OSHA · Free course
Stairways & Ladders
How to work safely on and around stairways and ladders on a construction site: when a stairway or ladder must be provided (a break in elevation of 19 inches or…
OSHA
Stairways & Ladders
What you’ll learn
By the end of this course.
Determine when a stairway or ladder must be provided — a break in elevation of 19 inches or more with no ramp, runway, sloped embankment, or personnel hoist — 1926.1051(a)
Identify stairway requirements: stairrails/handrails where there are four or more risers or a rise of more than 30 inches, a 30–50 degree angle, and uniform riser height and tread depth — 1926.1052
Select, inspect, and set up a portable ladder correctly, including the 4-to-1 angle for non-self-supporting ladders and the 3-foot side-rail extension above an upper landing — 1926.1053(a),(b)
Apply safe climbing practices: face the ladder, keep a hand-hold, don't overreach, and never stand on the top or top step of a stepladder — 1926.1053(b)
Remove a defective ladder from service, tag it "Do Not Use," and understand that a competent person inspects ladders for visible defects — 1926.1053(b)
State the employer's ladder and stairway training requirement and that a competent person delivers it — 1926.1060(a)
References & standards
Grounded in the source material.
- 29 CFR 1926 Subpart X — Stairways and Ladders
- 1926.1051 — General requirements (19-inch break-in-elevation trigger)
- 1926.1052 — Stairways
- 1926.1053 — Ladders
- 1926.1060 — Training requirements
This is awareness training. It supports your program; it is not a substitute for site-specific procedures or hands-on competency where a standard requires it.
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