OSHA estimates that there are 24,882
injuries and as many as 36 fatalities per
year due to falls from stairways and
ladders used in construction. 

OSHA rules apply to all stairways and ladders used in construction, alteration, repair (including painting and  decorating), and demolition of work sites covered by OSHA's construction safety and health standards. They also specify when stairways and ladders must be provided. They do not apply to ladders that are specifically  manufactured for scaffold access and egress, but do apply to job-made and manufactured portable ladders  intended for general purpose use and which are then used for scaffold access and egress. 

A stairway or ladder must be provided at all worker points of access where there is a break in elevation of 19 inches (48 cm) or more and no ramp, runway, embankment, or personnel hoist is provided. 

When there is only one point of access between levels, it must be kept clear to
permit free passage by workers. If free passage becomes restricted, a second
point of access must be provided and used. 

When there are more than two points of access between levels, at least one point of access must be kept clear. 

All stairway and ladder fall protection systems required by these rules must be
installed and all duties required by the stairway and ladder rules must be performed before employees begin work that requires them to use stairways or ladders and their respective fall protection systems. 

Ladders should be inspected before each use.  Broken ladders should taken out of service immediately.

Ladders must not be tied or fastened together to create longer sections unless they are specifically designed for such use. 

A metal spreader or locking device must be provided on each stepladder to hold the front and back sections in an open position when the ladder is being used. 

Non-self-supporting and self-supporting portable ladders must support at least four times the maximum intended load; extra heavy-duty type 1A metal or plastic ladders must sustain 3.3 times the maximum intended load. 

When portable ladders are used for access to an upper landing surface, the side rails must extend at least 3 feet (.9 m) above the upper landing surface. 

When such an extension is not possible, the ladder must be secured, and a grasping device such as a grab rail must be provided to assist workers in mounting and dismounting the ladder. A ladder extension must not deflect under a load that would cause the ladder to slip off its support. 

Ladders must be maintained free of oil, grease, and other slipping hazards. 

Ladders must not be loaded beyond the maximum intended load for which they
were built nor beyond their manufacturer's rated capacity. 

OSHA standards require that employers provide a training program for each 
employee using ladders and stairways.  Training must include specific components. 

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OSHA Regulations (Standards - 29 CFR), 
Part 1926 Subpart X - Stairways and Ladders

Specific Procedures Written Program 

General Construction Safety Rules

Construction Safety Videos

Construction Equipment Safety Videos

Specific Hazards Video Training

Written Master Safety Plan on CD-ROM

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