Workplace Ladder Safety

DuraLabel
WORKPLACE LADDER SAFETY

Infographic Transcription

STATISTICS

Approximately 38% (24,500) of the 2.5 million nonfatal injuries in 2023 resulted in 5 or more days away from work. (Some small characters are unclear in this line.)

A fall of 6 ft. or greater at any height can result in INJURY OR DEATH.

Number of Falls, Slips and Trips resulting in days away from work in all industries
450,540 in 2023

22,710
of fall injuries in 2020 were the direct result of falling off of a ladder. (“falling off of a ladder” is clear; the rest of the sentence is partially blurred but readable in meaning.)

Fatal Falls from Ladders in the United States

• 2018: 153
• 2017: 158
• 2016: 143
• 2015: 171
• 2020: 81

In 2023 there were 885 fatal falls from all causes.
119 of those fatal falls were falls from ladders.

21,400 trip, slip or fall injuries occurred in the construction industry alone in 2020.

Improper use of ladders in construction was the THIRD most cited OSHA standard violation in 2020.

LADDER TYPES

FIXED
Ladders permanently fixed in a single place

PORTABLE
Ladders that are moved up, down and horizontally

SELF-SUPPORTING
Portable ladders that are able to stand on their own (step ladders)

SINGLE RAIL
Stairway-like / single-rail ladder type. (The detailed line with CFR references is too blurred to read precisely.)

OSHA’S MANDATORY SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL LADDERS

All ladders must be capable of supporting their maximum intended load.

ALL LADDER RUNGS MUST BE:

• Parallel
• Level and uniformly spaced
• Spacing no more than 12" from center to center distance of the rungs

Ladders shall have NONCONDUCTIVE SIDE RAILS if they are used where they may contact electrical equipment. (Exact wording is slightly blurred; “nonconductive side rails” and the intent are clear.)

METAL LADDERS
Should be protected against corrosion or rust and must have NON-SLIP TEXTURE ON THE RUNGS.

WOODEN LADDERS
Should not be coated with a material (paint, varnish, etc.) that may be used for protecting them from damage because it can hide defects. (Some small words are blurred, but this is the readable meaning.)

(General spacing + condition notes)

Ladder rungs must be between 10 AND 14 INCHES apart.

EXCEPTIONS: (bullets are blurred; best readable set)

• Stepstools
• Manhole ladders
• Elevator pit ladders
• To access rooftops or platforms (text partially unclear)

DANGER – DO NOT USE
Damaged ladders should not be used and should be marked “DO NOT USE” and removed from service until repaired. (Exact phrasing is partially blurred but clearly communicates this.)

Additional small-text guidance in this band is not fully legible (includes a “prior to use / inspection” style note and a balance/load note).

ADDITIONAL OSHA REQUIREMENTS FOR SPECIFIC LADDERS

FIXED LADDERS

Distance between fixed ladder rungs (or steps) and any obstruction (including walls) on the climbing side of the ladder must be at least 7 inches.

Perpendicular distance from the centerline of rungs to the nearest permanent object in back of the ladder must be 4 inches.

Additional fixed-ladder load/strength notes appear here, but the smallest lines are too blurred to transcribe perfectly (includes multi-person load requirements and a grab bar/side rail strength note).

LADDERS THAT ARE 24 FEET OR LONGER

Section present with diagrams (cage/well, safety device/lifeline, and platform/segment limits).
Some numeric callouts are visible (including 20 feet), but several key lines are too blurred to transcribe reliably.

LADDERS WITHOUT CAGES OR WELLS

Panel present with requirements and notes; most of this small text is not readable at this resolution.

PORTABLE LADDERS

Panel includes these clearly readable elements:

• Ladder shall extend 3 feet above the upper landing surface. (“3 feet” is clear; surrounding words are partially blurred.)
• The base of the ladder should be 1/4 the distance between the ground and the upper support point (the 4:1 rule).

Other labels in this panel are present but too blurred to reproduce exactly (includes “top step” and “each side rail” type notes).

SELF-SUPPORTING LADDERS

• Should not be used in a half open or partially open way.
• Must have a spreader or locking device to hold the front and back sections in an open position.

A construction callout box is present with a “x4” graphic, but the small text is not legible.

4 STEPS FOR SAFE PORTABLE LADDER USE

PLACE
Set your ladder on a solid, level ground, making sure it is in the correct distance from the wall while maintaining a distance of 1/4, where d = ladder’s height. (Exact wording is slightly blurred; the 1/4 distance rule is clear.)

INSPECT
Check that the ladder extends 3 feet past its point of contact with the upper surface. Make sure the ladder will bear the weight of the person and tools to be used. (Final line contains an OSHA reference that is too blurred to read.)

SECURE
Secure it using other equipment, and make sure it is connected to prevent it from moving. (Some words are blurred; intent is clear.)

CLIMB
Ascend the ladder, keeping 3 points of contact at all times.

SAFETY SOLUTIONS TO REDUCE LADDER INJURIES AND FATALITIES

Use PATHFINDER Floor Marking, Wayfinding & Safety Tape

ANTI-SLIP TAPE (description line too small to read precisely)
AISLE TAPE (description line too small to read precisely)
Graphic text: WATCH YOUR STEP

Contact DuraLabel for all your ladder safety needs
888-326-9244 | DuraLabel.com