Fixed Ladder Safety Cage Requirements

Cages or wells are required on fixed ladders in the united states under osha s 29 cfr 1917 118 e 1.

Fixed ladder safety cage requirements.

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

The standard states that safety cages or wells shall be provided on ladders of more than 20 feet to a maximum unbroken length of 30 feet. 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. Cages must extend 42 inches above the top of the landing.

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. 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. Here are the basics of the requirements. The requirements for mounting ladder safety devices for fixed ladders are as follows.

Several of the important changes are listed below. 1910 23 b 4 i. Although a current osha requirement our fall protection inspection teams see ladders that do not pass the simple climbing width regulation of a minimum of 16 inches. 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.

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. 1926 1053 a 21 i. Fixed ladders more than 20 feet 6 1 m in height shall be provided with a cage well or ladder safety device.