Falls from ladders and aerial work platforms are among the most common causes of serious injury and death in the performing arts industry. The misuse of ladders is so common in theatrical operations that it has become normalized: a technician standing on the top cap of a stepladder to reach a fixture, a 6-foot ladder used as a bridge between two platforms, a ladder on a dolly to avoid moving it. Every one of these practices is a violation of OSHA standards and a potential fatal fall. This article provides the foundation for using ladders and aerial work platforms safely and legally.

Ladder Types and Their Appropriate Uses

Understanding which type of ladder to use for a specific task is the starting point for ladder safety:

• Stepladders: self-supporting, A-frame ladders. Appropriate for tasks where the top of the stepladder can be set up near the work area. Do not climb above the second step from the top. Do not use as a straight ladder leaned against a wall.
• Extension ladders: straight ladders that extend to reach higher work areas. Must be leaned against a stable surface at a 4:1 angle (for every 4 feet of working height, the base must be 1 foot out from the wall). Not self-supporting: must be secured at the top or held at the base by a second person.
• Platform ladders: stepladders with a guarded work platform at the top. Provide a more stable work position than conventional stepladders for tasks requiring both hands. The platform is the maximum working position.
• Combination ladders: can be configured as stepladder, extension ladder, or stairway ladder. Each configuration has its own requirements for safe use.

OSHA Ladder Standards

The primary OSHA standard for ladders in general industry is 29 CFR 1910.23 (Ladders), which covers portable ladders, fixed ladders, and ladder safety systems. Key requirements:

• Ladders must be inspected before each use. Defective ladders must be immediately removed from service, tagged “Dangerous, Do Not Use,” and repaired or replaced.
• Metal ladders must not be used near electrical work or energized conductors. Use fiberglass ladders in electrical environments.
• Ladders must not be placed in front of a door that opens toward the ladder, unless the door is blocked open, locked, or guarded.
• The area around the base and top of a ladder must be kept clear.
• Ladders used to access elevated work areas must extend at least 3 feet above the landing they serve.

Safe Ladder Use Techniques

Safe ladder use requires application of specific techniques that are not always intuitive:

• Three points of contact: always maintain three points of contact (two feet and one hand, or two hands and one foot) while ascending, descending, or working from a ladder.
• Face the ladder: always face the ladder when climbing, not the work. If the work requires facing away from the ladder, a different access method should be considered.
• Do not overreach: the belt buckle rule is a practical guideline: if your belt buckle moves outside the rails of the ladder, you are overreaching. Move the ladder instead.
• Do not carry tools in both hands: tools must be in a tool belt or bucket hook to keep at least one hand available for the ladder.
• Level the base: ladders must be on stable, level surfaces. Shimming or leveling devices specifically rated for the ladder load may be used to compensate for uneven surfaces. Improvised shims (scrap lumber, scenery pieces) are not acceptable.

Ladder Duty Ratings

ANSI A14 series standards (A14.2 for metal ladders, A14.5 for fiberglass ladders, A14.7 for multi-purpose ladders) establish duty ratings that specify the maximum combined weight of the user plus tools and materials:

• Type IAA: extra heavy duty, rated 375 pounds.
• Type IA: extra heavy duty, rated 300 pounds.
• Type I: heavy duty, rated 250 pounds.
• Type II: medium duty, rated 225 pounds.
• Type III: light duty, rated 200 pounds.

In theater operations, the correct duty rating is frequently underestimated. A 200-pound technician carrying 30 pounds of tools requires a Type I or heavier ladder. Type III light duty ladders are generally not appropriate for theater work. All theater ladders should be Type IA or Type I minimum.

Aerial Work Platforms

Aerial work platforms (AWPs), including scissor lifts, boom lifts, and vertical mast climbers, allow workers to perform elevated work from a stable, guarded work platform. They are significantly safer than ladders for most elevated theater work tasks. OSHA 29 CFR 1926.453 and the ANSI/SAIA A92 series standards govern AWPs:

• Operators must be trained and authorized before operating any type of AWP. Training must be equipment-type specific.
• Workers on boom-type AWPs must wear a full-body harness and lanyard connected to the platform attachment point designated by the manufacturer.
• AWPs must not be operated on surfaces exceeding the manufacturer’s rated slope capacity.
• Outriggers and stabilizers must be deployed per manufacturer instructions before raising the platform.
• AWPs must not be driven at elevated platform height unless the machine is specifically designed and rated for travel at height.

Prohibited Ladder Uses

The following uses of ladders are prohibited under OSHA standards and/or ANSI ladder standards:

• Using a ladder as a scaffold or work platform by placing it horizontally between two supports.
• Tying two or more ladders together to increase working height.
• Placing a ladder on a box, barrel, or other unstable surface to obtain additional reach.
• Using a damaged ladder that has not been repaired and cleared for use.
• Using a metal ladder in electrical environments.
• Climbing above the highest permitted standing level (second step from top on stepladders).
• Using an extension ladder without securing it at the top or having a second person foot the ladder.

When to Replace a Ladder

A ladder must be removed from service and destroyed when it has been dropped from a significant height (even without visible damage, hidden structural damage may have occurred), shows cracks in fibers, rails, steps, or rungs, has bent or broken rails, rungs, steps, or braces, has missing or damaged slip-resistant feet, has been exposed to temperatures exceeding the ladder’s rated range, has been overloaded, or shows signs of chemical exposure (corrosion, softening of fiberglass, embrittlement).

Key Takeaways

• OSHA 29 CFR 1910.23 governs portable ladders in general industry. Inspect before each use. Remove defective ladders immediately.
• Three points of contact must be maintained while climbing. Never overreach.
• Theater ladders should be Type IA or Type I (250-300 pounds). Type III light duty ladders are inappropriate for most theater work.
• Metal ladders must not be used in electrical environments.
• AWP operators must be trained and authorized. Boom lift users must wear a full-body harness.
• Prohibited uses include ladders on unstable surfaces, tying ladders together, and climbing above the top permitted position.

References

Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (n.d.). Ladders. 29 CFR 1910.23. U.S. Department of Labor.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (n.d.). Aerial lifts. 29 CFR 1926.453. U.S. Department of Labor.

American National Standards Institute / Scaffold and Access Industry Association. (2020). ANSI/SAIA A92.6: Self-propelled elevating work platforms. SAIA.

American National Standards Institute. (2020). ANSI A14.2: Portable metal ladders. American Ladder Institute.

American National Standards Institute. (2020). ANSI A14.5: Portable reinforced plastic ladders. American Ladder Institute.

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