.
Avoid Overreaching on a Ladder
Overreaching is a common example of improper ladder use. As a worker leans farther to one side, their center of gravity can move outside the ladder’s side rails, increasing the possibility of losing balance or tipping the ladder.
Never overreach to avoid climbing down and repositioning the ladder.
If you cannot comfortably reach the work while keeping your body centered, climb down safely and move the ladder closer. Taking a few extra moments to reposition the ladder is safer than trying to stretch beyond a stable working position.
Keep the Area Around Ladders Clear
Good housekeeping is another important part of ladder safety.
Keep the areas around the top and bottom of ladders clear of tools, materials, cords, debris, and other obstructions. Workers should have enough room to safely approach, climb, descend, and move away from the ladder.
Also consider what is happening around the ladder. Pedestrians, forklifts, vehicles, doors, and other workplace activities can create hazards even when the person using the ladder is following safe climbing practices.
Ladder Safety Training and Toolbox Talks
Workers who use ladders should understand how to recognize ladder hazards and how to select, inspect, set up, climb, and use ladders correctly.
A ladder safety meeting or toolbox talk can reinforce important practices such as:
- Inspecting ladders before use
- Selecting the right ladder for the task
- Understanding ladder load ratings
- Setting ladders on stable and level surfaces
- Maintaining safe contact while climbing
- Avoiding overreaching
- Recognizing electrical hazards
- Removing damaged ladders from service
- Following manufacturer instructions and warning labels
Ladder safety training is especially valuable because workers may become comfortable with ladders they use frequently. Familiarity should never replace proper inspection and safe work practices.
Preventing Workplace Ladder Falls
Most ladder safety precautions are straightforward, but they only work when they are followed consistently. Choosing the right ladder, inspecting it before use, setting it up correctly, maintaining control while climbing, and repositioning instead of overreaching can help prevent ladder falls and injuries.
Whether a ladder is used every day or only occasionally, workers should never treat climbing as a routine task that does not require attention. Every ladder use should begin with the same question: Is this the right ladder, in safe condition, and set up properly for the work?
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