Fixed Ladder Safety Cage Requirements

For starters prior to the new ruling the only real guidance on fixed ladders came from the construction standards osha more 1926 1053 a 18 required the use of cages wells ladder safety devices or self retracting lifelines for fixed ladders of 24 feet or more.

Fixed ladder safety cage requirements. Ladder rungs steps and cleats have a minimum clear width of 11 5 inches 29 cm on portable ladders and 16 inches 41 cm measured before installation of ladder safety systems for fixed ladders except that. Fixed ladders more than 20 feet 6 1 m in height shall be provided with a cage well or ladder safety device a well refers to a permanent complete enclosure around a fixed ladder which is attached to the walls of the well. Cages or wells are required on fixed ladders in the united states under osha s 29 cfr 1917 118 e 1. 1917 118 e 2 when a well or cage is used ladders with length of climb exceeding 30 feet 9 14 m shall comply with the following provisions.

The regulations say that if a fixed ladder is taller than 20 feet you are required to have a cage which meets all the requirements of 29 cfr 1910 27 d. 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. The requirements for mounting ladder safety devices for fixed ladders are as follows. Mountings for rigid carriers must be attached at each end of the carrier with intermediate mountings spaced along the entire length of the carrier to provide the necessary strength to stop workers falls.

Per osha 1910 23 b 4 ladder rungs steps and cleats have a minimum clear width of 16 inches measured before installation of ladder safety systems for fixed ladders. Here are the basics of the requirements. Cages must extend 42 inches above the top of the landing. The requirement for a cage comes when you have a fixed ladder longer than 20 feet.

In the past osha has required cages for fixed ladders taller than 20 feet but as of january 2017 fall protection is required on fixed ladders taller than or that extend beyond 24 feet. Several of the important changes are listed below. The top of the cage shall be a minimum of 42 inches 1 1 m above the top of the platform or the point of access at the top of the ladder with provision for access to the platform or other point of access. 1910 23 b 4 i.

1917 118 e 2 i. 1926 1053 a 21 i. 1926 1053 a 21 wells for fixed ladders shall conform to all of the following.