Ladder Safety Training

Ladder Safety Training

Why?

NL Legislation
148. Portable ladder standards
(1) Except as otherwise permitted by this Part, portable ladder
design, construction and use shall meet the requirements of
(a) CSA Standard CAN3-Z11 "Portable Ladders";
(b) ANSI Standard A14.1-1990 "Safety Requirements for
Portable Wood
Ladders";
(c) ANSI Standard A14.2-1990 "Safety Requirements for
Portable Metal
Ladders"; or
(d) other standard acceptable to the minister.
(2) A manufactured portable ladder shall be
(a) marked for grade and use; and
(b) used in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.

NL Legislation
154. Restrictions on use
1) Except as otherwise permitted by a manufacturer, a worker
shall not work from either the top 2 rungs of a portable
single or extension ladder or the top 2 steps of a stepladder.
2) A ladder shall not be used as a scaffold component or as a
horizontal walkway, ramp or work platform support except
where the ladder is part of a pre-manufactured or
engineered system.
3) A worker shall maintain 3 points of contact when using a
ladder.
4) A worker may only work from a portable ladder without fall
protection where
(a) the work is a light duty task of short duration at each
location;
(b) the worker's centre of gravity is maintained between the
ladder
side rails; and
(c) the ladder is not positioned near an edge or floor

Ladders

Choosing a Ladder
Before the JOB consider the following:
Is a STEPLADDER right for the job?
Task
Plan ahead for the tasks you will be doing
Will you need to
Move around while on ladder
Carry items with you
Work for more than 30 mins
User
Is the user fit enough to work at heights.
Are they comfortable working at heights.

Choosing a Ladder
Is the Ladder strong enough?
Maximum Static Vertical load
Weight of user & additional weight carried
Duty Rating
Frequency and general condition

Duty Rating
A ladder's duty rating tells you its maximum
weight capacity. There are four categories of
duty ratings:
Type IA
These ladders have a duty rating of 300 pounds. Type
IA ladders are recommended for extra-heavy-duty
industrial use.
Type I
These ladders have a duty rating of 250 pounds. Type
I ladders are manufactured for heavy-duty use.
Type II
These ladders have a duty rating of 225 pounds. Type
II ladders are approved for medium-duty use.
Type III

Types of Ladders
Type
Wooden

Aluminium

Fiberglass

Advantages

Disadvantages

* Does not conduct

electricity when dry
* Natural insulator
against cold/ heat

* Heavy
* Can dry and split
* Can fail suddenly

*
*
*
*

Light
Strong
Robust
Low maintenance

* Conducts electricity
* Conducts heat and cold

* Does not conduct

electricity
* Can withstand cold
and heat

* Heavy
* Chip or crack under
impact
* Can crack or fail under
heavy load

Parts of a Step Ladder

Set Up and Use of Step

Ladder
1) User Inspections
- Stiles
- Locking devices
- Platform
- Steps or Treads
- Non-slip feet
- ID tag readable?
2) People and Place safety
- Not for work more than 30 minutes in duration
- Not for work requiring more than 10kg weight to
be lifted
- Footwear CSA safety
- Clothing - proper fitting clothing
- Check area overhead, other people, firm base,
doors , safe drop zone

3)

Set Up and Use of Step

Ladder set up Ladder
-

Is it fully opened and locked into correct position

Is it on firm and level base
Is it positioned with steps facing work
Multi design ladders must be set up properly for
work being preformed

4) User guidelines
- Secure grip at all times
- 3 point contact when climbing
- Ensure all items are secure on ladder
- Do not use top platform as work step
- MOVE LADDER FOR WORK AND DO NOT OVER
REACH

Parts of an Extension
Ladder
NL Regs section 153 Extension
Ladder Length.
A ladder shall be of sufficient length to
project approximately one metre above
the level of the upper landing to which it
provides access, except where there is
limited clearance and the ladder is
adequately secured.

Setting Up An Extension
Ladder

Setting Up An Extension
Ladder
What should you do
to safely secure extension
ladders?

Place ladders on a firm, level surface and ensure

the footing is secure.
Erect extension ladders so that the upper section
rests on (e.g., in front of) the bottom section. This
means the bottom section "faces" a wall or other
supporting surface (see figures below).
Place the ladder feet so that the horizontal distance
between the feet and the top support is 1/4 of the
working length of the ladder. The ladder will be
leaning at a 75 degree angle from the ground.
Raise and lower ladders from the ground. Ensure

Setting Up An Extension
Ladder
Erect ladders so that
a minimum of 1 m (3 ft)

extends above a landing platform. Tie the top at

support points.
Brace or tie off the ladder near the base. If there is
no structure to tie off to, use a stake in the ground.
Leave all tie-off devices in place until they must be
removed before taking the ladder down.
Maintain the minimum overlap of sections as shown
on a ladder label. Refer to safety regulations.
Note: When working 3 metres (10 feet) or more
above ground, wear a safety belt or harness with
the lanyard tied appropriately to the structure.

Setting Up An Extension
Ladder
What should you avoid
when using
extension ladders?

Do not use ladders near electrical wire.

Do not set up or take a ladder down when
it is extended.
Do not overextend. Maintain minimum overlap
of sections.
Do not climb higher than the fourth rung from the
top of a ladder.
Do not use ladders on ice, snow or other slippery
surfaces without securing ladders' feet.
Do not extend top section of a ladder from above or
by "bouncing" on a ladder.
Do not leave ladders unattended.

Setting Up An Extension
Ladder
What should you do to
avoid overexertion while setting
up an extension ladder?

When setting up an extension ladder, use the following

method to avoid straining muscles or losing control of a
ladder. With ladders weighing more than 25 kg (55 lb), or
where conditions complicate the task, have two persons set
up a ladder, step by step, as follows:
Lay a ladder on the ground close to intended location.
Brace ladder base using helpers' feet.
Grasp the top rung with both hands, raise the top end over
your head and walk toward the base of a ladder. Grasp the
centre of the rungs to maintain stability.
Move the erect ladder to the desired location. Lean it
forward against the resting point.

Setting Up An Extension
Ladder
One person can erect a short ladder, step by
step as follows:
Place the bottom of a ladder firmly against the base
of a building or stationary object.
Lift the top of ladder, and pull upwards to raise a
ladder to a vertical position.
Transfer a ladder to its required position when it is
erect.
Keep a ladder upright and close to the body with a
firm grip.

Setting Up An Extension
Ladder

Scaffolding

Scaffold Legislation
Scaffold erection and dismantling must be done by, or
supervised by, qualified workers.
The vertical supports of scaffolds must be Placed on a firm
base or sill Capable of withstanding superimposed weight
from the scaffold and anything placed on the scaffold
Do not use pallets, boxes, concrete blocks, bricks, or other
unstable materials to support scaffolds.
All scaffolds must be erected plumb and level, and be
designed for the intended use.

Scaffold Legislation
Scaffolds must be secured to the building structure
approximately 4.6 m (15 ft.) vertically but not to exceed 6.1
m (20 ft.) vertically and 6.4 m (21 ft.) horizontally. NOTE:
Narrow scaffolds must be secured to the structure when the
platform height exceeds three times the smallest base
dimension.
Bracing requirements for prefabricated scaffolds must be
installed according to the manufacturers instructions.
Bracing for job-built scaffolding must meet standards
acceptable to OHS.
All scaffolds must be inspected before use by those who will
use them, regardless of who erected them. No damaged or
weakened scaffold may be used until it has been effectively
repaired.

Types of Scaffolds
Aerial Lift

Suspended
Pump Jack

Types of Scaffolds
Supported
Framed or Fabricated

Guardrails
Falls from scaffolds are one of the leading causes of injuries
to construction workers .
All scaffolds 3 m (10 ft.) or more above grade must have
standard guardrails on their open side.
A standard guard consists of:
A top rail approximately 1.1 m (42 in.) above the
platform
An intermediate rail centred at approximately the
midpoint of the space between the underside of the top
rail and the upper edge of the platform
Vertical guardrail supports spaced not more than 3 m
(10 ft.) apart for wooden scaffolding
Standard guardrails must be designed to withstand a
static load of 550 N (125 lb.) applied laterally at any
point of the top rail.

Guardrails
1.1
m
(42"
)

Top rail
2" x 4"
or 2" x 6
Intermedi
ate rail
2" x 4"

Maximum 3 m (10 ft.) between supports

Manufactured Scaffold
Planks
Manufactured scaffold planks
are available in various lengths and
duty ranges. These planks must be installed and used according
to the manufacturers and/or suppliers specifications. Securing
devices for aluminum/plywood platforms
Examples of the various types of manufactured plank and
securing devices for aluminum/plywood platforms

Wood Scaffold Erection

Guidelines
General requirements
Wood scaffolding must be built using No. 2 or
better lumber. To eliminate split, warped, or
otherwise defective lumber, scaffold materials
should be hand-selected.
Progressively brace the scaffold as it is erected.
Make sure there is firm contact between bearer
blocks, bearers, wall scabs, and ledgers to provide
maximum strength at connecting points.
The number and size of nails and nailing patterns
at connections should be consistent with good
practice. As a guide, nails should protrude at least
two-thirds of the thickness into the adjoining piece
of lumber.

Wood Scaffold Erection

When holdingGuidelines
power is critical, or when the
scaffold will be used for an extended length of
time, dip galvanized or spiral nails should be
used. When scaffold components are intended
to be dismantled and reused, double-headed
nails may be used.
Caution: Do not use the same nail holes on
reassembly.
Do not exceed the maximum allowable
dimensions for bearers and upright spacing.
Do not overload the scaffold.
The spacing of vertical supports (uprights) and
bearers must not exceed 3 m (10 ft.).

Wood Scaffold Erection

2" x 4" or 2" xGuidelines
6 Top rail
2" x 4 Intermediate rail
2 x 10 Platform
2" x 4" or 1" x 6 Ledger
1" x 6" or 2" x 4" Brace
Mudsill

Note: For sake of drawing

clarity,
toeboards are not shown.

Maximum 3m (10ft) between

supports)

Scaffold Planks
All scaffold planks must be inspected and tested
before use.
Lumber or manufactured scaffold planks used for a
work platform must consist of at least two planks
placed side by side to provide a work surface with a
nominal width of 50 cm (20 in.), or nominal width of
30 cm (12 in.) for ladder-jack platforms.
Scaffold planks should completely cover the area
between front and rear vertical supports or the rear
guardrail.
Scaffold planks must be secured against any
movement in any direction (including uplift).

Scaffold (lumber) Planks

Sawn wood planks must be hand-selected and in
the following grades and sizes:
Minimum width
mm

inches

Select Structural Scaffold Planks

38 x 235

2 x 10 nominal

Select Structural Joists & Planks

48 x 251

2 x 10 nominal

No. 2 and Better Joists & Planks*

38 x 235

2 x 10 rough sawn

No. 2 and Better Joists & Planks

38 x 235

2 x 10 dressed/nominal

* Important: These planks must be doubled, one on top of the other.

Using the specifications above, the maximum span

is:
3 m (10 ft.) for light-duty scaffolds
2.1 m (7 ft.) for heavy-duty scaffolds

Scaffold Planks
Lumber used for planks must be graded and
marked to the National Lumber Grades Authority
(NLGA) Standard Grading Rules for Canadian
Lumber.
Scaffold planks must extend a minimum of 150
mm (6 in.) and a maximum of 300 mm (12 in.)
beyond their supports.
Scaffold planks must be held in place if there is a
danger of the planks slipping off their supports.

Testing Procedure for

Scaffold
Planks
Manufacturers
specifications
must be followed for

testing laminated wood scaffold planks. The

following is an acceptable method for testing sawn
wood scaffold planks:
Place test scaffold plank on two blocks. The block
size and test span must be selected from the
following
table:
Test Span
Block
Size
Span
2.1 m (7 ft.)

60 mm (238 in.)

3 m (10 ft.)

92 mm (358 in.)

Testing Procedure for

Planks
Have twoScaffold
workers who together
weigh at least 148
kg (325 lb.) stand on the centre of the supported
plank. Do not jump up and down on the plank.

Reject the plank if any of the following events

occur:
The plank bends enough to contact the ground
Cracking sounds are heard (indicating fibre
overstressing)
After removal of the test load, the plank fails to
return to its original position (i.e., it remains
bent)
Scaffold planks passing this test should be
identified by stencilling or end painting. It is also

Testing Procedure for

Planks
To preventScaffold
damage, scaffold
planks must be
handled carefully, used correctly, and stored
properly.

Scaffold planks must never be overloaded,

used as sills, or subjected to any condition
that could affect the integrity of the plank as
a working platform.

Bearer Connections at Wall

Single-pole wood scaffold
for light duty

2" x 4"
Upright

Metal bearer bar

2" x 6" Bearer

The spacing of vertical

supports and bearers of a
single-pole wood scaffold for
light duty must not exceed 3
m (10 ft.).
On single-pole scaffolds, the
inner ends of bearers must be
supported by bearer blocks
securely fastened to wall
scabs

2" x 6"
Wall scab
2" x 4"
Bearer
block

Minimum
610 mm
(2 ft.)
overlap

Pump Jack Scaffolding

Requirements
Pump jack scaffolds
must be erected, operated, and
maintained in accordance with the manufacturers
instructions.
A copy of the manufacturers instructions must be
readily available on site for reference by workers.
No more than two workers are permitted on a pump
jack scaffold at one time. The maximum allowable
safe working load is 227 kilograms (500 pounds).
Each pump jack bracket must have two positive
gripping mechanisms to prevent failure or slippage.

Pump Jack Scaffolding

Wood poles Requirements
shall
Not be spaced more than 2.3 metres (seven feet)
apart
Be secured to the work wall by rigid triangular
bracing at the top, bottom, and other points such
that the maximum distance between braces is
three metres (10 feet)
Not exceed nine metres (30 feet) in height
Require mending plates installed at all splices,
when two by fours are spliced to make a pole
Have the seam parallel to the bracket when
constructed of two continuous lengths joined
together

Pump Jack Scaffolding

Metal poles Requirements
shall :
Be secured as specified by the manufacturers
instructions
Have a minimum of one brace up to 7.3 metres (24
feet), and above that height the bracing shall not
exceed a maximum span of 4.9 metres (16 feet)
from top to bottom
Not exceed 15.2 metres (50 feet) in height unless
certified by an engineer
Poles must be placed on mud-sills or other
adequate firm foundation.

Pump Jack Scaffolding

Requirements
The work platform
must be
Secured to the pump jack brackets
A minimum width of 30 centimetres (12 inches)
A bench platform, incorporated in the scaffold at an
approximate height of 107 cm (42 in.), is
acceptable in lieu of a top rail.

What Do You Know?

What Do You Know?

Here are the safety violations they spotted:
The access ladder is too short (it must be long
enough to project approximately 1 m (3 ft.) above the
upper landing to which it provides access).
The scaffold has a lockout tag placed on it, indicating
the scaffold is unfinished and should not be used.
There is a bucket near the edge. If excess material
could fall off the scaffold, a toe board should be used.
The worker doesnt have safe access to the scaffold,
and would have to climb through the guardrails to
access the upper platform.

What Do You Know? (cont.)

The worker doesnt have safe access to the lower
level of the scaffold, and would have to crawl
through the brace to reach it.
There is a dangerous gap in the middle of the upper
level platform a slip/trip hazard.
The lower level platform is unfinished. The worker
needs a guardrail to use it.
The cross brace is missing from the back of the
scaffold (it must be erected according to the
manufacturers instructions).
The mid-rail is missing on the upper platform, a key
component of a guardrail system.

Setting Up Supported
Firm Foundation Scaffold
To ensure stability, scaffold must
be placed on Base plates
Mud Sills
Or other adequate firm foundation
Capacity. Scaffolds must be capable
of supporting their own weight and
at least 4 times their maximum
intended load

Setting Up Supported
Bracing. Frames Scaffold
must be connected by cross,
horizontal or diagonal braces, alone or in
combination, which secure vertical members
together laterally.

Setting Up Supported
Fall Protection Scaffold
Consists of either fall arrest harness and lifeline,
or fall prevention guardrails
Must be in place when worker is at height greater
than 3.05 m (10ft) or more at workers feet level
All employees working at this level must wear fall
arrest equipment
Fall arrest:
Can not be tied off to standpipes, electrical
conduit, vents or the like

Setting Up Supported
Scaffold
Guardrails
Must be on all platforms over 4ft from ground or
previous level of scaffold
Must have vertical supports no more than 8ft apart
Must not be no more than 1.07 m ( 3.51ft) from
floor with a rail in between the two.
Maybe be replaced by cross braces as long as
intersection of brace is between 50.8-76.2 (2030inches) for mid guardrail and 96.5-122cm (38-48)
inches for toprail.

Setting Up Supported
Scaffold
Working Gap
There can be no more than 14 inches between the
scaffold and the structure worked on.
Falling Object Protection
All persons working around scaffolding must be
protected against falling objects/debris by hard hat,
toeboards, screens or netting.

Questions?