Ladders
The primary hazard when using ladders is falling. Falls from ladders is consistently placed in the highest statistical causes of injuries. Injuries due to falls from ladders tend to be more severe than other low height falls. Due to this, we have chosen to use ladders as a last resort:
All other methods of access will be investigated prior to the use of ladders
.
If you feel that you need to use a ladder, speak to your Supervisor and come up with a plan to implement and limit the ladders use. Your Supervisor will contact the Safety Department and the appropriate ladder for the job will be brought on site. Under NO circumstances shall any other contractor’s ladder be used.
Follow these steps for safe use once you have been authorized to use a ladder:
1. Inspect all ladders to make sure they are in safe working condition before each use. Only ladders with legible OSHA and ANSI approval stickers will be allowed on site. Immediately remove any unsafe ladder from service and tag it “DO NOT USE”.
2. Ladders must be secured against accidental movement when in use. This means:
a. If it is an access ladder, it must be tied off at the top and secured from displacement at the bottom. Stepladders are not
to be used as an access ladder.
b. It must be set on a stable base.
c. It must be set at a safe climbing angle, roughly 75 degrees or the base out 1/4 the height. Stepladders are required to be open and locked into position before use.
d. Do not climb with tools or materials that prevent both hands from being free. Use a rope to move materials/tools from level to level.
e. If your work position requires that your shoulders be outside the side rails, you are in an unsafe position. Move the ladder or use other equipment such as scaffolding.
f. Never stand on the top two rungs of a stepladder.
g. Always face the ladder when ascending or descending.
3. Ladders used for access must extend at least three feet above the top landing.
4. All work done over 25 feet from the ground/floor that requires the use of both hands will require the use of a full body harness and lanyard.
5. Any work that requires wearing eye protection, respirators or handling of pressure equipment shall not be performed from a ladder more than 26 feet above the surface.
6. Ladders need to be secured with #9 wires (or thicker). The anchorage for the ladder must be structurally sound. When securing at the top, tie at the side rails around beams, not in the middle of the rung.