Ladders Safety Standards and Workers Training
Every year the OSHA publishes or updates many standards related to occupational health and safety, and one of them (coded 1926, chapter X) is specifically dedicated to the safe use of ladders in the workplace.
It’s also very important that all workers follow proper training on the safe use of these devices, and the standard explicitly addresses this issue; the courses need to be have a practical part and a theoretical, specifically dedicated to the particular kind of ladders in use (the OSHA standard considers not sufficient to provide generic instructions with no specific reference to the working tools used by the group of workers that attend the courses).
The main hazard that affects workers’ safety during activities that need to be done in high locations is due to slips and falls. This can be avoided, or at least reduced to minimal levels, following the prescribed instructions, in particular positioning portable ladders in a proper way, according to the length of the ladder and the characteristics of the ground.
Ladders have many components (steps, side rails, rungs, locking components, etc.), and they must all be properly inspected before each use.
A very important parameter that workers need to be aware of, is the maximum intended load for a ladder; this value must be visible on a label and should never be exceeded, even though the standard establishes that manufacturers must ensure a resistance to a weight that is four times bigger that the intended working load.
When a worker is positioning a non self-supporting ladder, he must carefully consider the angle between the device and the wall it leans against; the angle shouldn’t be too small or too big: a good indication is to position the ladders so that its working length is about four times the horizontal distance from its base and the wall.
A section of the standard is dedicated to rungs: indications are given about their spacing (greater at the base of the ladder than at the top) and their skid resistance. Rungs must have a shape that ensures that a worker’s foot can’t slide off, and of course ladders must be always kept free of slipping substances such as grease, oil, etc.
During usage, the areas around the top (if the ladder is positioned against a wall, towards the roof of a building) and the bottom of the ladder must be kept clear; this ensures that you avoid the risk of a passerby bumping against it when a worker is working in a high position.
Specifically designed ladders must be used to reach very high positions. Even if a special ladder is not available, for no reason more than one ladder can be fastened together to obtain longer sections; when two or more different ladders are used together, they shall be offset with a platform or landing between them.
The manufacturers’ instructions must specify the intended use for the ladder, and any particular indication for their safe use. Workers must strictly comply with these indications and avoid different usage of the devices.
A specific section of the OSHA standard is dedicated to workers training, a fundamental element of any safety program; the employer has to provide a specific training program, with practical parts, for each employee using any kind of working tools.
The training provided to all workers must enable them to recognize hazards and dangerous situations, and shall teach the following elements: the different fall hazards; the correct use of the fall protection equipment; the appropriate utilization, positioning and care of all typologies of ladders; the highest load-carrying capacities of ladders.
More information on ladder safety, and and overview of all kinds of ladders for sale is available in Ladders for Sale Online.. Check here for free reprint license: Ladders Safety Standards and Workers Training.
June 24, 2011 | Posted by Stephan Scala
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