Staying Safe on Ladders and Scaffolds

Hundreds of workers are injured or killed every year from accidents on ladders and scaffolds. The good news is most ladder and scaffold accidents are preventable. Most of these accidents are either caused by risky behavior like over-reaching or from faulty setups of the ladder/scaffolding. These mistakes can be corrected.

You have the power to prevent ladder and scaffolding falls. Begin by implementing these 5 steps:

• Inspect equipment before use

• Follow manufacturer’s instructions and follow safety rules

• Use common sense

• Avoid risky behaviors like over-reaching, climbing too high, rushing movements, etc.

• Report safety problems (broken/malfunctioning equipment) immediately to a supervisor or safety coordinator

Don’t let these types of accidents happen to you or your staff:

• A worker was standing on top of a stepstool, which shifted and caused him to fall. He suffered a spinal cord injury and was off work for 4 months. It wasn’t even a long fall.

• A worker failed to secure his extension ladder to the top of a 20 ft. wall and he fell to the ground when the ladder slipped away from the wall, resulting in his death.

• Two men were working on an atrium when their scaffold collapsed. They fell to a concrete deck. One man was dead on arrival at the hospital; the other was in critical condition.

Practicing the 5 steps above could have prevented all these accidents.

Ladder Dos & Don’t’s

• Do make sure ladders are secured firmly at the top and bottom and supports are locked in

• Do make sure device is on a level surface

• Do use a 4 to 1 ratio; bottom of ladder should be 1 foot away from wall for every 4 feet of ladder height

• Do always face the ladder when climbing up or down

• Do have at least 3 feet of ladder extended past the top of wall/roof; secure it

• Do pay attention to the weight limit ratings listed on the ladder label

• Don’t place a ladder against a weak surface like a window

• Don’t use metal ladders near live electrical lines

• Don’t set ladders on boxes or other objects

• Don’t get on a ladder if another person is on it

• Don’t work on a ladder when there is a strong wind

• Don’t reposition a ladder while you are on it

If your job requires you to work at heights, OSHA and your employer require you to follow safety guidelines for your protection.

3 Fall Protections Systems: (one or more of these should be in place when workers are working from heights)

Guardrails (barriers between workers and the upper level edge)

• At least 42 inches high

• Able to withstand force of at least 200 lbs.

• Materials won’t puncture skin or snag clothes

Safety nets (catch you if you fall)

• Must be no more than 30 ft. below elevated workers or area

• Have strong rope border with mesh openings smaller than 6 inches per side

• Be strength tested by dropping 400 lbs. (30-inch diameter sandbag)

• Inspected weekly for wear, damage, and deterioration

Personal fall arrest system (harness/tethers)

• Body harness connected to a fixed anchor by lanyard, lifeline, or deceleration device

• Cannot be used to hoist materials

• Must be inspected before and after use

• Self-locking, self-closing connectors

• Anchor must support at least 5,000 lbs. per attached employee

• Cannot connect to platform supports or suspension points, guardrails, or hoists

• Avoid connecting to rough edges

• Do not connect with a hitch knot

OSHA Requirements for Scaffolds

1. Scaffolds must be made of metal or stress-grade lumber

2. Cross bracing is required for metal scaffolding

3. Guys, ties, or braces are required to keep supported scaffolds from tipping over

4. Supported scaffolds must bear on base plates and mudsills

5. Scaffold platforms and walkways should be at least 18 inches wide

6. Supported scaffolds must be able to hold at least 4 times the intended load

7. Ropes for suspended scaffolds must be able to carry 6 times their intended load

8. Scaffold must be erected a safe distance away from powerlines

9. Safe access to scaffold platforms must be provided (i.e. ladders, ramps, steps)

10. Fall protection is required for work more than 10 feet above a lower surface

11. All scaffolds must have guardrails or personal fall arrest systems to prevent falls

12. Top rails must be 38-45 inches above the platform and able to support a minimum of 200 lbs.

13. Toe boards at least 4 inches high are required on open sides to keep tools and materials from falling

14. Screens must be used between guardrails and toe boards if people will be passing underneath the scaffold

15. Debris nets, catch platforms, canopies, or barricades are necessary if people are passing beneath scaffolding

16. Employees working below scaffolding are required to wear hard hats

To keep workers safe make sure they are properly trained on the hazards of working at or around heights. Teach them to inspect their equipment and report broken or malfunctioning equipment. Have available and use the proper PPE, and keep equipment clean and properly functioning. Practicing safe work behavior before someone gets hurt prevents someone from getting hurt.

Preventing Falls

Falls continue to be the second leading cause of death to workers. To help reduce fall-related injuries and fatalities, OSHA advises employers to “plan, provide, and train” their workers who work at heights of 6 feet or more (bucket truck, water tower, utility vault, etc.)  These situations require a plan for safety and emergency retrieval and the proper equipment for performing work tasks at height. Workers need to be properly trained to understand the hazards, and how to control them through administrative controls, engineering controls, and personal protective equipment (PPE).

Plan – When planning a job that requires working from height, the employer is responsible for ensuring the work can and will be done safely. When planning for the budget, employers must include the cost involved for purchasing the proper safety equipment to perform elevated tasks. They must plan to have the necessary equipment available and used at the job site.

Provide – Employers must provide fall protection and related equipment (ladders, scaffolds, safety harnesses, etc.) for employees working 6 feet or more above a lower level. If workers use personal fall arrest systems for work in trees or bucket trucks, a harness for each worker who needs to tie off to an anchor must be provided. Each system must properly fit the worker and be inspected regularly. Purchase equipment from reputable vendors that provide hands-on training on their equipment.

Train – Every worker must be trained on the proper set up and safe use of their fall protection system and they must be deemed proficient by their supervisor before doing hazardous work at height.

When working with ladders, workers should know to maintain 3 points of contact (2 hands and 1 foot or 2 feet and 1 hand) on the ladder at all times. Keep ladders on a level surface, secure ladders by locking their metal braces, and avoid over-reaching when performing tasks outside the ladder edges. As for working on scaffolds, a worker must know how to safely set up the scaffold including how to set up guardrails and ensure stable footing can be maintained. The scaffold must be set up level. The scaffolding should be inspected by a supervisor before workers are allowed to use it.

For off or below ground work, the workers need to make sure their harness fits properly, straps are sufficiently backed up, and they are securely tied off or belayed at all times. Workers should be able to check that their anchor points are secure and make sure any openings are protected or covered.

Working at heights is a very serious situation - don’t under estimate the danger. Falls from heights are low in frequency but high in severity. This kind of accident could be catastrophic for a worker and your municipality.

Fall Hazards

Public Works has many different hazards workers need to be aware of and the municipality must have procedures in place to insure workers are protected.  One issue to consider is Fall Hazards. Print the brochure below to share with your employees who may work around these hazards.