Step Ladders
Step ladders are self-supporting and great for work in one spot. They’re also behind a huge number of injuries, at work and at home. Most step ladder falls happen when people stand too high, overreach, set up on uneven ground or lean a folded ladder against a wall. Even a fall of a few feet can break a wrist, hip or skull.
- Construction
- General Industry
Pick the right ladder
Height
As a rough guide, most people can safely reach about 4 feet higher than the height of the step ladder while standing on the highest permitted step. Check the manufacturer’s reach chart. If you’d have to stand on the top step or reach over your head, get a taller ladder.
Duty rating
The duty rating is the most weight the ladder can safely hold: you plus your clothing, tools and materials.
| Type | Duty | Rated load |
|---|---|---|
| IAA | Special duty | 375 pounds |
| IA | Extra heavy duty | 300 pounds |
| I | Heavy duty | 250 pounds |
| II | Medium duty | 225 pounds |
| III | Light duty (household) | 200 pounds |
On jobsites, use Type I or higher. Household Type III ladders aren’t built for daily professional use.
Material
Use fiberglass whenever you could contact electrical wiring, panels or overhead lines. Aluminum conducts electricity. Wood can conduct when wet or dirty.
Inspect it first
- Labels are present and readable, including the duty rating
- Rails are straight and not cracked, split, dented or bent
- Steps are tight and clean, with no oil, paint or mud
- Spreader bars lock fully and aren’t bent
- All four feet have their slip-resistant pads
- Rivets, bolts and pail shelf are secure
A ladder with any defect gets tagged “Do Not Use” and removed until it’s repaired or thrown out.
Setting it up
- Fully open with both spreader bars locked
- All four feet on a firm, level surface. No boxes, blocks or shims under the feet
- Tall enough to reach your work without standing on the top cap or top step
- Not in front of a door unless the door is locked, blocked or guarded
- Area around the base clear of debris and cords
- Fiberglass if there is any electrical hazard
Using it
- Face the ladder when climbing and keep three points of contact.
- Keep your belt buckle between the side rails. Move the ladder rather than reaching.
- Carry tools in a belt or pouch, or have someone hand them up.
- Use the pail shelf only for tools and paint, never as a step.
- Only one person on the ladder at a time, unless it’s a two-sided ladder rated for two.
- Don’t stand on the top cap or the top step. Most step ladders also label the step below as the highest standing level.
- Don’t climb the back side (the cross-braces) unless it’s a two-sided ladder designed for it.
- Don’t use a step ladder folded up and leaned against a wall. It will slide out.
- Don’t “walk” the ladder while standing on it.
- Don’t use it on a scaffold, lift or truck bed to gain height.
- Don’t push or pull hard from the ladder, such as drilling into concrete overhead with a heavy hammer drill, without a stable platform.
Tip: If you need to go higher or work for a long time, use a platform (podium) ladder with a guardrail, a rolling scaffold or a lift. Many contractors now ban standard step ladders over a certain height for this reason.
Carrying and storing
- Carry the ladder closed, balanced, with the front end slightly raised. Get help with long ladders.
- Store it where it won’t be damaged, out of the weather, and away from heat and chemicals.
- Secure ladders on trucks so they can’t bounce or slide.
Standards & references
- 29 CFR 1926.1053(b): Use of ladders
- 29 CFR 1910.23: Ladders (general industry)
- ANSI A14.1, A14.2, A14.5: Wood, metal and fiberglass ladders
- See also: Ladder Safety Basics · Extension Ladders
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