[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: 29CFR1910.26]
[Page 123-125]
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. 1910.26 Portable metal ladders.
(a) Requirements--(1) General. Specific design and construction
requirements are not part of this section because of the wide variety of
metals and design possibilities. However, the design shall be such as to
produce a ladder without structural defects or accident hazards such as
sharp edges, burrs, etc. The metal selected shall be of sufficient
strength to meet the test requirements, and shall be protected against
corrosion unless inherently corrosion-resistant.
(i)-(ii) [Reserved]
(iii) The spacing of rungs or steps shall be on 12-inch centers.
(iv) [Reserved]
(v) Rungs and steps shall be corrugated, knurled, dimpled, coated
with skid-resistant material, or otherwise treated to minimize the
possibility of slipping.
(2) General specifications--straight and extension ladders. (i) The
minimum width between side rails of a straight ladder or any section of
an extension ladder shall be 12 inches.
(ii) The length of single ladders or individual sections of ladders
shall not exceed 30 feet. Two-section ladders shall not exceed 48 feet
in length and over two-section ladders shall not exceed 60 feet in
length.
[[Page 124]]
(iii) Based on the nominal length of the ladder, each section of a
multisection ladder shall overlap the adjacent section by at least the
number of feet stated in the following:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Overlap
Normal length of ladder (feet) (feet)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Up to and including 36...................................... 3
Over 36, up to and including 48............................. 4
Over 48, up to 60........................................... 5
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(iv) Extension ladders shall be equipped with positive stops which
will insure the overlap specified in the table above.
(3) General specifications--step ladders.
(i)-(ii) [Reserved]
(iii) The length of a stepladder is measured by the length of the
front rail. To be classified as a standard length ladder, the measured
length shall be within plus or minus one-half inch of the specified
length. Stepladders shall not exceed 20 feet in length.
(iv)-(vi) [Reserved]
(vii) The bottoms of the four rails are to be supplied with
insulating nonslip material for the safety of the user.
(viii) A metal spreader or locking device of sufficient size and
strength to securely hold the front and back sections in the open
position shall be a component of each stepladder. The spreader shall
have all sharp points or edges covered or removed to protect the user.
(4) General specifications--trestles and extension trestle ladders.
(i) Trestle ladders or extension sections or base sections of extension
trestle ladders shall be not more than 20 feet in length.
(ii) [Reserved]
(5) General specifications--platform ladders. (i) The length of a
platform ladder shall not exceed 20 feet. The length of a platform
ladder shall be measured along the front rail from the floor to the
platform.
(ii) [Reserved]
(b) [Reserved]
(c) Care and maintenance of ladders--(1) General. To get maximum
serviceability, safety, and to eliminate unnecessary damage of
equipment, good safe practices in the use and care of ladder equipment
must be employed by the users.
The following rules and regulations are essential to the life of the
equipment and the safety of the user.
(2) Care of ladders.
(i)-(iii) [Reserved]
(iv) Ladders must be maintained in good usable condition at all
times.
(v) [Reserved]
(vi) If a ladder is involved in any of the following, immediate
inspection is necessary:
(a) If ladders tip over, inspect ladder for side rails dents or
bends, or excessively dented rungs; check all rung-to- side-rail
connections; check hardware connections; check rivets for shear.
(b)-(c) [Reserved]
(d) If ladders are exposed to oil and grease, equipment should be
cleaned of oil, grease, or slippery materials. This can easily be done
with a solvent or steam cleaning.
(vii) Ladders having defects are to be marked and taken out of
service until repaired by either maintenance department or the
manufacturer.
(3) Use of ladders. (i). A simple rule for setting up a ladder at
the proper angle is to place the base a distance from the vertical wall
equal to one-fourth the working length of the ladder.
(ii) Portable ladders are designed as a one-man working ladder based
on a 200-pound load.
(iii) The ladder base section must be placed with a secure footing.
(iv) The top of the ladder must be placed with the two rails
supported, unless equipped with a single support attachment.
(v) When ascending or descending, the climber must face the ladder.
(vi) Ladders must not be tied or fastened together to provide longer
sections. They must be equipped with the hardware fittings necessary if
the manufacturer endorses extended uses.
(vii) Ladders should not be used as a brace, skid, guy or gin pole,
gangway, or for other uses than that for which they were intended,
unless specifically recommended for use by the manufacturer.
[[Page 125]]
(viii) See Sec. 1910.333(c) for work practices to be used when work
is performed on or near electric circuits.
[39 FR 23502, June 27, 1974, as amended at 43 FR 49745, Oct. 24, 1978;
49 FR 5321, Feb. 10, 1984; 55 FR 32014, Aug. 6, 1990]
