Portable Ladders Fixed ladders Duckboards

Ladder Safety - Introduction Ladders are important and essential tools that are used widely in a variety of industries. They help us move up and down and work at different heights. Portable ladders, in particular, are useful tools because they can be readily moved or carried. They are simply built and come in many sizes, shapes, and styles.

Ladder Safety Ladders need to be inspected as follows: WHEN THE LADDER IS:DO THE FOLLOWING: First placed into service and periodically while in service Inspect the ladder for visible defects, including, but not limited to: -Working parts and -Rung or step connections to the side rails Damaged by impact or tips over Visually inspect the ladder for dents, bends, cracks or splits Rung or step connection to the side rails Hardware connections Rivets for shear damage All other components

Ladder Safety Ladders need to be inspected as follows: Exposed to excessive Heat such as a fire Visually inspect the ladder for damage Test for deflection and strength characteristics Using the “in-service use tests” contained in the appropriate ANSI Exemption: Job-made ladders……

Portable Ladders – Use/Abuse Although they are easy to use, they are often misused or abused, causing serious injuries and deaths. These deaths and injuries could have been significantly reduced or eliminated with proper care and use.

At least one of these per year, is a fatality.

Varieties of Ladders To prevent injuries while using portable ladders, you need to know what kinds of ladders there are and how to use them properly. There are various types, shapes, and sizes of ladders to help you accomplish your tasks.

Portable Ladders Extension Ladder – 2 person job Two Way Step Ladder Platform LadderOrchard Ladder Combination Ladder

Self-Supporting Ladders Portable self-supporting ladders can stand up on their own. Standard stepladders have a front section with steps for climbing and a back section with two rear legs, which give them their stability. They must be set up on firm, level surfaces such as floors, platforms, and slabs.

Self-Supporting Ladders The standard stepladder is non-adjustable and has flat steps and a hinged back. It must have a metal spreader or locking device strong enough to securely hold the front and back sections in the open position. The back section is cross-braced and you must not use it for climbing.

Non Self-Supporting Non-self-supporting ladders must be leaned against a stable structure strong enough to support the weight of the ladder, user, tools, and materials being used by the worker on the ladder. They are intended for use by only one worker at a time. Commonly used non-self-supporting ladders include single ladders and extension ladders.

Non Self– Supporting Single ladders are nonadjustable and must never be tied or fastened together to form a longer ladder. Sectional ladders, which consist of two or more sections, are designed to be combined together to function as a single ladder

Portable Ladders - Falls You don't have to fall far to get hurt. Workers injured in falls from ladders are usually less than 10 feet above the ladder's base of support.

Reasons for Falls Why do people fall from ladders if they are so easy to use? Setting up on an unstable or slippery base surface is a primary reason ladders fall over. Falls involve portable ladders that move, tilt, or shift while a worker is climbing, descending, or performing a task. Standing on the top two rungs, which explicitly has a warning label DANGER, do not do!

More Reasons for Falls improperly getting onto or off of the ladder loss of balance setting up the ladder improperly overreaching by the user miss stepping or a slipping of the foot while climbing or descending

More Reasons for Falls Being bumped by a Cart or other object Having a vehicle run into or bump you. People not paying attention to where they're walking.

Ladder Safety - Prevention Make sure the ladder is not placed on ice, snow, or other slippery surface unless the ladder is prevented from accidental displacement by: – Securing it – Providing the ladder with slip-resistant feet

Make sure ladders are not placed on boxes, barrels, or other unstable bases to obtain additional height

Ladder Safety - Prevention Protect ladders that are set–up in a location where they could be displaced by workplace activities or traffic by either: – Securing the ladder to prevent accidental displacement – Using a barricade to keep the activities or traffic away from the ladder

Ladder Safety - Prevention Protect ladders that are set-up in front of doors that open towards the ladder by doing at least one of the following: – Block the door open – Lock the door – Guard the door to keep it from opening into the ladder

Ladder Safety - Prevention Climbing and descending: – Have both hands free to hold on to the ladder, or at least one hand. – Face the ladder when climbing or descending – Keep ladders free from oil, grease, or other slippery materials – Keep the area around the top and bottom of ladders clear. – Remove all items from ladder before moving it – Make sure single-rail ladders are not used

Ladder Safety – Composition/Materials Fiberglass Aluminum/Metal Wood –Besides having different ratings or load capacities, ladders may be constructed of various kinds of materials. Each material has specific care, maintenance, and storage requirements and may be preferred for specific uses, or under certain conditions.

Types of Composition WOOD Stabilitybetter because it is heavier Durabilityless – wears out faster Strength to Weight Ratiogood Weather Resistancenot as good Conductivitynon-conductive when clean and dry

Types of Composition FIBERGLASS Stabilityless because it is lighter Durability better – material lasts longer Strength to Weight Ratiohigh Weather Resistancebetter (not same conditions as wood) Conductivitynon-conductive when clean and dry (PREFERRED)

Types of Composition ALUMINUM Stabilityless – lightest of all Durabilitybetter Strength to Weight Ratiohigh Weather Resistancebetter Conductivityconductive – do NOT use near exposed electrical sources/in a storm

Composition - Aluminum Electrocution Hazard This Ladder Conducts Electricity Do Not Use Around Electrical Equipment or other equivalent wording Do not use a metal ladder when working around energy sources. Metal ladders must be labeled with a DANGER warning sticker indicating:

What NOT to do:

Wood, metal, and fiberglass ladders may also have some specific construction requirements. Metal or Fiberglass –must have slip or skid-resistant feet AND steps or rungs that are corrugated, knurled, dimpled, coated with skid-resistant material, or treated to minimize possible slipping For example:

Warning labels Manufactured ladders have warning markings and labels, such as "CAUTION" and "DANGER," which are usually in red or yellow. They often also have "SAFETY" labels which give information on how to use the ladders safely.

What NOT to do:

Fixed Ladder

A fixed ladder is a vertical ladder mounted permanently to a structure. These ladders are primarily used to access roofs or other structures for industrial purposes.

 Distance betweet rungs not more than 12 inches and uniform.  Minimun rung length is 16 inches.  Back clearance minimum is 7 inches. This dimension is the most frequently violated,according to frequency of OSHA citation. OSHA fixed ladder criteria;

Dock Boards a movable often metal plate for bridging the gap between a motor truck or freight car and a loading platform

Dockboard Slipping or tripping on wet, oily, or broken floor surfaces. Slipping or tripping on wet, oily, or broken floor surfaces. Falling off dock edges Falling off dock edges Injuries from falls or unsecured dock plates Injuries from falls or unsecured dock plates Injuries resulting from unchocked trailer wheels Injuries resulting from unchocked trailer wheels Duckboard is not strong enough to carry a load Duckboard is not strong enough to carry a load Hazards include :