[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 29, Volume 5]
[Revised as of January 1, 2007]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 29CFR1910.25]
[Page 121-123]
TITLE 29--LABOR
CHAPTER XVII--OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT
OF LABOR
PART 1910_OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH STANDARDS--Table of Contents
Subpart D_Walking-Working Surfaces
Sec. 1910.25 Portable wood ladders.
(a) Application of requirements. This section is intended to
prescribe rules and establish minimum requirements for the construction,
care, and use of the common types of portable wood ladders, in order to
insure safety under normal conditions of usage. Other types of special
ladders, fruitpicker's ladders, combination step and extension ladders,
stockroom step ladders, aisle-way step ladders, shelf ladders, and
library ladders are not specifically covered by this section.
(b) Materials--(1) Requirements applicable to all wood parts. (i)
All wood parts shall be free from sharp edges and splinters; sound and
free from accepted visual inspection from shake, wane, compression
failures, decay, or other irregularities. Low density wood shall not be
used.
(ii) [Reserved]
(2) [Reserved]
(c) Construction requirements.
(1) [Reserved]
[[Page 122]]
(2) Portable stepladders. Stepladders longer than 20 feet shall not
be supplied. Stepladders as hereinafter specified shall be of three
types:
Type I--Industrial stepladder, 3 to 20 feet for heavy duty, such as
utilities, contractors, and industrial use.
Type II--Commercial stepladder, 3 to 12 feet for medium duty, such as
painters, offices, and light industrial use.
Type III--Household stepladder, 3 to 6 feet for light duty, such as
light household use.
(i) General requirements.
(a) [Reserved]
(b) A uniform step spacing shall be employed which shall be not more
than 12 inches. Steps shall be parallel and level when the ladder is in
position for use.
(c) The minimum width between side rails at the top, inside to
inside, shall be not less than 11\1/2\ inches. From top to bottom, the
side rails shall spread at least 1 inch for each foot of length of
stepladder.
(d)-(e) [Reserved]
(f) A metal spreader or locking device of sufficient size and
strength to securely hold the front and back sections in open positions
shall be a component of each stepladder. The spreader shall have all
sharp points covered or removed to protect the user. For Type III
ladder, the pail shelf and spreader may be combined in one unit (the so-
called shelf-lock ladder).
(3) Portable rung ladders.
(i) [Reserved]
(ii) Single ladder. (a) Single ladders longer than 30 feet shall not
be supplied.
(b) [Reserved]
(iii) Two-section ladder. (a) Two-section extension ladders longer
than 60 feet shall not be supplied. All ladders of this type shall
consist of two sections, one to fit within the side rails of the other,
and arranged in such a manner that the upper section can be raised and
lowered.
(b) [Reserved]
(iv) Sectional ladder. (a) Assembled combinations of sectional
ladders longer than lengths specified in this subdivision shall not be
used.
(b) [Reserved]
(v) Trestle and extension trestle ladder. (a) Trestle ladders, or
extension sections or base sections of extension trestle ladders longer
than 20 feet shall not be supplied.
(b) [Reserved]
(4) Special-purpose ladders.
(i) [Reserved]
(ii) Painter's stepladder. (a) Painter's stepladders longer than 12
feet shall not be supplied.
(b) [Reserved]
(iii) Mason's ladder. A mason's ladder is a special type of single
ladder intended for use in heavy construction work.
(a) Mason's ladders longer than 40 feet shall not be supplied.
(b) [Reserved]
(5) Trolley and side-rolling ladders--(i) Length. Trolley ladders
and side-rolling ladders longer than 20 feet should not be supplied.
(ii) [Reserved]
(d) Care and use of ladders--(1) Care. To insure safety and
serviceability the following precautions on the care of ladders shall be
observed:
(i) Ladders shall be maintained in good condition at all times, the
joint between the steps and side rails shall be tight, all hardware and
fittings securely attached, and the movable parts shall operate freely
without binding or undue play.
(ii) Metal bearings of locks, wheels, pulleys, etc., shall be
frequently lubricated.
(iii) Frayed or badly worn rope shall be replaced.
(iv) Safety feet and other auxiliary equipment shall be kept in good
condition to insure proper performance.
(v)-(ix) [Reserved]
(x) Ladders shall be inspected frequently and those which have
developed defects shall be withdrawn from service for repair or
destruction and tagged or marked as ``Dangerous, Do Not Use.''
(xi) Rungs should be kept free of grease and oil.
(2) Use. The following safety precautions shall be observed in
connection with the use of ladders:
(i) Portable rung and cleat ladders shall, where possible, be used
at such a pitch that the horizontal distance from the top support to the
foot of the ladder is one-quarter of the working length of the ladder
(the length along the ladder between the foot and the top
[[Page 123]]
support). The ladder shall be so placed as to prevent slipping, or it
shall be lashed, or held in position. Ladders shall not be used in a
horizontal position as platforms, runways, or scaffolds;
(ii) Ladders for which dimensions are specified should not be used
by more than one man at a time nor with ladder jacks and scaffold planks
where use by more than one man is anticipated. In such cases, specially
designed ladders with larger dimensions of the parts should be procured;
(iii) Portable ladders shall be so placed that the side rails have a
secure footing. The top rest for portable rung and cleat ladders shall
be reasonably rigid and shall have ample strength to support the applied
load;
(iv) Ladders shall not be placed in front of doors opening toward
the ladder unless the door is blocked upon, locked, or guarded;
(v) Ladders shall not be placed on boxes, barrels, or other unstable
bases to obtain additional height;
(vi)-(vii) [Reserved]
(viii) Ladders with broken or missing steps, rungs, or cleats,
broken side rails, or other faulty equipment shall not be used;
improvised repairs shall not be made;
(ix) Short ladders shall not be spliced together to provide long
sections;
(x) Ladders made by fastening cleats across a single rail shall not
be used;
(xi) Ladders shall not be used as guys, braces, or skids, or for
other than their intended purposes;
(xii) Tops of the ordinary types of stepladders shall not be used as
steps;
(xiii) On two-section extension ladders the minimum overlap for the
two sections in use shall be as follows:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Overlap
Size of ladder (feet) (feet)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Up to and including 36...................................... 3
Over 36 up to and including 48.............................. 4
Over 48 up to and including 60.............................. 5
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(xiv) Portable rung ladders with reinforced rails (see paragraphs
(c)(3) (ii)(c) and (iii)(d) this section) shall be used only with the
metal reinforcement on the under side;
(xv) No ladder should be used to gain access to a roof unless the
top of the ladder shall extend at least 3 feet above the point of
support, at eave, gutter, or roofline;
(xvi) [Reserved]
(xvii) Middle and top sections of sectional or window cleaner's
ladders should not be used for bottom section unless the user equips
them with safety shoes;
(xviii) [Reserved]
(xix) The user should equip all portable rung ladders with nonslip
bases when there is a hazard of slipping. Nonslip bases are not intended
as a substitute for care in safely placing, lashing, or holding a ladder
that is being used upon oily, metal, concrete, or slippery surfaces;
(xx) The bracing on the back legs of step ladders is designed solely
for increasing stability and not for climbing.
[39 FR 23502, June 27, 1974, as amended at 43 FR 49744, Oct. 24, 1978;
49 FR 5321, Feb. 10, 1984]
