[Employee Training] What You Should Know About OSHA Ladder Safety Requirements

OSHA (the U.S. Occupational Safety & Health Administration) compliance is more than just following OSHA regulations or protecting your workers. It also is about protecting your company. One accident or injury could literally close your doors — FOREVER!

Does your company have the necessary documented training should OSHA pay a visit after one of your employees is hurt on the job using a ladder? OSHA’s training requirements are:

Under the provision of the standard, employers must provide a training program for each employee using ladders. The program must enable each employee to recognize hazards related to ladders and to use proper procedures to minimize these hazards. For example, employers must ensure that each employee is trained by a competent person in the following areas, as applicable:

• The nature of fall hazards in the work area;
• The proper use, placement and care in handling of ladders;
• The maximum intended load-carrying capacities of ladders used. In addition, retraining must be provided for each employee, as necessary, so that the employee maintains the understanding and knowledge acquired through compliance with the standard. (In other words keep records of the employees’ training.)

OSHA’s regulation for ladders covers every imaginable type of ladder and also includes stairs. In this article, we will concentrate on the ladders used most often in the pest control industry.

DON’T GO CHEAP. After being involved in management in the pest control industry for more than 16 years, I know how it works: You have an employee that needs a ladder. He says his was taken off his truck in the middle of the night (more than likely he left it at a customer’s home the day before). You head to the nearest home improvement store where you find a wide variety of ladders — and they are expensive. While you are looking at the ladders “a voice in the back of your head” is saying, “This is going to affect my profit margin.” So you choose the cheapest one. Don’t do it.

Take into account the height needed. Is a 6-foot ladder adequate when entering an attic access in a 10-foot ceiling? No, there can be quite a difference between the actual measured height of a ladder and its usable length.
With step ladders you should never stand on the top two rungs and under no circumstances should you use the top shelf of a ladder. Getting into that 10-foot ceiling is going to be a safety issue.

 You also must take into account what materials are used in the ladder construction. Most are constructed of aluminum, fiberglass or wood. Each material carries certain benefits that are better suited for different applications. Aluminum ladders are lightweight, making them easier to transport. They also are durable for use in both outdoor and indoor environments. But aluminum conducts electricity. You never want to use an aluminum ladder around power lines or electrical wiring. Fiberglass, on the other hand, is nonconductive, making this type of ladder ideal for fumigations. They also are durable and noncorrosive for long-lasting use. While wood is nonconductive, wood ladders are usually assembled with metal parts making it unsuitable for work around power lines.

Here are some common sense tips to share with your employees when training for ladder safety:

• Inspect every ladder prior to every use.
• Do not use ladders with structural defects.
• Carry ladder parallel to the ground.
• Tie ladders down securely when transporting.
• Keep ladder rungs free of oil, grease and other hazards.
• Do not load the ladder beyond maximum intended load.
• Use the ladder only for the purpose for which it was designed (refer to  the manufacturer’s recommendations).
• Barricade traffic areas in vicinity of ladder use. Lock, barricade or guard doorways in which a ladder is placed.
• Keep area around the top and bottom of ladder clear.
• Never “walk” a ladder while standing on it.
• Do not use top or top step for standing/stepping.
• Do not stand on cross bracing.
• Always face the ladder when ascending or descending.
• Always maintain three points of contact with the ladder (two feet/one hand or two hands/one foot should be in contact with ladder at all times.
• Carry tools in pouches around waist or use a rope to raise or lower large items.
• Do not overextend sideways. Use the “belt buckle rule.” Keep your belt buckle positioned between the side rails at all times, which should maintain your center of gravity between the side rails.
• Never allow more then one worker on the ladder at a time.
• Wear protective clothing and rubber-soled shoes.

REVIEW,REVIEW,REVIEW. Now, get your sign-up sheet, gather your employees and go over these rules. Keep a copy of the sign up sheet for OSHA. Also be sure to train all new employees. This should be incorporated into the state required training you perform with all new employees.

The author is a loss control manager for Capital Risk Underwriters, insurance tailored for the pest control industry. He can be reached at vmorris@giemedia.com.