OSHA Ladders

[mrpid]

I have a question regrading the allowable height of a fix ladder per OSHA guidelines. I have a copy of OSHA 3124-12R 2003 which indicates that a caged ladder, with multiple sections, may extend a maximum of 50ft for each section with each section offset from the next setion. However, per section OSHA 29cfr1910.27 the maximum height is given at 30ft. I am curious as to why two publications from the same source have different guidelines (I did chck OSHA website to see if the date on the guideline is current and it appears to be). Are there different circumstance when one is applicable and the other is not?

Thanks for any insight. This is more of a general question as I would follow the more stringent criteria, but just curious.

 

[MiketheEngineer]

We have always recommended ladder breaks and rest decks at a maximum of 30' -- actually - we usually install them at about 26' due to the fact we are in the scaffolding business and that is a common "break" due to leg lengths.

Permanent and temporary regs are different. I suppose that temporary scaffolding is used everyday by a lot of people for a short period of time. Whereas permanent might be used just a few times a year for maintenance work. Just a thought.

You might check out OSHA 1926.450 on scaffolding and 1926.1053 for ladders

 

[JStephen]

OSHA rules are based on ANSI standards. The ANSI standards were revised to 50' some time back, along with a bunch of other changes. OSHA then came up with proposed revisions to their rules, and published them. But, for some reason, these rules never were finalized, and the old rules are still the one in the CFR. However, per various OSHA interpretations, a ladder meeting the proposed standard will be considered a "de minimis" violation that will not be cited or fined. The proposed standard has recently been revived.

On the OSHA website, look for interpretations with "ladder" in them, and some of them should show the details.

 

[mrpid]

Thanks for the insight.

Mike,
I would agree I would not advise installing/designng greater than 30' myself. This happen to be an existing situation which is greater than 30' but less than 50'. I will of course do whatever the client chooses, but wanted to supply the client with info that could possibly save money.

JCStephen,

Thanks for the info and where to locate additional comments. Below is the link that best describes what you indicated in case others want to read.

http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=INTERPRETATIONS&p_id=25025