1910.23(b)(13): No Unbalanced Loads on Ladders
No employee may carry any object or load that could cause them to lose balance and fall while climbing up or down a ladder.
Key takeaways
- 1910.23(b)(13) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart D).
- OSHA cited it 37 times in the last 3 years, in 37 inspections, with $154,089 in current penalties.
- 1 death is linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: MI (5), TX (5), IL (4).
- Related part: 1910.23(b) General requirements for all ladders (683 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.23(b)(13) is one requirement inside 1910.23 Ladders, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart D). The official text below is copied word for word from the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR). The numbers, injury cases and training on this page show how OSHA enforces it on real job sites.
Official text
(13) No employee carries any object or load that could cause the employee to lose balance and fall while climbing up or down the ladder. 37 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.23.
Injuries linked to this rule
1 death is linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1910.23(b)(13).
At 2:50 p.m. on January 25, 2024, an employee was climbing an 8-foot ladder to retrieve product from an overhead storage platform approximately 9 feet 5 inchesabove. The ladder began to wobble under the employee, causing her to fall to theconcrete floor. The employee suffered…
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 17 |
| 2025 | 13 |
| 2026 | 5 |
Top states: MI (5), TX (5), IL (4), FL (4), DC (2)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| SPENCER GIFTS LLC | BLASDELL, NY | $13,333 |
| ARC'TERYX | WASHINGTON, DC | $12,413 |
| ALBERTSONS #4289 | DALLAS, TX | $11,916 |
| AUTOZONE STORES LLC | MOUNT DORA, FL | $11,524 |
| CITY OF CHARLES CITY, IOWA | CHARLES CITY, IA | $10,938 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.23(b)(13), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
- Fall Protection Requirements for Fixed Ladders (2021-09-10)
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.23(b) General requirements for all ladders 683 citations
- 1910.23(b)(10) 281 citations
- 1910.23(b)(9) 162 citations
- 1910.23(b)(8) 150 citations
- 1910.23(b)(1) 13 citations
- 1910.23(b)(12) 10 citations
- 1910.23(b)(2) 10 citations
Get your crew competent
Trainers on Black Belt Safety: Marc Harvey, Dana Reyes
Trainers and suppliers: feature your business on this rule for $25/month.
Frequently asked questions
Can I carry tools up a ladder?
Not any object or load that could cause you to lose balance and fall while climbing.
Does this apply going down as well?
Yes. It covers climbing up or down the ladder.
Who is responsible?
The employer must ensure no employee carries such a load.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1910.23 (eCFR), text current as of 2026-10-15
- U.S. Department of Labor enforcement data: OSHA inspections, citations and accident records, copied nightly; data as of 2026-10-20
3-year window. Federal OSHA only; state-plan rules are not counted. Plain-language text is a summary, not legal advice; the official text controls. Black Belt Safety is not part of OSHA or the Department of Labor.