PORTABLE LADDERS AND SCAFFOLDS

  1. STRAIGHT LADDERS
  • Straight ladders shall not be used unless equipped with approved safety shoes. The distance from the foot of the ladder to the support it rests against should equal one-fourth the length of the ladder.
  • An employee shall not work or stand on either of the top two rungs of a ladder.
  • Short ladders shall not be spliced together.
  • A ladder shall never be placed against an unsafe support.
  • Ladder feet shall be placed on a substantial base.
  • Ladders shall not be used as scaffold platforms.
  • Ladders should be tied off at the top so they don’t blow over or slip.
  1. STEP LADDERS
  • Employees shall not work from the top two steps of ladder(this rule does not apply to safety platform ladders).
  • Step ladder legs shall be fully spread when ladder is in use.
  • Step ladders shall be used fully open. Do not use step ladder as straight ladders.
  1. SCAFFOLDS - Must be used per OSHA standards
  2. All scaffolds shall be of sufficient strength and rigidity to safety support the weight of people and material to which they may be subjected.
  3. All scaffolds shall be equipped with railings and toe-boards.
  4. Scaffolds shall not be moved without first removing all loose tools, materials and equipment resting on the scaffold deck, or stored in a positively secured manner.
  1. GENERAL
  2. An employee shall not use a ladder that has broken, loose or cracked rungs, side rails or brace.
  3. When ascending or descending ladders, employee shall have hands free, grip the sides or rungs with both hands, and face the ladder.
  4. Boxes, crates, chairs, etc. shall not be used to stand on while working.
  5. Only one employee shall work from a ladder except hook ladders, at one time. If the work requires two employees, a second ladder shall be used.
  6. If a ladder is to be placed where the opening of a door may displace it, the door shall be locked or otherwise guarded.
  7. Ladders shall be inspected frequently and repaired or replaced when found to be defective.
  8. Metal ladders or ladders with metal side rails shall not be used near energized equipment or lines.
  9. Wood ladders shall not be completely painted. They shall be treated only with transparent non-conducting materials.
  10. Only approved ladders owned by the Company shall be used by employees.
  11. Ladders and scaffolding belonging to the company shall be strictly used by its employees unless written permission is given by management to the contrary.