Ladders and Cages

[STRQST29]

What is the required height (Canadian standards) at which a cage would be required for a ladder to access a platform?
Is it 3,000 mm for a platform above grade and higher, or 6,000 mm?

Assuming there is no provision for a fall arrest system.

If you have a link to a guide that would be beneficial.

Thanks

 

[jayrod12]

I actually think it's something in between.

I don't believe Canada has hard rules on it but rather defers it to the american ladder standard ANSI A14.3 I believe.

 

[Sawbux]

OSHA standard was over 20ft. required cage & 30ft. max between landings.

We typically put cages even on short ladders if they were in elevated locations, where you could fall & not hit a platform. i.e. a 30 ft run ending on a landing with a 16 ft. short ladder - would still get a cage.

We still don't use metric down here!

 

[TLHS]

Ladder regs vary by province. Check whatever operational health and safety act and regulations there are. For example, I believe Alberta has a reference to the PIP ladder and BC has really soft language but definitely accepts the ANSI ladder.

 

[SAIL3]

in addition to what Sawbux stated , some of it also involves engineering judgement....depends on the location of the ladder on a platform and how close it is to a handrail and the danger of one falling backwards....I believe OSHA also addresses this.....

 

[jayrod12]

And one more point, I much prefer a ladder cage on any height ladder I climb on. But I still reasonably fit through them, in a few years (and a few more turkeys and 12 packs) that sentiment might change.

The cost of the cage isn't (or at least shouldn't be) an extreme premium on the cost of the ladder, and depending on how you fabricate it has next to no impact on installation costs. I started specifying the cages be bolted to the ladder, easier for repairs and install.