Stairways and Ladders: Lesson Plan (OSHA 10-Hour Construction Outreach)

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1. Page 1

   IDENTIFICATION

   • TOPIC TITLE: ___Stairs and Ladders___
   • MINIMUM TIME: ___30 minutes___
   • OBJECTIVES
   • Terminal Objective:
   • Given best practices and current OSHA and industry information regarding worksite illnesses, injuries, and/or fatalities, the student will be able to recognize how to protect himself/herself from hazards associated with stairways and ladders.
   • Enabling Objectives:
   • 1. Identify types of stairways and ladders used at a construction site.
   • 2. Describe types of hazards (i.e., slips, trips, and falls) associated with the use of stairs and ladders.
   • 3. Describe protective methods used to prevent stairway and ladder hazards.
   • 4. Recognize employer requirements to protect workers from stairway and ladder hazards.
   • INSTRUCTOR MATERIALS AND RESOURCES
   • PowerPoint Presentation: Stairs and Ladders
   • Knowledge Check Answer Key: Stairs and Ladders
   • STUDENT MATERIALS
   • OSHA Fact Sheet: Reducing Falls in Construction – Safe Use of Extension Ladders
   • OSHA Fact Sheet: Reducing Falls in Construction – Safe Use of Stepladders
   • OSHA Fact Sheet: Reducing Falls in Construction – Safe Use of Job-made Wooden Ladders Topic test for Stairs and Ladders
2. Page 2

   TEACHING PROCEDURES ---Preparation, Presentation, Application, Evaluation

   • Anticipatory Set (Focus Attention/Gain Interest)
   • Estimated Time: ?? hours
   • Key Points
   • Methods
   • From OSHA Construction eTool (2001):
   • Case Study
   • An employee was climbing a 10-foot ladder to access a landing which was 9 feet above the adjacent floor. The ladder slid down, and the employee fell to the floor, sustaining fatal injuries. Although the ladder had slip-resistant feet, it was not secured, and the railings did not extend 3 feet above the landing.
   • PPT slides #1 – #4
   • Every year, about 25,000 injuries occur that are due to falls from stairways and ladders. Whenever there is a break in elevation of
   • 19 inches or more, there must be a stairway or ladder to provide proper access to a higher or lower level, unless a ramp, runway, embankment, or some personnel hoist is provided.
   • Use select OSHA Fatality Report related to ladder/stairway fatalities to emphasize hazards and need for safe use.
   • Presentation (Instruction)___
   • Key Points
   • Methods
   • I. Types of ladders and stairways in construction
   • PPT slides #5 – #7
   • A. Ladders
   • 1. Portable – a ladder that can be readily moved or carried.
   • a. Self-supporting (Ex. Stepladder or other foldout types)
   • b. Non-self-supporting (Ex. Extension ladder or other leaning types)
   • 2. Fixed – a ladder that cannot be readily moved or carried because it is an integral part of a building or structure.
   • 3. Job-made wooden ladder
   • B. Stairways
   • 1. Temporary stairways
   • 2. Permanent
3. Page 3

   II. Types of hazards

   • A. Slips
   • 1. Grease, oil, wet paint, water, or other slippery contaminants on floor; spills/debris
   • 2. Slippery coatings on ladder
   • B. Trips
   • 1. Poor housekeeping/clutter, loose cords, improper use of floor hole protection covers,
   • 2. Power cords, construction materials, or other items in work area that create tripping hazard
   • 3. Indoor walking surface irregularities
   • 4. Outdoor walking surface irregularities
   • 5. Inadequate lighting
   • 6. Loose wires
   • C. Falls – conditions leading to injury-causing incidents involving falls from ladders or stairways
   • 1. Improper set-up
   • 2. Using ladders with structural defects
   • 3. Portable ladders not extending 3 feet above landing surface
   • 4. Not securing ladder correctly
   • 5. Standing on top two steps of a stepladder
   • 6. Overreaching when working from a ladder
   • 7. Inadequate or missing guardrails or handrails on stairways
   • D. Other potential hazards
   • 1. Ladder contact with power lines
   • 2. Falling objects from elevated level when objects are placed on ladders or stairways or are being carried up/down the ladder or stairway
   • 3. Protruding objects, sharp edges, or rough spots on stairways that could cause injuries
   • PPT slides #10 – #26
   • III. Reducing or eliminating hazards
   • A. Ladders
   • 1. Ladder-use practices related to OSHA’s general requirements:
   • a. Extend side rails of portable ladders 3 feet above the upper landing surface.
4. Page 4
   • i.
   • When extension is not possible, secure ladder and provide a grasping device to assist workers in mounting/dismounting ladder.
   • ii.
   • A ladder extension must not deflect under a load that would cause the ladder to slip off its support.
   • iii. Keep ladders free of oil, grease, and other slippery substances.
   • b. Do not exceed maximum intended load of a ladder or the manufacturer’s rated capacity.
   • c. Use ladders only for the purpose for which they were designed.
   • d. Angle non-self-supporting ladders so that the horizontal distance from the top support to the foot of the ladder is ¼ the working length of the ladder.
   • e. Pitch fixed ladders no more than 90 degrees from the horizontal, measured from the back side of the ladder, when used.
   • f. Use ladders only on stable and level surfaces or secure ladders to prevent movement.
   • g. Do not use ladders on slippery surfaces, unless they are secured or have slip-resistant feet to prevent movement. Slip-resistant feet must not be used as a substitute for the care in placing, lashing, or holding a ladder upon a slippery surface.
   • h. When using a ladder in a doorway, passageway, driveway, or other area where it can be displaced by workplace activities or traffic, secure the ladder to prevent movement or a barricade to keep traffic/activities away from the ladder.
   • i. Keep clear areas around top and bottom of ladders.
   • j. Equally support the two rails of a non-self-supporting ladder at the top, unless it is equipped with a single support attachment.
   • k. Do not move, shift, or extend ladder while in use.
   • l. When the worker or ladder could make contact with exposed energized electrical equipment, only use a ladder with nonconductive siderails.
   • m. Maintain 3-point contact when ascending or descending a ladder.
5. Page 5
   • n. Face the ladder when going up or down.
   • o. Do not carry any object or load on a ladder that could cause a loss of balance and fall.
   • p. Do not use the top or top step of a stepladder.
   • q. Do not use the cross-bracing on the rear section of a stepladder for climbing.
   • r. Inspect ladders (competent person) for visible defects periodically and after any incident that could affect their safe use.
   • s. Do not use single-rail ladders.
   • 2. Ladder requirements, per OSHA:
   • a. A double-cleated ladder or two or more ladders must be provided when ladders are the only way to enter or exit a work area having 25 or more employees, or when a ladder serves simultaneous two-way traffic.
   • b. Rungs, cleats, and steps:
   • i. Must be parallel, level, and uniformly spaced when the ladder is ready for use;
   • ii. Must be spaced 10 – 14 inches apart, along portable or fixed ladder side rails;
   • iii. Must be 8 – 12 inches apart, between center lines of the rungs, cleats, and steps of step stools;
   • iv. Must be 8 – 18 inches apart between center lines of rungs, cleats, and steps of extension trestle ladders; the rung spacing on the extension section must be 6 – 12 inches.
   • c. Do not tie or fasten together ladders to create longer sections, unless design is specific for that use.
   • d. The resulting side rail of spliced side rails must have strength equal to a one-piece side rail of same material.
   • e. Stepladder must have a metal spreader or locking device to hold ladder in open position during use
   • f. Platforms or landings must be used to offset two or more separate ladders used to reach an elevated work area.
   • g. The surface of ladder components must be free of projections, sharp edges, or abrasive materials
6. Page 6
   • that could puncture or cut user, or snag clothing.
   • h. Wood ladders must not be coated with any opaque covering, except for identification or warning labels which may be placed only on one face of a side rail.
   • 3. Structural defects
   • a. Remove from service any ladder with structural defect
   • i. Broken or missing rungs, cleats, or steps
   • ii. Broken or split rails
   • iii. Corroded parts
   • iv. Other faulty or defective components
   • b. Mark as defective or tag “Do Not Use”
   • c. Repair ladder to condition meeting its original design criteria before being returned to use
   • B. Reducing or eliminating hazards with stairs
   • 1. Install at least one handrail on stairways with four or more risers or more than 30 inches of rise
   • 2. Install a stair-rail system, including a top rail, mid-rail, and sometimes a toeboard, along the unprotected sides and edges of stairways that rise six feet or more
   • a. Must be between 30-36 inches from the upper surface of the stair rail system to the surface of the tread
   • b. Must be able to withstand a force of at least 200 pounds
   • 3. Build/maintain stairs that meet OSHA requirements
   • a. Uniform riser height and uniform tread depth with less than ¼ inch variation
   • b. Built and installed at an angle between 30 – 50 degrees on the diagonal
   • c. Install landings (minimum 30 inches deep and
   • 22 inches wide) at least every 12 feet of vertical rise; protect sides with standard 42” guardrail system
   • d. Remove dangerous projections, such as protruding nails, from all stairway/rail parts
   • e. Correct slippery conditions on stairways with slipresistant material
   • 4. Fill temporary pan stairs to the top edge of each pan, and replace treads and landings when worn below the top edge.
7. Page 7

   PPT slide #27

   • IV. Employer Requirements
   • A. Comply with OSHA standards related to stairs and ladders, including:
   • 1. Training requirements
   • 2. Inspection requirements
   • B. Comply with manufacturers’ requirements and recommendations for all ladders.
   • Application (How students apply what they learn) __
   • Estimated Time: ?? hours
   • Key Points
   • Methods
   • Show pictures of ladders and stair use and condition. Have students identify any unsafe actions or conditions and discuss related best practices.
   • PPT slides #28 – #29
   • Have students demonstrate the proper way to set up, ascend, and descend a ladder.
   • Evaluation/Summary
   • Key Points
   • Methods
   • Knowledge Check: Stairs and Ladders
   • PPT slides #30 – #36
8. Page 8

   References

   • OSHA Standard:
   • https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owasrch.search_form?p_doc_type=STANDARDS&p_toc_level=1 &p_keyvalue=Construction
   • 1926 Subpart X – Ladders
   • 1926.1050 – Scope, application, and definitions applicable to this subpart.
   • 1926.1051 – General requirements.
   • 1926.1052 – Stairways.
   • 1926.1053 – Ladders.
   • 1926.1060 – Training requirements.
   • 1926 Subpart X App A – Ladders
   • OSHA Publications
   • https://www.osha.gov/pls/publications/publication.AthruZ?pType=Industry
   • Ladder Safety: Reducing Falls in Construction – Safe Use of Extension Ladders , Fact Sheet
   • Ladder Safety: Reducing Falls in Construction – Safe Use of Job-made Wooden Ladders , Fact
   • Ladder Safety: Reducing Falls in Construction – Safe Use of Stepladders , Fact Sheet
   • Ladder Safety QuickCard™
   • Ladder Safety: Falling Off Ladders Can Kill – Use Them Safely
   • Stairways and Ladders
   • (OSHA FS-3660 – 2013) (English: PDF)
   • Sheet (OSHA FS-3661 – 2013) (English: PDF)
   • (OSHA FS-3662 – 2013) (English: PDF)
   • (OSHA 3246) (English: HTML PDF)
   • (OSHA 3625 – 2013) (English: EPUB MOBI PDF) (OSHA 3625 – 2013) (Spanish: EPUB MOBI PDF)
   • (OSHA 3124 – 2003) (English: HTML PDF)
9. Page 9

   OSHA References/Resources

   • Falls: Misuse of Portable Ladders (2001), OSHA Construction eTool, https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/construction/falls/ladders.html