Osha Roof Access Ladder Cage Requirements

This is the same height that osha requires for guardrails.

Osha roof access ladder cage requirements.

Note that this is more than the 3 feet a portable ladder needs to extend above a landing or the 3 feet high a hand grab has to be for a portable ladder. 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. 1926 1053 a 21 wells for fixed ladders shall conform to all of the following. 1910 23 d 4 i the roof if the parapet is cut to permit passage through the parapet.

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 side rails of through or sidestep ladders extend at least 42 inches 1 1 m above the top of the access level or landing platform served by the ladder. For fixed ladders that extend more than 24 feet 7 3 m above a lower level 29 cfr 1910 28 b 9 i requires that each fixed ladder installed before november 19 2018 is equipped with a personal fall arrest system ladder safety system cage or well and each fixed ladder installed after this date is equipped with a personal fall arrest system or a ladder safety system. To protect the worker exiting a ladder osha requires a 42 inch high grab bar extension above the access level or landing platform at the top of the ladder.

The top of the cage shall be a minimum of 42 inches 1 1 m above the top of the platform or the point of access at the top of the ladder with provision for access to the platform or other point of access. Vertical bars must be on the inside of the horizontal bands and must be fastened to them. 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. 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.

Osha s new ruling was designed in part to create more uniformity between the general industry and construction standards. Horizontal bands must be fastened to the side rails of rail ladders or directly to the structure building or equipment. For parapet ladders the access level is. The minimum amount of flare required at the bottom of the cage 4 inches.

Cages must not extend less than 27 inches 68 cm or more than 30 inches 76 cm from. Cages must extend 42 inches above the top of the landing.