Fixed ladders - National Safety Council

National Safety Council
Data Sheet 606 Rev. August 2007
Fixed ladders and climbing
protection devices
Fixed ladders are often the only means of
access to roofs, pits, silos, all types of
towers, platforms, chimneys, tanks, ship
masts and other limited-access areas where
the installation of stairs is not feasible. Fixed
ladders are sometimes intended to be used
for access to and also work from the ladder
but this is only acceptable if provided with a
guardrailed work platform alongside and
swing gate to step through with proper fall
protection for hands free work. The use of
work positioning harness equipment in such
locations is not recommended because the
purpose of the ladder design is only for
access in the current standards.
2. This data sheet discusses the hazards of
ladders permanently attached to structures
and the procedures and devices necessary
to protect from these hazards. For design
requirements, refer to American National
Standard A14.3-2002, Safety Requirements
for Fixed Ladders and to appropriate industry,
Federal (EM 385-1-1), state and local
regulations.
3. A fixed ladder can consist of individual
rungs, each separately attached to a side
rail, which are attached to the structure in a
permanent way such as by welding or bolting.
Structures include buildings, towers of
all kinds, tanks and other equipment upon
which the ladders are located, such as
chimneys and pits. Another type of ladder
has rungs or cleats secured inside side rails
of metal round tubing, square tubing or
other shapes or fiberglass or wood. They
are attached to the structure by brackets,
in full length or sections, or by fastening
devices from the side rails to the structure.
4. Climbing protection devices, also known
as ladder safety systems, when installed
and designed for use with fixed ladders,
are intended to prevent the ladder user
from falling more than 18 inches. Cages
are intended to provide a feeling of security
while climbing and there is no reliance
on the ability to arrest a fall.
Hazards
5. The major hazard in the use of fixed ladders
is falling with the result of likely
severe injury or death. OSHA/BLS has
Figure 1. This climber is using a full body harness
with frontal D-ring and snaphook connection to the
climbing sleeve on a flexible cable-type carrier.
(Photo courtesy of Miller Fall Protection, Sperian Fall
Protection, Inc.)
1

National Safety Council
Data Sheet 606 Rev. August 2007
behind rungs. Training-related hazards are:
Carrying objects such as papers, tools and
equipment; holding side rails; leaning too
far to the side of the ladder and failure to
use three-point contact which optimizes
lower risk factors.
6. Other hazards include:
a. Scratch and puncture wounds from
burrs on the ladder, corrosion, poor
splices or foreign materials that are not a
part of the ladder
b. Incorrect climbing procedures, such as
sliding the rails or failure to use installed
fall protection systems
7. The fall hazard can be offset by installation
and proper use of available climbing
protection devices (Figure 1).
8. Other hazards can be minimized by
properly documented maintenance, proper
training of personnel and by review of proper
design prior to installation of fixed ladders
(Figure 2).
Figure 2. Three-point contact must always be used
when climbing ladders, using two hands and one foot
or two feet and one hand to maintain prudent contact
with the ladder at all times. (Illustration courtesy of
Construction Safety Association of Ontario.) Note:
Ten feet is the trigger height for fall protection on supported
scaffolds.
recorded 26 fall deaths from fixed ladders
during an 11-year period. Fall hazards are
either design or training related. Designrelated
hazards are: Non-uniform spacing
of rungs attached by methods other than
drilling each side rail and welding the rung
on each side; rungs other than round; failure
to provide horizontal grab bars for
extension side rails (including roof hatches)
and failure to provide 7 inches of toe space
Selection of personnel
9. Some individuals experience a feeling of
instability or panic when climbing ladders
and can become disoriented. Others
become frightened and suddenly aware of
the fall hazard and freeze on the ladder. In
such instances, the climber must be talked
down, assisted and sometimes forcibly
removed from the ladder. Persons with
such tendencies should be disqualified as
potential fixed ladder users unless their
fears can be overcome by training. The
higher the ladder, the higher the risk.
10. Potential ladder users must be physically
capable of the exertion required. They
should be medically certified to be free
from a history of heart disease, vertigo,
seizures, fainting spells or other physical
impairments that might make climbing particularly
dangerous.
• Climb deliberately and without haste.
2

National Safety Council
Data Sheet 606 Rev. August 2007
• Never run up or down a ladder and never
slide down a ladder.
• Never jump from a ladder.
• Check footing before alighting from a
ladder.
• Wear shoes with heels and keep
footwear clean.
• See Training section to meet 1926.1060.
Design and installation
11. The design of fixed ladder systems
must be under the supervision of a qualified,
registered structural engineer or architect
skilled in safe design of fixed ladders.
12. Anyone responsible for the design,
construction and installation of fixed ladders
must be familiar with the provisions of the
American National Standard A14.3-2002,
Safety, Requirements for Fixed Ladders: In
addition, review the applicable regulations
promulgated in the United States under the
Occupational Safety and Health Act, as well
as Federal Administration, (EM385-1-1
(11/03) Corps of Engineers App. J), state or
provincial and local regulations.
13. The minimum open width for a rung
length, 16 inches, is required in Standard
A14.3-2002 and is of particular importance
for ladders equipped with acceptable
climbing protection devices to allow foot
space. Rungs must be 3 ⁄4 inch or 1 inch in
diameter depending on likelihood for corrosion.
Side rails should be 1 ⁄2 inch by 2 1 ⁄2 inches
so extension side rails need not be
supported for stability. Horizontal grab bars
are necessary for momentary grabbing the
rung or equivalent if the foot slips. Side
rails should be bar stock but never angle
iron or channel that cannot be gripped
effectively under fall conditions.
14. A fixed ladder must never be installed in
a manner detrimental to personnel who may
be on the underside of a ladder when climbing.
Reverse climbing slopes are prohibited.
15. Fixed ladders (at least the extension
Figure 3. A typical elevated platform ladder has a
guardrail and a fall protection system such as a selfretracting
lanyard mounted above the platform.
(Courtesy Sellstrom/RTC.)
side rails) must extend a minimum of 42
inches above the landings they serve. They
should be equipped with horizontal grab
bars in case the feet slip from the rungs so
the hands can be used effectively.
According to U.S. Army EM 385-1-1 4(d):
“Horizontal grab bars shall be provided to
facilitate grip. Grab bar diameters shall be
spaced by a continuation of the rung spacing.
Grab bar diameters shall be the equivalent
of round rung diameters.”
16. All roof access ladders with point of
access at an elevated location should have
a cage and/or ladder safety devices to deter
or protect against falls (Figures 3 and 4).
Ladders with a length of climb of more
than 24 feet must have a cage or climbing
protection (Figure 4). The cage must start 7
to 8 feet above the ground or the platform
3

National Safety Council
Data Sheet 606 Rev. August 2007
Figure 4. This fixed ladder has a cage. Note: There
must be a platform for every 50 feet of ladder, as
given in ANSI A14.3-2002 “shall be of a type which
can be operated entirely hands-free by the person
using the ladder safety system. It shall permit the
person using the ladder safety system to ascend or
descend without having to continually manipulate the
safety sleeve.”
Note: Some climbing protection devices may stick
due to lack of oils particularly low temperature silicones
in cold icy weather or from ambient dust and
dirt around sliding or rotating parts.
(Courtesy Sellstrom/RTC.)
landing where the ladder begins. CFR
1910.27(d)(ii) regulations are similar cages
or ladder safety systems at 20 feet.
17. Provide adequate illumination to safeguard
personnel where necessary. A minimum
lighting intensity of five foot-candles
is suggested per IES Chapter 29, 9 th edition.
Install lamps so they do not glare. All
lighting fixtures must be guarded from vandalism,
electrically insulated and grounded.
18. Where environmental conditions are
oily, icy or wet, completely enclose fixed
ladders if possible. Note: Some manufacturers
of climbing protection rail systems provide
a heating wire to melt ice on the rail
19. If fixed ladders are on structure exteriors
accessible to the public, the bottom 7
to 8 feet must be excluded from public
access. A fence with locked gates may be
feasible, or the unguarded portion made
removable and used only as needed such
as many transmission or telecommunication
towers.
20. At the base of each fixed ladder, there
must be a warning sign to prohibit use by
unauthorized personnel.
21. Warning! Fixed ladders must not be
installed within reach of existing electrical
conductors nor should new electrical conductors
be installed near a fixed ladder.
Long tools or jets of water may cause
grounding and warnings may be needed if
the hazards are analyzed carefully and cannot
be eliminated.
22. Item 7.3.1 of the Safety Requirements
for Fixed Ladders reads as follows: “The
safety sleeve shall be above the top for
proper dismount and subsequent access.
23. Acceptable types of climbing protection
systems are as follows:
a. A rail or wire cable fixed to the ladder, on
which a sleeve travels. Rails provide
more stability and are less easily damaged
by wind vibration. Cable stays are
required every 40 feet apart to avoid
wind vibration contact damage. Workers
may fail to reinstall them properly leading
to broken cable wires that could
affect the smooth operation of the climbing
protection device.
b. A sleeve fastened to the climber’s full
body harness by snaphook and/or a
4

National Safety Council
Data Sheet 606 Rev. August 2007
short connector; the total length of
which should be 9 inches. Note: For harness
connection at the chest, a 12-inch
connection may be required for proper
climbing if the manufacturer has tested
for a 24-inch free fall. Make sure the connection
does not twist the device so it
locks too quickly.
c. A roof hatch that opens onto a flat commercial
roof needs to be strong enough
for a security barrier and rigid enough to
act as an anchorage point for fall arrest
devices. Exterior extension side rails
equipped with horizontal grab bars are
required in the U.S. Army Safety Manual
EM385-1-1 (11/03) standard for proper
access and especially descent from the
roof. Appendix J 3h: “Openings shall be
provided with elevated horizontal grab
bars to facilitate access and exit from
upper levels”
24. The need for a flared upper extension
side rail section depends on whether the
climber has tools around his/her waistline
on a tool belt. It is normally sufficient to
have an 18-inch opening for persons to
step through and little need for the 24 to
36-inch openings once required when
cranes or hoists were not available for lifting
tool boxes and equipment onto platforms
overhead.
25. Install these devices according to the
manufacturer’s instructions. Note: Climbing
protection systems are intended for maintenance
work and possibly operations in
some applications where practical. These
systems are only applicable for emergency
escape when sufficient harnesses and
climbing protection devices with connecting
means exist in a secured and protected
enclosure for a stated capacity. Remote
climbing locations, such as telecommunications
towers should have secured and protective
containers at the base of each
ladder with user documentation.
26. At a steady climbing speed, the sleeve
slides up and down without hindrance. If
the climber falls, however, a locking cam or
friction brake is activated to automatically
stop the fall. Climbing down too quickly
often causes the sensitive climbing protection
device to lock causing unnecessary
aggravation with the system.
27. The top side of the rail or cable (bracket)
must extend 3 feet above the top landing
for proper dismount and subsequent
access.
28. Sufficiently close distances are
required to allow the climber to alight from
the ladder and position behind a protective
gate or barrier before disengaging from the
climbing protection device, or to reattach
the climbing protection device before stepping
onto the ladder. A ladder safety gate is
required to provide protection on the platform
and to allow detachment or reattachment
to the safety device before the
exposure of the opening is permitted.
Users must hold different rungs in each
hand as they climb in case corrosion has
occurred.
29. Item 4.1.4.2 of ANSI A14.3-2002, Safety
Requirements for Fixed Ladders, reads as
follows: “Ladder safety systems shall be
used when the length of climb of a ladder or
section ladders exceeds 50 feet in a single
length of climb and rest platforms shall be
provided at maximum intervals of 150 feet.”
Note: OSHA 1910.27(d)(2) states 20 feet
without a cage and 30 feet with a cage, rest
or landing platforms must be provided.
Inspection and maintenance
30. Before general use is permitted, an
inspection must be made and documented
of every new fixed ladder installation to
determine that it has been installed in
accordance with the provisions of the
American National Standards Institute and
the applicable federal, state or provincial,
5

National Safety Council
Data Sheet 606 Rev. August 2007
and local regulations and the instructions
climbing protection system manufacturer.
A checklist containing the requirements in
this data sheet is recommended. Inspect
all ladders regularly, such as every six
months determining the intervals between
inspection by use and exposure but no
period greater than 12 months.
31. A warning and sign shall be posted
that a proper harness with a frontal D-ring
and 9-inch connection shall only be used,
and that full-body harnesses and 6-foot,
shock-absorbing lanyards or their equivalent
are prohibited for use with the climbing
protection system. Periodic inspection
of all fixed ladders, cages and climbing protection
devices, and the prompt correction
of any defects are imperative to their continued
use.
32. Some hazards to look for during periodic
inspections are:
• Loose, worn and damaged or corroded
rungs or side rails
• Damaged or corroded parts of the cage
• Corroded or loose bolts and rivet heads,
especially on the inside of metal stacks
• Damaged or corroded handrails and
brackets on platforms
• Deteriorated masonry where fixed ladder
anchorages are secured to a structure
• Defects in climbing device tolerances,
including damaged snaphooks, loose or
damaged carrier rails or cables
• Unauthorized parts in the system, such as
incompatible snaphooks or connectors
• Smooth rungs in the center portion must
be made slip-resistant
• Lack of horizontal grab bars in the area of
extension side rails
• Objects and pipes within 27 inches of
the climbing face of the ladder that may
interfere with climbing
• Sufficient foot space either side of the
carrier for safe climbing
• No obstruction behind the ladder for
seven inches at any location during the
climb
33. Training: To meet 1926.1060:
• Proper climbing: use of flexible gloves
with adequate friction
• Boots with steel or synthetic spine or
shank and a well-defined heel
• Grasp rungs with full-hand rounded grip
only, never side rails, to avoid catastrophic
fall consequences.
• Do not climb ladders with sharp edge
rungs that could cut or injure the hands
grip capacity in a fall or during repeat
climbing usage.
• Climb with face toward ladder only.
• Step on rungs between the ball of the
sole and the heel.
• Only hold one particular rung with a
hand; grasp another rung with the other
hand
• Do not sit on a ladder platform guardrail
or stand up on a midrail.
• Practice three-point climbing with close
observation of a supervisor or trainer.
(Note: this is a counterintuitive technique
and must be regularly practiced
with supervision)
34. Rescue: Tested climbing protection
systems are certified to have survived a 500
pounds free-fall through 18 inches or the
distance of free fall dictated by twice the
connecting distance between the harness
and the climbing protection device. The reason
that 500 pounds was chosen for the
test in the 1940s was based on rescue by a
government climber who would piggyback
under a stricken climber, lifting his connecting
device to permit both climbers to
descend. Thus two climbers at 250 pounds
each would equal 500 pounds between
attachments of the ladder to the structure.
That concept has been abandoned in the
past 20 years (but not the test) due to diffi-
6

National Safety Council
Data Sheet 606 Rev. August 2007
culty by trained climber rescuers. Thus pulleys
and rope rescue and self-retracting lanyards
have become more popular as tools
for prompt rescue with suitable front or
back D-ring suspension points. Where
heights are several hundred feet, it is not
enough to designate the local fire departments
that are often under-equipped and
lack speedy provision of manpower. Hence
rope access systems used by trained technicians
in a crew are becoming the option
of choice throughout the world for climbing
and emergency descent.
35. Scaffold ladders: portable, hook-on,
attachable or integral frame access is permitted
by OSHA 1926.451(e) with reference
to Subpart X for portable ladders.
However, integral frame ladders must have
horizontal members less than 16 3 ⁄4 inches
apart and be uniformly spaced except
between frames, at least 8 inches in
length. No access using cross-braces is
permitted. Fall protection is required over
10 feet for access and a competent person
must determine feasibility for erection,
moving or dismantling. Self-retracting lanyards
installed above shoulder height are
recommended for tube and coupler
attached ladders and integral frame ladders
36. Non-compliant Ladders: some structures
like grain silos offer door handles for
climbing and an aluminum or concrete
enclosure for grain pouring that can act as
a cage. Others are 12-inches rung width for
ladder access to railroad signals. Some
water tower manufacturers and merchant
marine shipbuilders provide diamond
shape rungs on fixed ladders. Helicopter
maintenance access to the rotor blades
have recessed steps and grab bars.
Scaffold ladder frames may not be classified
as a fixed ladder; likewise trailers and
tankers for road and rail. Rebar mattes are
similar to fixed ladders. Curved water tank
bowl ladders and astronomy dishes with
flat angles less than 70 degrees pose posture
and connection length problems for
climbers. For all these types of climbing
structures the answer may be back-up fall
protection both before and after the ladders
are standardized in respective industry
standards. Step bolts are occasionally an
alternative to ladders with offset or parallel
steps consisting of bolts with heads to limit
side slipping but pose a severe injury hazard
if a faller catches a bolt under a body
part, and are known to fail on transmission
towers from time to time while climbing
and should be proof-tested periodically.
Sources of information
American National Standards Institute, 25 West 43 rd
Street, 4 th floor, New York, NY 10036.
Safety Requirements for Fixed Ladders, A14.3-2002.
U.S. Army Safety and Health Requirements Manual
EM 385-1-1 (11/03).
HSE Report on caged ladders: Preliminary investigation
into the fall-arresting effectiveness of ladder safety
hoops. HSE Research Report 258 (Safety Squared
2004), http://www.hse.gov.uk/research/rrpdf/rr258.pdf.
Acknowledgment
This data sheet was revised by the
Construction Division membership, of the
National Safety Council, 1121 Spring Lake
Drive, Itasca, IL 60143.
Copyright 2008 National Safety Council.
All rights reserved.
Although the information and recommendations contained
in this publication have been compiled from
sources believed to be reliable, the National Safety
Council makes no guarantee as to, and assumes no
responsibility for, the correctness, sufficiency or
completeness of such information or recommendations.
Other or additional safety measures may be
required under particular circumstances.
7