Labor & Industries (L&I), Washington State

Ladders, Portable and Fixed Chapter 296-876, WAC

Effective Date: 12/01/06

WAC 296-876-700 Fixed ladders inspection and maintenance

For printing

Your Responsibility

To make sure fixed ladders are inspected and maintained properly

Protection against corrosion and deterioration	WAC 296-876-70005
Inspection and repair	WAC 296-876-70010

 

WAC 296-876-70005

Protection against corrosion and deterioration

You must

• Paint or otherwise treat metal ladders or metal parts to resist rust and corrosion if they are:
  • - Exposed to the elements
  • or
  • - Located where rust or corrosion could be expected.
• Treat wood ladders used in conditions where decay may occur with a nonirritating preservative.
• Make sure wood ladders aren't coated with an opaque covering except for the minimum amount necessary for identification and warning information which may be placed on one face only of a side rail.
• Treat the interface between different materials or use other means to prevent:
• - One material from damaging or having a harmful effect on another material

  and

• - Electrolytic action between dissimilar metals.

WAC 296-876-70010

Inspection and repair 

You must

• Keep ladders in safe condition.
• Have a competent person inspect a ladder for visual defects:

  - Periodically

  and

  - After any occurrence that could affect safe use.

• Make sure any ladder with structural damage or other hazardous defect is immediately removed from service.

Note: Structural damage includes, but isn't limited to, any of the following: - Broken or missing rungs, cleats, or steps - Broken or split rails - Corroded components - Bolts and welds missing or not secure. A ladder is considered to be removed from service if any of the following are done: - It is marked to identify it as defective - It is tagged with "do not use" or similar language - It is blocked so that it can't be used, for example, by using a plywood attachment that spans several rungs.

You must

• Make sure repairs restore the ladder to a condition meeting its original design criteria.