For construction workers who use portable ladders: pick a sound ladder and pull defective ones, set it up at the right angle and height, and climb and work from it safely.
Based on OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1053 (ladders, construction) · about 4 min read
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Do not load a ladder beyond the maximum intended load it was built for, or beyond the manufacturer's rated capacity. Count yourself, your tools and your materials.
Use a ladder only for the purpose it was designed for. A ladder laid flat is not a plank or a ramp.
Where you or the ladder could contact exposed energized electrical equipment, the ladder must have nonconductive side rails (with narrow exceptions for certain power line work).
Single-rail ladders must not be used.
Do not tie or fasten ladders together to make them longer unless they are specifically designed for it.
Every stepladder needs a metal spreader or locking device that holds it open while in use.
Check its condition
Ladders must be kept free of oil, grease and other slipping hazards.
A competent person inspects ladders for visible defects periodically and after anything that could affect their safe use.
A portable ladder with structural defects, such as broken or missing rungs, cleats or steps, broken or split rails, corroded components, or other faulty or defective components, must be immediately marked in a way that readily identifies it as defective, or tagged "Do Not Use" or similar language, and withdrawn from service until repaired.
Repairs must restore the ladder to its original design criteria before it is used again.
For a non-self-supporting ladder (like an extension ladder), the horizontal distance from the top support to the foot should be approximately one-quarter of the working length. Example: if the ladder touches the wall 16 feet along its length, set the foot about 4 feet out. (Wood job-made ladders with spliced side rails use one-eighth.)
Reaching an upper level
When you use a portable ladder to get onto an upper landing, the side rails must extend at least 3 feet above the landing. If the ladder is too short for that, it must be secured at the top to a rigid support that will not deflect, with a grasping device such as a grabrail to help you get on and off.
The top must rest with both rails supported equally, unless the ladder has a single support attachment.
Footing and surroundings
Use ladders only on stable and level surfaces, unless secured against displacement.
On slippery surfaces, the ladder must be secured or have slip-resistant feet. Slip-resistant feet do not replace care in placing, lashing or holding the ladder.
In passageways, doorways or driveways, secure the ladder or barricade traffic away from it.
Use at least one hand to grasp the ladder while moving up or down.
Do not carry any object or load that could make you lose your balance and fall. Raise heavy or bulky materials another way.
Working
Never move, shift or extend a ladder while someone is on it, including you.
Do not use the top or top step of a stepladder as a step.
Do not climb the cross-bracing on the back of a stepladder, unless the ladder is designed with steps on both front and rear sections.
When two or more separate ladders are used to reach an elevated work area, they must be offset with a platform or landing between them. The exception is a portable ladder used to reach a fixed ladder whose bottom is raised to limit access, such as on utility towers or billboards.
Fact-checked against the regulation text on October 09, 2026. This certificate records completion of awareness training based on OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1053. It is not an OSHA card or license, and it does not by itself meet the training requirements of 29 CFR 1926.1060. Your employer must still ensure you are trained by a competent person, as applicable, in the fall hazards in your work area and the ladders used at your job sites, and must provide retraining as necessary.
This guide explains the rule in plain words. Always read the regulation itself and your employer's site-specific procedures.