


Vertical lifelines are a comprehensive solution to ensure your team is secure while climbing fixed ladders. In fact, the transition to the walking-working surface is a leading cause of fall accidents. You’ll reduce your exposure to OSHA fines, lawsuits, and avoidable injuries.Ĭlimbing a ladder without proper fall protection could result in a life-threatening fall. If they’re not, start bringing them into compliance immediately, especially if maintenance or contractors frequently access your roof. A 30 foot ladder on the side of your building is not exempt.Ī quick look should now be able to tell you if your building’s ladders are in compliance. Silo’s, Ski Lift Tower and Smokestack’s are exempt. This means that tower, water tank, and chimney ladders are the only locations exempted here. Note that the regulation specifically points to tower, water tank, and chimney ladders as the excepted circumstances. – rope grabs, horizontal lifelines) may be used on ladders greater than 20 feet in length in lieu of a cage in certain circumstances. Of course, as always, there is an exception to the rule.27(d)(5) states that ladder safety devices (i.e. This gives the necessary clearance for a person to walk into the cage to climb the ladder without hitting their head while not ending the protection at a height that would still expose the climber to a dangerous fall. The regulation also points out that the cage must begin between 7 and 8 feet off the ground.
#DOCKMATE LIFT LADDER PORTABLE#
Note that this is more than the 3 feet a portable ladder needs to extend above a landing or the 3 feet high a hand-grab has to be for a portable ladder .The minimum amount of flare required at the bottom of the cage (4 inches) This is the same height that OSHA requires for guardrails. 27(d).Ĭages must extend 42 inches above the top of the landing. Ladder Cage Requirement for a fixed ladder longer than 20 feet.Regulations state that if a fixed ladder is taller than 20 feet, you are required to have a ladder cage that meets all the requirements of. When you grab the lowest rung at work and look straight up, maybe you have a difficult climb ahead of you? You may be climbing to heights of 10, 20, or even 30 feet in the air which means you will need fall protection. Like with many other applications fall protection can be missed or overlooked. We believe that people are comfortable climbing them. Fixed ladders must now have a type of safety system in place, such as a LADSAFE System / Ladder Safety System.Įveryone has been on a ladder at some point. Note: In 2017 OSHA updated its standards and ladder cages are not compliant.
