Unprotected Extension Ladder November 22, 2022 OSHA 1918.24(c): “Where portable straight ladders are used, they shall be of sufficient length to extend three feet (.91 m) above the upper landing surface and be positively secured or held against shifting or slipping”, as per OSHA Code 1918.24. According to OSHA, “Falls are the leading cause of work-related injuries and deaths among roofers. Working six feet or more above lower levels put roofers at risk for serious injury or death if they should fall. A lack of fall protection, damaged fall protection equipment, or improper setup will increase their risk of falling from height.” Solutions: SRS offers multiple solutions to protect employees using extension ladders including: 1. Ladder extenders compliant with 1918.24(c): Ladder Safety-Step-Straight™ 2.0 prevents the spin motion at the top of a ladder. It utilizes a dual clamping safety lock system which improves stability when accessing the handrails. 2. Ladder docks compliant with 1926.1053(b)(1): Ladder Safety-Docks™ are OSHA compliant ladder safety attachments that permanently attach to your flat, sloped or parapet roof edges. Ladder Safety-Dock™ meets these ladder safety requirements with tie-off points and safety handles. They can be used for commercial or residential applications. 3. Ladder stabilizers compliant with 1918.24(j)(1) and 1926.1053(b)(7): Ladder Safety-Legs™ allow you to adjust the left and right legs independently to accommodate uneven terrain and to significantly reduce the risk of your ladder shifting right or left. Ladder Safety-Arms™ attach to the rungs of the ladder to provide stability while preventing gutter and flashing damage. Additional OSHA Code Detail: 1918.24(j)(1): Ladders shall be securely positioned on a level and firm base. 1918.24(j)(2): Ladders shall be fitted with slip-resistant bases and/or be positively secured or held in place to prevent slipping or shifting while in use. 1926.1053(b)(1): When portable ladders are used for access to an upper landing surface, the ladder side rails shall extend at least 3 feet (.9 m) above the upper landing surface to which the ladder is used to gain access; or, when such an extension is not possible because of the ladder's length, then the ladder shall be secured at its top to a rigid support that will not deflect, and a grasping device, such as a grabrail, shall be provided to assist employees in mounting and dismounting the ladder. In no case shall the extension be such that ladder deflection under a load would, by itself, cause the ladder to slip off its support. 1926.1053(b)(7): Ladders shall not be used on slippery surfaces unless secured or provided with slip-resistant feet to prevent accidental displacement. Slip-resistant feet shall not be used as a substitute for care in placing, lashing, or holding a ladder that is used upon slippery surfaces including, but not limited to, flat metal or concrete surfaces that are constructed so they cannot be prevented from becoming slippery.
