standards for ladders

in order to protect you from slips, trips, and falls, your workplace should adhere to the following:

-Floors and walking/working areas should be kept free of debris, spills, spent materials, and stored materials. You should always use good housekeeping practices. -Permanent aisles and passageways should be marked and kept clear of obstructions. -Don't exceed the maximum load rating of floors and walking/working surfaces. -There should be no uncovered or unguarded openings through which a person or materials may fall. -Your employer should mandate a form of fall arrest system. -Regardless of height, all open-sided floors, walkways, platforms, or runways when above or adjacent to dangerous equipment should be guarded. -Flights of stairs with four or more risers should have proper handrails installed.

less than 4 inches

toeboard

A toe board should be installed in situations where ____________________________________.

workers or equipment may pass below.

Employers must ensure that each RDS:

-Is not used for heights greater than 300 feet above ground, unless the employer demonstrates that it is not feasible to access heights by other means, or that those means pose a greater hazard. -Is used in accordance with manufacturer's instructions, warnings and limitations or under the direction of a qualified person. -Is inspected before each work shift begins. -Has proper rigging, including anchorages and tiebacks. -Has a separate and independent personal fall arrest system. -Has components that are capable of sustaining a load of 5,000-pound minimum. -Has ropes that are protected to prevent cuts, weakening and exposure to open flames, hot work, corrosive chemicals and destructive conditions. -Has stabilization when descents are greater than 130 feet. -Is not used when hazardous weather conditions are present.

In addition, employers are also required to do the following:

-Obtain written information from building owners assuring that permanent RDS anchorages have been tested, certified and maintained before employers use them. -Ensure each worker who uses an RDS receives training and secures tools to prevent them from falling. Provide prompt rescue of each worker in the event of a fall.

The most common type of fall arrest is the personal fall arrest system (PFAS), also called a lifeline. Per OSHA's standards, workers must wear a full-body harness, one part of a PFAS, when working:

-On a suspended scaffold 10 feet or higher above the working surface, or -In a bucket truck or aerial lift.

Toe Board

-The toe board is the barrier along the floor or base of a platform that keeps materials from falling over the edge.

places that need guarding

-floor openings -floor holes -wall openings

Employers may choose to use a PFAS, instead of a guardrail or other methods of fall protection, when workers are on a supported scaffold more than ____________ above the working surface

10 feet

personal fall arrest systems are required for fixed ladders that are more than

24 feet

Where painted lines are impossible or impractical, the passageways must still be clearly indicated, and employees should be trained in how to identify them.

:)

standard railing

A standard railing consists of a top rail, mid rail and posts. The height from the upper surface of the top rail to the floor level is 42 inches. Mid rail height is one-half as high as the top rail (21 inches).

Standard Toeboard

A standard toeboard blocks an opening along the base/floor of stairs or other walking or working surfaces where materials or body parts might otherwise inadvertently fall through. It should be 4 inches high, with not more than ¼ inch clearance above the floor.

What is a Rope Descent System (RDS)?

A suspension system that allows a worker to descend in a controlled manner and, as needed, to stop at any point to perform work. (usually consists of a roof anchorage, support rope, descent device, carabiners or shackles, and chair or seat-board).

Guardrails Near Holes

Guardrails close to holes at points of access, like a ladder way, require a gate to prevent someone from falling through the hole, or be offset preventing someone from walking into the hole

Guardrail Construction

Must be smooth enough to protect workers from cuts and avoid snagging their clothes

Guardrail Opening Size

Openings cannot exceed 19 inches

All permanent aisles and passageways should be kept clear of obstruction.

Permanent aisles or passageways should be clearly marked. Typically, permanent passageways are marked with a painted line. The line should have a width between 2 and 6 inches.

Guardrail Screens and Mesh

Screens and mesh must extend from the top rail to the working level

Mid-Rail

The mid-rail is secured to a guardrail's vertical posts and must: -Be installed when there are no walls at least 21 inches high -Withstand at least 150 lbs. of force

Top Rail

The top rail is secured to a guardrail's vertical posts and must: -Be at least ¼ inch thick to prevent cuts and lacerations -Be 39-45 inches from the working surface Withstand at least 200 lbs. of force

Wire Rope Guardrails

Wire rope guardrails must be flagged with highly visible materials at least every six feet

Regardless of height _______________________.

a standard guardrail and toe board must also be used to guard open-sided floors, platforms, walkways, and runways when they are located above or adjacent to dangerous equipment, pickling or galvanizing tanks, degreasing units, or similar hazards.

Ladder way floor openings occur when a ladder descends below floor level. Ladder way floor openings must be guarded with __________________________________________________________________________________.

a standard railing and toe board on all exposed sides, except the entrance.

Stairway floor openings occur when there is a stairway that descends below the floor level. Stairway floor openings must be guarded by _____________________________________________________.

a standard railing on all exposed sides, except at the entrance.

Open-sided floors, platforms, walkways, and runways can pose a potential fall hazard as well. Open-sided floors or platforms 4 feet or more above the adjacent floor or ground level must be guarded by ___________________________________.

a standard railing on all open sides, except where there is an entrance to a ramp, stairway, or ladder.

wall opening

an opening in a wall or partitions that is at least 30 inches high and 18 inches wide through which persons may fall

Employers are not allowed to use ______________ as part of a personal fall arrest system.

body belts

a floor opening should have__________________.

both a standard railing and a standard toe board.

OSHA requires that fixed ladders in outdoor advertising be equipped with _______.

fall protection.

The OSHA standard covers the proper use of scaffolds and required training for workers using scaffolds, and ensures that employees are protected from common hazards such as _____________.

falls, falling objects, structural instability, electrocution, or overloading.

A series of steps leading from one level or floor to another that is permanently attached to a structure or building can be described as_____ _______ ________.

fixed industrial stairs.

Aisles and passageways must be at least ______ and _______ than the largest piece of equipment that will be utilized there so that both the equipment and foot traffic may safely pass.

four feet wide, and three feet wider

grab handles

on each side of the opening

Floor Hole

opening in floor, platform or pavement that measures less than 12 inches, but more than 1 inch, and through which materials - but not people- may fall.

floor opening

opening in floor, platform,or pavement measuring 12 inches or more in its least dimension through which persons may fall

Employers must install fall protection systems for qualified climbers that climb billboard fixed ladders that are _______. These include cages, wells, ladder safety systems, or personal fall arrest systems

over 24 feet.

opening of doorway drop of 4 or more feet

rail, roller,picketfence, half door, or equivalent barrier

Floors may also be covered with a hinged or non-hinged cover. Covers should be designed to support two times the weight of the person or equipment that may cross it. Holes should always be covered or guarded when not in use. When the holes are open, ________________________________________________________________________________________.

they should be guarded by removable guardrails or a human attendant.