It’s easy to get complacent with equipment we use every day. Ladders and temporary stairways fall squarely into that category and ladder use is a terrible time to zone out.
Ladders and stairways continue to be a major source of workplace injuries and fatalities. In OSHA’s Top 10 Most Frequently Cited Standards for FY 2024, Ladders, construction (29 CFR 1926.1053) ranks #3 overall, right behind fall protection and hazard communication.
Before we dig into OSHA ladder and stairway standards, let’s look at why these access systems create so much potential for serious incidents.
Most ladder incidents don’t come from the ladder breaking—they come from human error. Rushing, improvising, or trying to get “just a couple inches more” is where workers get hurt.
Here are five of the most common ladder hazards and simple prevention strategies you can reinforce on site.
Hazard: Workers step off too early and misjudge the last rung.
Prevention:
Coach workers to face the ladder and descend slowly.
Emphasize no skipping rungs, especially near the bottom.
Use toolbox talks and BBS observations to reinforce good habits.
Hazard: Leaning too far to the side shifts the center of gravity outside the rails.
Prevention:
“Belly button between the side rails” as a simple rule.
Train workers to climb down and reposition the ladder rather than reaching.
Consider platforms or scaffolds where frequent side reach is required.
Hazard: Short ladders encourage unsafe improvisation—standing on the top cap, stacking materials, etc.
Prevention:
Choose ladder length based on working height and reach (about 4 ft above ladder height for extension ladders).
Ensure proper duty rating (Type I, IA, IAA) for worker + tools.
Standardize ladder options on site so the right length is always available.
Hazard: Ladders set on uneven, soft, icy, or cluttered ground.
Prevention:
Clear the base area of debris and obstructions.
Use slip-resistant feet and levelers where needed.
Reinforce that “I’m in a hurry” is never an excuse for skipping set-up.
Hazard: Carrying tools or materials while climbing, using one hand, or facing away from the ladder.
Prevention:
Require three-point contact at all times (two hands + one foot, or two feet + one hand).
Use tool belts, hoists, or hand lines instead of carrying loads while climbing.
Include three-point contact in competency checks and observations.
Tip: Are ladder pre-use inspections and three-point contact part of your safety program?
With Safety Evolution’s Form Designer, you can deploy ladder inspection templates and BBS forms, assign them to crews, and track completion automatically through your safety software.
Temporary and permanent stairways share many of the same risks. They may not be as common as ladders on construction sites, but when something goes wrong, injuries are often severe.
The National Safety Council reports that falls are the second leading cause of unintentional injury-related deaths, and stairways are a major contributor to these fall incidents.National Safety Council+1
Here are some common stairway hazards and prevention strategies.
Hazard: Inconsistent riser heights, missing treads, loose components, or improvised “temporary” stairs.
Prevention:
Build and maintain stairways to code, even if they’re temporary.
Inspect regularly for damage, movement, or deterioration.
Ensure landings meet minimum size and spacing requirements.
Hazard: No handrails, or rails that are too low, too high, or too far from the walking line.
Prevention:
Provide handrails and stair rails that meet OSHA requirements for height, strength, and continuity.OSHA+1
Make sure handrails are easy to grip and within reach throughout the climb.
Hazard: Dim or inconsistent lighting leads to missteps and trips.
Prevention:
Provide adequate, uniform lighting over the entire stairway.
For temporary stairs, avoid relying on a single dangling “trouble light.”
Check lighting as part of your routine workplace inspections.
Hazard: Ice, snow, mud, oil, loose materials, or worn treads create slip hazards.
Prevention:
Keep treads clear of snow, ice, mud, and debris.
Repair or replace worn treads and metal pans promptly.
Never store materials at the top or bottom of stairs.
OSHA’s construction standards for stairways and ladders are found in 29 CFR 1926 Subpart X (1926.1050–1060).OSHA+1
Key points from the general requirements:
The subpart applies to all stairways and ladders used in construction, alteration, repair, and demolition.OSHA+1
A stairway or ladder must be provided where there is a break in elevation of 19 inches (48 cm) or more and no ramp, runway, embankment, or personnel hoist provides access.Electronic Code of Federal Regulations
Access points must be kept clear of obstructions and free from tripping hazards.
The subpart includes dedicated sections for:
General requirements – 1926.1051
Stairways – 1926.1052
Ladders – 1926.1053
Training requirements – 1926.1060
With Safety Evolution’s Mobile App, you can keep OSHA ladder and stairway requirements, safety manuals, and SDS available in workers’ pockets—no more hunting for paper binders when you need a standard.
Under 1926.1053, OSHA requires that ladders be used only on stable and level surfaces and secured as needed to prevent accidental movement.
Best practices include:
Secure ladders on unstable or slippery surfaces using tie-offs, ladder stabilizers, or other methods.
Use slip-resistant feet and ensure proper angle: roughly 1:4 ratio (one foot out for every four feet of vertical height).
Protect ladders placed in high-traffic areas with barricades or by securing/relocating them.
Keep areas around the top and bottom of ladders clear.
Never move, extend, or shift a ladder while someone is on it.
Keep rungs, cleats, and steps free of grease, ice, and debris.
Ensure rungs are parallel, evenly spaced, and level when the ladder is set up.
Wood ladders cannot be painted with opaque coatings that hide defects (other than limited labels).
When two or more ladders are needed to reach a work area, they must be offset with a landing platform between them (unless using portable ladders to reach fixed ladders).
Never tie ladders together to create a longer ladder.
Use ladders only for their designed purpose and within the maximum intended load.
Face the ladder and maintain three-point contact while climbing.
Do not carry loads that reduce balance or require both hands.
Use non-conductive ladders (fiberglass or wood) where ladders could contact exposed electrical equipment.
You can build these requirements into digital ladder inspection forms, JSAs, and competency checks using Safety Evolution’s Form Designer, then schedule them automatically across your projects.
Portable ladders include stepladders, extension ladders, and job-built ladders. OSHA’s general rules apply to all of them, with extra requirements for specific types.
Never stand on the top cap or top step.
Do not climb cross-braces on the rear unless the ladder is clearly designed for two-sided climbing.
Stepladders must have locking devices to keep the ladder open while in use.
Stepladders over 20 ft are not allowed in construction.
Minimum 11.5 in (29 cm) clear width between side rails.
Single portable ladders longer than 30 ft and extension ladders longer than 60 ft must not be used.
Rungs of metal ladders must be corrugated, dimpled, knurled, or skid-resistant.
Self-supporting and non-self-supporting ladders must support at least four times the maximum intended load.
Ladders used for roof access must extend at least 3 ft (0.9 m) above the landing surface.
Ladders must not be used horizontally as scaffolds or platforms.
And remember: inspect portable ladders before each use and remove defective ladders from service.
Fixed ladders are often found on tanks, mezzanines, roofs, and towers. OSHA has specific requirements for fixed ladders in 1926.1053(a)(16)–(20) and, for general industry, in 29 CFR 1910.28.
Key construction-related requirements include:
Fixed ladders must have 16 in (41 cm) minimum clear width between side rails.
Step-across distance from ladder to landing must be 7–12 in (18–30 cm). A landing platform is required if it exceeds 12 in.
The minimum clearance behind rungs is 7 in (18 cm); at least 30 in (76 cm) of clear space in front of the ladder on the climbing side.
Where the total climb equals or exceeds 24 ft (7.3 m), fixed ladders must be equipped with either:
Ladder safety devices, or
Self-retracting lifelines with rest platforms at intervals ≤ 150 ft, or
Cages/wells with multiple ladder sections not exceeding 50 ft each.
In general industry, newer OSHA rules phase out cages as acceptable fall protection on taller fixed ladders, requiring ladder safety systems or personal fall arrest systems for climbs over 24 ft.
OSHA is clear: defective ladders must be removed from service.
For both portable and fixed ladders:
If you find broken or missing rungs, split rails, corrosion, or other structural defects:
Tag the ladder “Do Not Use” or mark it clearly as defective.
Physically remove it from the work area or block access.
Repairs must restore the ladder to its original design criteria before it goes back into use.
With Safety Evolution, you can integrate ladder pre-use inspections and defective ladder workflows into your safety program—auto-assigning inspections, capturing photos, and tracking when equipment is removed from service and repaired through the Form Designer and scheduler.
OSHA’s stairway rules are found in 1926.1052 and cover design, dimensions, landings, and guarding.
Here are key requirements:
Temporary stairways that will not remain as part of the permanent structure must have landings at least 30 in deep and 22 in wide for every 12 ft (3.7 m) of vertical rise.
Stairways must be installed at an angle between 30° and 50° from the horizontal.
Risers and treads must be consistent; variations cannot exceed ¼ inch.
Where a door or gate opens onto a stairway, a platform must extend at least 20 in (51 cm) beyond the door swing.
Stairways must be kept free of slippery conditions, protruding nails, or other projections.
Do not use stairways with metal pan treads or landings unless they are properly filled with concrete or other materials.
Provide stair rails and handrails that meet OSHA’s specific height and strength requirements. Detailed dimensions are available in OSHA’s Stairways and Ladders – A Guide to OSHA Rules.
Routine workplace inspections should always include ladders and stairways. With Safety Evolution, you can schedule recurring inspections, trigger automatic corrective actions on failures, and prove compliance with digital records.
OSHA’s 1926.1060 – Training Requirements spells out what workers must be trained on when it comes to stairways and ladders.
Training must cover at least:
The nature of fall hazards in the work area
Correct procedures for erecting, maintaining, and disassembling fall protection systems
Proper construction, use, placement, and care of all stairways and ladders
Maximum intended load-carrying capacities of ladders used
Relevant standards in Subpart X
Retraining is required whenever:
There’s a change in equipment or procedures, or
A worker’s lack of knowledge or skill indicates they are not following requirements.
From a safety culture perspective, ongoing training should also target complacency:
Use BBS observations to watch ladder and stairway use in real time.
Recognize safe behavior and coach risky shortcuts.
Use toolbox talks and safety meetings to discuss near-misses and lessons learned.
Safety Evolution offers online and blended safety training, including fall protection, ladder use, and job-specific courses, plus the tools to track completions and expiries through our training platform.
Remember, conditions at the job site can change rapidly due to weather, the arrival of other trades, or new equipment on site. Stay vigilant and train your workers to do the same!
Jobsite conditions change fast. Weather, trades, equipment, and site layout all shift throughout the day. Ladders and stairways are often installed early and then used by everyone, which is why they show up so often in OSHA’s Top 10 cited standards.
To keep your company out of those statistics, you need:
Clear standards and expectations
Structured inspections and pre-use checks
Corrective actions that don’t fall through the cracks
Accessible reference documents (OSHA, SDS, manuals)
Training and competency checks to combat complacency
When you digitize your safety program with Safety Evolution, you get:
A Form Designer with templates for ladder inspections, stairway checks, BBS observations, and workplace inspections
A mobile app so workers can complete forms, access OSHA guidance, and report issues from the field
Schedulers and notifications to keep inspections and training on track
The ability to tie everything together with corrective actions and analytics
If you’d like your ladder and stairway program to be simple to run, easy to prove, and safer for your crews, this is exactly what we designed Safety Evolution to do.
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