The employer shall ensure compliance with the following requirements:

1. (a) The employer shall ensure that each ladder used meets the requirements of this section except when the ladder is:

   1. (1) Used in emergency operations such as firefighting, rescue, and tactical law enforcement operations, or training for these operations, or by any member of the New Hampshire National Guard while on state active duty; or
   2. (2) Designed into or is an integral part of machines or equipment;

2. (b) When employees are using any type of ladder, the employer shall ensure that:

   1. (1) Ladder rungs, steps, and cleats are parallel, level, and uniformly spaced when the ladder is in position for use;

   2. (2) Ladder rungs, steps, and cleats are spaced not less than 10 inches and not more than 14 inches apart, as measured between the centerlines of the rungs, cleats, and steps, except that:

      1. a. Ladder rungs and steps in elevator shafts shall be spaced not less than 6 inches apart and not more than 16.5 inches apart, as measured along the ladder side rails; and
      2. b. Fixed ladder rungs and steps on telecommunication towers shall be spaced not more than 18 inches apart, measured between the centerlines of the rungs or steps;
   3. (3) Steps on stepstools are spaced not less than 8 inches apart and not more than 12 inches apart, as measured between the centerlines of the steps;

   4. (4) Ladder rungs, steps, and cleats have a minimum clear width of 11.5 inches on portable ladders and 16 inches, measured before installation of ladder safety systems, for fixed ladders, except that:

      1. a. The minimum clear width does not apply to ladders with narrow rungs that are not designed to be stepped on;
      2. b. Rungs and steps of manhole entry ladders that are supported by the manhole opening shall have a minimum clear width of 9 inches;
      3. c. Rungs and steps on rolling ladders used in telecommunication centers shall have a minimum clear width of 8 inches; and
      4. d. Stepstools have a minimum clear width of 10.5 inches;
   5. (5) Wooden ladders are not coated with any material that might obscure structural defects;
   6. (6) Metal ladders are made with corrosion-resistant material or are protected against corrosion;
   7. (7) Ladder surfaces are free of puncture and laceration hazards;
   8. (8) Ladders are not loaded beyond the manufacturer’s maximum rated load, including the total load, weight and force, of the employee and all tools, equipment, and materials being carried;
   9. (9) Ladders are used only in accordance with manufacturer’s specifications;
   10. (10) Ladders are inspected before initial use in each work shift, and more frequently as necessary, to identify any visible defects that could cause employee injury;
   11. (11) Any ladder with structural or other defects is immediately tagged “Dangerous: Do Not Use” or with similar language and removed from service until repaired or replaced;
   12. (12) Each employee faces the ladder when climbing up or down it;
   13. (13) Each employee uses at least one hand to grasp the ladder when climbing up and down; and
   14. (14) No employee carries any object or load that could cause the employee to lose balance and fall while climbing up or down the ladder;

3. (c) When employees are using portable ladders, the employer shall ensure that:

   1. (1) Rungs and steps of portable metal ladders are corrugated, knurled, dimpled, coated with skid-resistant material, or otherwise treated to minimize the possibility of slipping;
   2. (2) Each stepladder or combination ladder used in a stepladder mode is equipped with a metal spreader or locking device that securely holds the front and back sections in an open position while the ladder is in use;
   3. (3) Ladders are used only on stable and level surfaces unless they are secured or stabilized to prevent accidental displacement;
   4. (4) No portable single rail ladders are used;
   5. (5) No ladder is moved, shifted, or extended while an employee is on it;

   6. (6) Ladders placed in locations such as passageways, doorways, or driveways where they can be displaced by other activities or traffic:

      1. a. Are secured to prevent accidental displacement; or
      2. b. Are guarded by a temporary barricade, to keep the activities or traffic away from the ladder;
   7. (7) The cap, if equipped, and top step of a stepladder are not used as steps;
   8. (8) Portable ladders used on slippery surfaces are secured and stabilized;
   9. (9) The top of a non-self-supporting ladder is placed so that both side rails are supported, unless the ladder is equipped with a single support attachment;
   10. (10) The base of a portable ladder shall be placed away from the bottom of the top support at a width equivalent to one fourth the distance between the base of the ladder and the top support as stipulated in Figure 1400.01 below;
   11. (11) Portable ladders used to gain access to an upper landing surface have side rails that extend at least 3 feet above the upper landing surface as stipulated in Figure 1400.01 below;
   12. (12) Ladders and ladder sections are not tied or fastened together to provide added length unless they are specifically designed for such use; and

   13. (13) Ladders are not placed on unstable bases to obtain additional height;

       Figure 1400.1 - Portable Ladder Set-up.

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4. (d) When employees are using fixed ladders, the employer shall ensure that:

   1. (1) Fixed ladders are capable of supporting their maximum intended load;
   2. (2) The minimum perpendicular distance from the centerline of the steps or rungs, or grab bars, or both, to the nearest permanent object in back of the ladder is 7 inches, except for elevator pit ladders, which have a minimum perpendicular distance of 4.5 inches;
   3. (3) Grab bars do not protrude on the climbing side beyond the rungs of the ladder that they serve;

   4. (4) The side rails of through or side-step ladders extend at least 42 inches above the top of the access level or landing platform served by the ladder. For parapet ladders, the access level is:

      1. a. The roof, if the parapet is cut to permit passage through the parapet; or
      2. b. The top of the parapet, if the parapet is continuous;
   5. (5) For through ladders, the steps or rungs are omitted from the extensions, and the side rails are flared to provide not less than 24 inches nor more than 30 inches of clearance. When a ladder safety system is provided, the maximum clearance between side rails of the extension shall not exceed 36 inches;
   6. (6) For side-step ladders, the side rails, rungs, and steps shall be continuous in the extension as stipulated in Figure 1400.2 below;
   7. (7) Grab bars extend 42 inches above the access level or landing platforms served by the ladder;
   8. (8) The minimum size of the cross-section of grab bars is the same size as the rungs of the ladder;

   9. (9) When a fixed ladder terminates at a hatch, as shown in Figure 1400.3 below, the hatch cover:

      1. a. Opens with sufficient clearance to provide easy access to or from the ladder; and
      2. b. Opens at least 70 degrees from horizontal if the hatch is counterbalanced;
   10. (10) Individual-rung ladders are constructed to prevent the employee's feet from sliding off the ends of the rungs as shown in Figure 1400.4 below;
   11. (11) Fixed ladders having a pitch greater than 90 degrees from the horizontal are not used;

   12. (12) The step-across distance from the centerline of the rungs or steps is:

       1. a. For through ladders, not less than 7 inches nor more than 12 inches to the nearest edge of the structure, building, or equipment accessed from the ladders;
       2. b. For side-step ladders, not less than 15 inches nor more than 20 inches to the access points of the platform edge; and

   13. (13) Fixed ladders that do not have cages or wells have:

       1. a. A clear width of at least 15 inches on each side of the ladder centerline to the nearest permanent object; and

       2. b. A minimum perpendicular distance of 30 inches from the centerline of the steps or rungs to the nearest object on the climbing side. When unavoidable obstructions are encountered, the minimum clearance at the obstruction may be reduced to 24 inches, provided deflector plates are installed at an angle of 60 degrees away from the obstruction with the bottom of the deflector plate located no closer than 32 inches from the centerline of the ladder as shown in Figure 1400.5 below;

          Figure 1400.2 – Side-Step Fixed Ladder Sections.

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          Figure 1400.3 – Counter Balanced Hatch Cover at Roof.

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          Figure 1400.4 – Individual Rung Ladder.

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          Figure 1400.5 – Fixed Ladder Clearances.

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5. (e) When employees are using mobile ladder stands and mobile ladder stand platforms, the employer shall ensure that:

   1. (1) Mobile ladder stands and platforms have a step width of at least 16 inches;
   2. (2) The steps and platforms of mobile ladder stands and platforms are slip resistant. Slip-resistant surfaces shall be either an integral part of the design and construction of the mobile ladder stand and platform, or provided as a secondary process or operation, such as dimpling, knurling, shotblasting, coating, spraying, or applying durable slip-resistant tapes;
   3. (3) Mobile ladder stands and platforms are capable of supporting at least 4 times their maximum intended load;
   4. (4) Wheels or casters under load are capable of supporting their proportional share of 4 times the maximum intended load, plus their proportional share of the unit's weight;
   5. (5) Unless otherwise specified in this section, mobile ladder stands and platforms with a top step height of 4 feet or above have handrails with a vertical height of 29.5 inches to 37 inches, measured from the front edge of a step;
   6. (6) The maximum work-surface height of mobile ladder stands and platforms does not exceed 4 times the shortest base dimension, without additional support. For greater heights, outriggers, counterweights, or comparable means that stabilize the mobile ladder stands and platforms and prevent overturning shall be used;
   7. (7) Mobile ladder stands and platforms that have wheels or casters are equipped with a system to impede horizontal movement when an employee is on the stand or platform; and
   8. (8) No mobile ladder stand or platform moves when an employee is on it; and

6. (f) The employer shall ensure that mobile ladder stands meet the following requirements:

   1. (1) Steps are uniformly spaced and arranged, with a rise of not more than 10 inches and a depth of not less than 7 inches. The slope of the step stringer to which the steps are attached shall not be more than 60 degrees, measured from the horizontal;
   2. (2) Mobile ladder stands with a top step height above 10 feet have the top step protected on 3 sides by a handrail with a vertical height of at least 36 inches, and top steps that are 20 inches or more, front to back, have a mid-rail and toe-board;
   3. (3) The standing area of mobile ladder stands does not extend past the base;
   4. (4) Steps of mobile ladder stand platforms meet the requirements of (1) above. When the employer demonstrates that the requirement is not feasible, steeper slopes or vertical rung ladders may be used, provided the units are stabilized to prevent overturning;
   5. (5) Mobile ladder stand platforms with a platform height of 4 to 10 feet have, in the platform area, handrails with a vertical height of at least 36 inches and mid-rails; and
   6. (6) All mobile ladder stand platforms with a platform height above 10 feet have guardrails and toe boards on the exposed sides and ends of the platform.

Source. #4118 eff 8-22-86, EXPIRED: 8-22-92 New. #6684, eff 2-4-98, EXPIRED: 2-4-06 New. #8606, INTERIM, eff 4-12-06, EXPIRED: 10-09-06 (formerly Lab 1403.45) New. #8796, eff 1-11-07; ss by #10809, eff 4-9-15 (from Lab 1403.30); ss by #14431, eff 11-22-25, EXPIRES: 11-22-35