Osha Standards For Roof Access Ladders

Occupational safety and health standards.

Osha standards for roof access ladders.

For through ladders the steps or rungs are omitted from the extensions and the side rails are flared to provide not less than 24 inches 61cm and not more than 30 inches 76 cm of clearance. Per osha 1910 23 d 4 the side rails of through or sidestep ladders must extend 42 inches above the top of the access level or landing platform served by the ladder. In general the standards require the following. When there is a break in elevation of 19 inches 48 cm or more and no ramp runway embankment or personnel hoist is available employers must provide a stairway or ladder at all worker points of access.

When a ladder safety system is provided the maximum clearance between side rails of the extension must not exceed 36 inches 91 cm. For a parapet ladder the access level shall be the roof if the parapet is cut to permit passage through the parapet. Under the new regulations a ladder over 24 feet high will require a personal fall arrest system or ladder safety system. If the parapet is continuous the access level shall be the top of the parapet.

Following osha standard strictly could leave you and your company with a liability should an accident occur. However the source document for 29 cfr 1910 27 ansi a14 3 1956 safety code for fixed ladders has been revised several times since its adoption by osha in 1971 and its most current version ansi a14 3 2002 american national standard for ladders fixed safety requirements allows fixed ladder usage without cages or wells for a. A ladder that is less than 24 feet high does not require a fall arrest system of any sort.