Sandia National Laboratories

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• Sandia National Laboratories
• Facilities Maintenance and Operations Center
• Ladder Safety
• March 22, 2007

Sandia is a multiprogram laboratory operated by
Sandia Corporation, a Lockheed Martin Company,
for the United States Department of Energys
National Nuclear Security Administration under
Contract DE-AC04-94AL85000. 
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Ladder Safety

• Purpose
• To prevent injuries to workers using ladders
• Employer Responsibility
• Employees who use ladders must be trained in
  proper selection, inspection, use, and storage.

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Hazards of Ladders

• Falls
• Slips
• Reaching too far
• Weather
• Damaged Ladder

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Hazards of Ladders

• Oil or grease on a ladder
• Not secure
• Contact with electricity
• Objects that fall from ladders

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OSHA Regulations

• Construction - 29 CFR 1926 Subpart X
• General Industry - 29 CFR 1910.24 through .27

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Stairway or Ladder

• There must be a stairway or ladder at points of
  access where there is an elevation break of 19
  inches or more.
• At least one point of access must be kept clear.

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Types of Ladders

• Portable ladder
• Step Ladder
• Straight or Extension Ladder
• Fixed ladder
• Job-made ladder

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General Ladder Requirements

• Ladders must be kept in a safe condition
• DO
• Keep the area around the top and bottom of a
  ladder clear
• Ensure rungs, cleats, and steps are level and
  uniformly spaced
• Ensure rungs are spaced 10 to 14 inches apart
• Keep ladders free from slipping hazards

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General Ladder Requirements

• Use ladders only for their designed purpose
• DONT
• Tie ladders together to make longer sections,
  unless designed for such use
• Use single rail ladders
• Load ladders beyond the maximum load for which
  they were built, nor beyond the manufacturers
  rated capacity

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Ladder Inspection

• A competent person must inspect ladders for
  visible defects, like broken or missing rungs,
• on a periodic basis and
• after an event that could affect their safe use
• Inspect ladder feet for non-skid material.
• If a defective ladder is found, immediately mark
  it defective or tag it "Do Not Use

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Ladder Inspection

• Withdraw defective ladders from service until
  repaired.
• Follow manufacturers guidelines for inspection.
• Include inspections in preventative maintenance
  schedules.
• Repair ladders to the original design.
• Have qualified personnel make repairs.

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Securing Ladders

• Secure ladders to prevent accidental movement due
  to workplace activity
• Only use ladders on stable and level surfaces
  unless secured
• Do not use ladders on slippery surfaces unless
  secured or provided with slip-resistant feet

This ladder is not on a stable surface
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Precautions for Safe Ladder Use

• Use ladders for their intended purpose
• Set up the ladder on a firm, solid surface
• Keep ladders secured to prevent accidental
  displacement, such as in passageways and doorways
• Use barricades to keep activities or traffic away
  from the ladder

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Precautions for Safe Ladder Use

• Inspect the ladder for defects before using it
• Select a ladder with adequate length and load
  limits
• Do not use metal ladders near electrical lines

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Precautions for Safe Ladder Use

• Keep areas around the top and bottom of the
  ladder clear
• Open step ladders fully, and lock the spreaders
• Set up straight ladders using the 4-to-1 rule

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Precautions for Safe Ladder Use
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Climbing the Ladder

• Face the ladder when going up or down
• Maintain three points of contact on the ladder at
  all times (two hands and a foot, or two feet and
  a hand)
• Do not carry any object or load that could cause
  you to lose balance
• Only one person on a ladder at a time

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Precautions for Safe Ladder Use

• Hoist material up to you when youve reached the
  top of the ladder
• Work within the side rails
• Store ladders in designated areas

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Precautions for Safe Ladder Use

• Dont stand on the top 2 steps of a stepladder
• Dont stand on the top 4 rungs of a straight
  ladder
• Never move a portable ladder with someone on it

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Ladder Rail Extension
When using a portable ladder for access to an
upper landing surface, the side rails must extend
at least 3 feet above the upper landing surface
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Near Energized \Electrical Equipment
If using ladders where the employee or the ladder
could contact exposed energized electrical
equipment, they must have nonconductive side
rails such as wood or fiberglass.
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Crossbracing

• Dont use cross-bracing on the rear of a step
  ladder for climbing - unless the ladder is
  designed for that

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Fixed Ladder Specifications for the Construction
Industry

• Equip a fixed ladder 24 feet or longer with
  either a
• Ladder safety device
• Self-retracting lifelines with rest platforms
  every 150 feet or less
• Cage or well, and multiple ladder sections, each
  section not exceeding 50 feet

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Training

• A competent person must train each employee in
  the following areas, as applicable
• Proper construction, use, placement, and care in
  handling of all stairways and ladders
• Maximum intended load-carrying capacities of
  ladders
• Proper inspection techniques.

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Summary Key Components for Ladder Safety

• A competent person must inspect
• Use the correct ladder for the job
• Use the correct angle, supports, treads, cross
  braces and rails
• Dont overload
• Employers are required to train employees in the
  proper use of a ladder

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