Osha Roof Access Ladder Requirements

Things you need to watch out for.

Osha roof access ladder requirements. The side rails of through or sidestep ladders extend at least 42 inches 1 1 m above the top of the access level or landing platform served by the ladder. Under the new regulations a ladder over 24 feet high will require a personal fall arrest system or ladder safety system. Here are the basics of the requirements. Literal compliance with osha s standard therefore would require a safety cage or well but see the answer to question 4 below for the current status of this standard.

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. Bottoms of wells above the point of access to the bottom of the ladder must be between 7 feet 2 1 m and 8 feet 2 4 m. Osha requires that this distance be no greater than 3 5 feet 29 cfr 1926 502 d 16 iv but it may be less for some pfas equipment. All wood parts of fixed ladders shall meet the requirements of 1910 25 b.

A ladder that is less than 24 feet high does not require a fall arrest system of any sort. What about landing platforms. The standard states that safety cages or wells shall be provided on ladders of more than 20 feet to a maximum unbroken length of 30 feet. 1910 23 d 4 i the roof if the parapet is cut to permit passage through the parapet.

How far the d ring shifts and the harness stretches when it supports the full weight of a fallen worker including the weight of tool belts and other attached equipment or tools. This is the same height that osha requires for guardrails. For fixed ladders consisting of wood side rails and wood rungs or cleats used at a pitch in the range 75 degrees to 90 degrees and intended for use by no more than one person per section single ladders as described in 1910 25 c 3 ii are acceptable. For parapet ladders the access level is.

You can choose any pfas provided it meets the osha requirements in section 1926 502 d. Ladder safety devices and related support systems for fixed ladders the connection between the carrier or lifeline and the point of attachment to the body belt or harness must not exceed 9 inches 23 cm in length. To protect the worker exiting a ladder osha requires a 42 inch high grab bar extension above the access level or landing platform at the top of the ladder. Cages must extend 42 inches above the top of the landing.

Here is the osha guide on fall protection.