Subpart X - Stairways and Ladders

Scope: This standard provides the general requirements for stairways and ladders. 

Special Requirements: Fall protection systems.

1926.1051(b) - Employers shall provide and install all stairway and ladder fall protection systems required by this subpart and shall comply with all other pertinent requirements of this subpart before employees begin the work that necessitates the installation and use of stairways, ladders, and their respective fall protection systems.

Scope: This standard provides the requirements for stairways.

Special Requirements: Stairrail systems, guardrail systems, reference other standards

1926.1052(c)(8) - Stairrail systems and handrails shall be so surfaced as to prevent injury to employees from punctures or lacerations, and to prevent snagging of clothing.

1926.1052(c)(10) - The ends of stairrail systems and handrails shall be constructed so as not to constitute a projection hazard.

1926.1052(c)(11) - Handrails that will not be a permanent part of the structure being built shall have a minimum clearance of 3 inches (8 cm) between the handrail and walls, stairrail systems, and other objects.

1926.1052(c)(12) - Unprotected sides and edges of stairway landings shall be provided with guardrail systems. Guardrail system criteria are contained in subpart M - fall protection of this part (1926).

Scope: This standard provides the requirements for ladders.

Special Requirements: Loads, manufacturer rated capacity, identification or warning labels, ladder safety devices, competent person, inspected, taken out of service, tagged, marked

1926.1053(a)(1) - Ladders shall be capable of supporting the following loads without failure: [Reference paragraph (a)(1)(i) - (iii)]. 

1926.1053(a)(12) - Wood ladders shall not be coated with any opaque covering, except for identification or warning labels which may be placed on one face only of a side rail. 

1926.1053(a)(23) - The mounting of ladder safety devices for fixed ladders shall conform to the following: [Reference paragraphs (a)(23)(i) - (iii)].

1926.1053(a)(25) - For through-fixed-ladder extensions, the steps or rungs shall be omitted from the extension and the extension of the side rails shall be flared to provide not less than 24 inches (61 cm) nor more than 30 inches (76 cm) clearance between side rails. Where ladder safety devices are provided, the maximum clearance between side rails of the extensions shall not exceed 36 inches (91 cm).

1926.1053(b)(3) - Ladders shall not be loaded beyond the maximum intended load for which they were built, nor beyond their manufacturer's rated capacity.

1926.1053(b)(15) - Ladders shall be inspected by a competent person for visible defects on a periodic basis and after any occurrence that could affect their safe use.

1926.1053(b)(16) - Portable ladders with structural defects, such as, but not limited to, broken or missing rungs, cleats, or steps, broken or split rails, corroded components, or other faulty or defective components, shall either be immediately marked in a manner that readily identifies them as defective, or be tagged with "Do Not Use" or similar language, and shall be withdrawn from service until repaired.

1926.1053(b)(17) - Fixed ladders with structural defects, such as, but not limited to, broken or missing rungs, cleats, or steps, broken or split rails, or corroded components, shall be withdrawn from service until repaired. The requirement to withdraw a defective ladder from service is satisfied if the ladder is either: [Reference paragraph (b)(17)(i) - (iii)].

Scope: This standard provides the training requirements for stairways and ladders. 

Special Requirements: Training provisions, training program, training, competent person, procedures, retraining, standards, fall protection systems, references other standards

The following training provisions clarify the requirements of 1926.21(b)(2) - safety training and education, regarding the hazards addressed in subpart X - stairways and ladders.

1926.1060(a) - The employer shall provide a training program for each employee using ladders and stairways, as necessary. The program shall enable each employee to recognize hazards related to ladders and stairways, and shall train each employee in the procedures to be followed to minimize these hazards.

• 1926.1060(a)(1) - The employer shall ensure that each employee has been trained by a competent person in the following areas, as applicable: [Reference paragraph (a)(1)(i) - (v)].

1926.1060(b) - Retraining shall be provided for each employee as necessary so that the employee maintains the understanding and knowledge acquired through compliance with this section.