LADDERS & SCAFFOLDS Basic Information & Safe Use

(Based on OSHA 29 CFR 1910.25-29 & 1926.451&1926.1053) Bureau of Workers’ CompPA Training for Health & Safety

(PATHS)

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Selecting a Ladder

• Ladders are manufactured for a specific use; e.g., jobs that can be safely performed with step ladders could become dangerous if extension ladders are used instead.

• You must evaluate the work environment and know what ladders are available before you can choose the right ladder for the job. Keep in mind all potential hazards:

→electricity →uneven surfaces →people and materials →overhead obstructions

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Selecting a Ladder

You must keep in mind the physical requirements of the job:

• How much room will there be to position the ladder?

• How much weight – combining the user, tools, and materials – will be on the ladder?

• How long should the ladder be to safely perform the job?

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Duty Rating

A ladder duty rating tells you its maximum weight capacity. There are four categories of the duty ratings:

• Type IA – These ladders have a duty rating of 300 pounds. Type IA ladders are recommended for extra-heavy-duty industrial use.

• Type I – These ladders have a duty rating of 250 pounds. Type I ladders are manufactured for heavy-duty use.

• Type II – These ladders have a duty rating of 225 pounds. Type II ladders are approved for medium-duty use.

• Type III – These ladders have a duty rating of 200 pounds. Type III ladders are rated for light-duty use.

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Portable Ladders

• Free from sharp edges, splinters, wane and decay

• Step ladders Type I = 3 to 20 feet Type II = 3 to 12 feet Type III = 3 to 6 feet

• Have a metal spreader or locking device

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Portable Ladders

• Single/Straight ladder 30 feet or less

• Extension ladder 60 feet or less

• Painter’s ladder 12 feet or less

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Care and Maintenance of Ladders

• Ladders must be maintained in good condition at all times:– joints must be tight– metal bearings of lock, wheels, pulleys, etc.,

must be lubricated– frayed or badly worn rope must be replaced– safety feet and other auxiliary equipment

must be in good condition• Ladders must be inspected frequently

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Inspecting Ladders

Recommended before each use:• Check for broken, split, cracked, corroded or

missing rungs and side rails• Check carefully for cracks (hard to see; cracks

weaken ladders)• Check for rungs or side rails with excessive

bends (bent areas are greatly weakened and may fail during use)

• Check for loose, corroded or weakened fasteners and hardware

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Inspecting Ladders

• Check ladders for missing or damaged feet (ladder feet may have both non-skid pads for hard surfaces and metal feet for soft surfaces)

• Check for paint or other coating hiding defects (wooden ladders shall not be painted or coated with any opaque covering except for identification or warning labels placed on one face only of a side rail)

• Painted aluminum, fiberglass ladders = very hard to observe defects/damage

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Inspecting Ladders

• Check for oil, grease, moisture or other slippery materials before use and clean as necessary

• Check capacity label and make sure ladder has sufficient capacity to hold you and everything you are wearing/carrying

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Safe Use of Ladders

• Make sure the ladder is strong enough and long enough for the job

• Carefully inspect your ladder before you use it

• Place the ladder on a firm, level surface with its feet parallel to the wall it is resting against

• When ascending or descending, the climber must face the ladder

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Safe Use of Ladders – Any Safety Issues Here?

Bracket Bent & Shelf Missing

Rail Bent

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Setting Up a Ladder Safely

• No ladder should be used to gain access unless it extends 3 feet above the point of support

• Your ladder must be tied off or placed to prevent slipping

• When setting a ladder against a wall use the 4-to-1 ladder rule

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Safe Ladder Set Up

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Safe Ladder Set Up – Determine Climbing Angle

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Ladder Safety Precautions

• Ladders that have defects or are in need of repair must be removed from service

• Shorter ladders must not be spliced together to make one big ladder

• Rungs must be kept free from grease

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Fixed Ladders

• The minimum design live load must be a single concentrated load of 200 pounds

• All metal ladders and appurtenances must be painted

• Rungs, cleats and steps must be kept free of splinters, sharp edges or burrs

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Offset Fixed Ladders

• When ladders extend to heights exceeding 20 feet, landing platforms must be provided for each 30 feet of height

• All platforms shall be equipped with the standard railings and toeboards

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Pitch of Fixed Ladders

• The preferred pitch of fixed ladders is considered to come in the range of 75 and 90 degrees with the horizontal

• Substandard pitch is within the range of 60 and 75 degrees

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Ladders and Electricity

• Metal ladders conduct electricity

• Use care when placing

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Scaffolding

• Designed by qualified person and built loaded to design

• Footing or anchorage of scaffolds must be sound, rigid, and capable of carrying the maximum intended load without displacement

• Must be capable of supporting at least 4 times the maximum intended load

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Types of Scaffolds

• There are many types of scaffolds for many types of different uses– Bricklayer’s Square Scaffolding– Window-Jack Scaffolds

• Scaffolds are also made out of different materials, but are typically made out of metal or wood

• All have different OSHA regulations

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Frame Scaffold Components

• Frames• Locking devices• Cross, horizontal and

diagonal braces• Base plates and

screw jacks• Putlogs• Casters

• Platform planks• Guard rails and

gates• Ladders and stair

units• Side and end

brackets• Hoisting arms

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Frames

• Frames come in many styles and sizes

• Each offers the user a variety of configuration possibilities to meet their needs

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Locking Devices

• Locking device is necessary when the frame requires more than one level

• Secures frames as they are stacked on one another

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Braces

• Strength and stability are important considerations when planning, erecting and using scaffold

• Cross, horizontal and diagonal braces are used to meet this requirement

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Base Plates and Screw Jacks

• These provide a solid foundation for the scaffolding

• Improper use could cause the scaffold to collapse

• Base plates should always be used, even on concrete

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Putlogs

• Scaffolds may be erected in areas where there are obstructions or openings (putlogs used)

• Sometimes called a truss• Provide an excellent surface for platforms

• Care must be taken not to exceed load

• Refer to operator’s manual for load capacities

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Casters

• Primary use is in the erection of rolling tower scaffolds

• Typically made of rubber or steel in varying diameters and equipped with a locking device

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Platform Planks

• Provide surface from which user can work and store materials

• Can be obtained from lumber yard or scaffold dealer

• Plywood, steel, aluminum, etc.

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Lumber Grading

• American Lumber Standards Committee established associations that are approved to grade species of lumber

• Dense Industrial 65 Scaffold Plank

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Plank Testing

• In addition to grading wood planks used in scaffolding, planks are tested

• Weight requirement for a plank = 250 pounds for one person

• OSHA states scaffolding planks shall not deflect more than 1/60 of their span when loaded

• When in doubt, discard plank

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Scaffold Ties

• All scaffolds with height-to-base ratio of more than 4-to-1 must be secured to the structure or guyed to prevent tipping over

• Scaffold tie purpose = bracing scaffold

• All ties should provide compressive, as well as tensile, resistance to any lateral forces acting on the scaffold

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Wind Force

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Ladders and Stair Units

• Ladder and stair units allow for ease of access to scaffold work areas

• They are manufactured in many styles to suit the user’s need

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Brackets

• Side and end brackets are used to extend the length or width of scaffold

• Expand work surface

• Should never be used for storage of work materials or equipment

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Hoisting Arms

• Hoisting arms = take materials and equipment to work platform of a scaffold

• Are easily installed and provide efficient means of transporting equipment

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Scaffolding General Requirements

• Must be maintained in a safe condition

• Must not be altered or moved horizontally while in use

• Should not be loaded in excess of the working load for which they are intended

• Materials hoisted onto a scaffold must have a tag line

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Scaffolding General Requirements

• Timbers, wood, nails and bolts must be adequate size

• All planking and platforms must be overlapped (by at least 12 inches)

• An access ladder or equivalent safe access must be provided

• Tools, materials and debris must not be allowed to accumulate on scaffolding

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Questions

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