Chicken Ladders

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Chicken Ladders
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What is a Chicken Ladder?

• The Contractor School Online defines a chicken
  ladder as a lightweight ladder that can be hung
  over the ridge for work on a steep roof.
• Dictionary.com defines a chicken ladder as
• an inclined plank with transverse cleats.

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What is a Chicken Ladder?

• Chicken ladders are also sometimes referred to as
  crawling boards

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What is a Chicken Ladder? (contd)

• Chicken ladders may be constructed from wood or
  metal
• Wood Chicken Ladder Metal Chicken Ladder

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What is a Chicken Ladder? (cont)

• Chicken Ladders often include a hook a the top
  that is engineered to anchor the ladder and also
  to avoid any damage to roofing materials, ie.
  Shingles
• Hook shall extend from
• roof peaks to eaves

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Chicken Ladder in Use

• Chicken Ladders are intended to improve access
  and safety for workers on moderate to
  highly-sloped roofs.
• Workers potentially would use chicken ladders for
  new roof construction, repairs, and painting, as
  well as in other applications

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Chicken Ladders in Use
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Chicken Ladder Danger?

• Chicken ladders are intended for use on moderate-
  to greatly-sloped roofs, where the working
  surface is at least 6 feet above the ground
• Accidents as a result of falling are a major
  concern with chicken ladders

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Chicken Ladder Danger?

• OSHA 1926 regulations pertaining to chicken
  ladders (crawling boards) can be found in
  1926.452(m)

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OSHA Chicken Ladder Regulations

• The chicken ladder design must be at least 10
  wide and 1 thick
• The cleats for support must have a minimum
  cross-sectional area of 1 x 1 ½
• Cleats must be equal in width to the board, and
  placed at even intervals not exceeding 24

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Chicken Ladder Safety

• When working on a roof elevated 6 feet or more
  off the ground, chicken ladders as well as other
  forms of fall protection should be implemented

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Chicken Ladder Safety

• In addition to an approved chicken ladder device,
  other safety measures that should be implemented
  include
• A personal fall arrest system
• Guardrails rated to withstand 200 lbs of outward
  and downward pressure
• A grab line of proper strength and diameter on
  either side of the chicken ladder

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Chicken Ladder Safety

• Further, more general safety precautions to
  consider and implement when working with a
  chicken wire on a sloped roof
• Always wear a hardhat
• Always be tied off
• Having a spotter nearby is a prudent measure

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Fatal Chicken Ladder Accident

• OSHAs Fatal Accident Summary No. 21 describes a
  case in which 2 experienced painters using a
  chicken ladder fell 35 feet to the ground
• One worker sustained multiple injuries, while the
  other was killed
• OSHAs investigation found one serious safety
  violation and two other violations. Had the
  regulations been followed the accident could have
  been avoided.

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Conclusion

• When working with chicken ladders, always use a
  proper ladder that meets OSHAs minimum
  requirements
• Follow all minimum standards with respect to
  working on any surface more than 6 feet above the
  ground
• Establish a safety program and provide training

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Dont Let This Be You!