Ladder inspection checklist
A pre-use check for step and extension ladders — and the one rule that matters: a defective ladder is tagged and removed, not put back on the rack.
Regulatory status Inspecting ladders before use in each shift IS required by OSHA, as is removing a defective ladder from service. This form is not prescribed, and consensus-standard material is labelled separately below.
1910.23(b)(9) requires ladders to be inspected before initial use in each work shift, and more frequently as necessary, to identify visible defects. 1910.23(b)(10) requires a ladder with a structural or other defect to be immediately tagged “DANGEROUS: DO NOT USE” or with similar language, and removed from service until repaired or replaced.
Everything else below — how the checks are grouped, what the form records — is a design choice, not a requirement. Where guidance comes from the ANSI A14 consensus series rather than from OSHA, it says so in the sentence.
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Ladder pre-use inspection
Ladder
Checks
| Item | OK | Defect | N/A | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All ladders | ||||
| Labels and duty-rating markings present and legible | ||||
| No cracks, splits, bends or dents in rails or rungs | ||||
| Rungs and steps secure, not loose, bent or missing | ||||
| Free of grease, oil, mud or anything slippery | ||||
| No corrosion, rot, splintering or heat damage | ||||
| Feet present, secure and not worn smooth | ||||
| No makeshift or improvised repairs | ||||
| Step ladders | ||||
| Spreaders open fully and lock | ||||
| Hinges and rivets tight, not worn | ||||
| Top cap and pail shelf sound | ||||
| Not being used as a straight ladder | ||||
| Extension ladders | ||||
| Rung locks engage positively on both rails | ||||
| Rope and pulley intact, rope not frayed | ||||
| Guides and slides move freely, sections not bent | ||||
| Overlap between sections correct for the length | ||||
| In use | ||||
| Correct duty rating for the person plus tools and materials | ||||
| Set on a firm, level base and secured against movement | ||||
| Correct angle, and extends far enough above a landing where used for access | ||||
| Not positioned where a door can swing into it | ||||
Outcome
Ladder inspection checklist — ehstec.com/resources/ladder-inspection-checklist · Published 23 September 2026. Inspection before use in each shift is required by 1910.23(b)(9); this form is not prescribed. Customize before use and check against the manufacturer's instructions.
What is federal law, and what is consensus guidance
| Statement | Source | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Ladders inspected before initial use in each work shift | 1910.23(b)(9) | Federal requirement |
| Defective ladder tagged and removed from service | 1910.23(b)(10) | Federal requirement |
| Ladders used only for the purpose they were designed for | 1910.23(b) | Federal requirement |
| Training on ladder hazards and proper use where applicable | 1910.30(b) | Federal requirement — and not satisfied by this form |
| Duty-rating classes and detailed construction criteria | ANSI A14 series | Consensus standard, not OSHA |
| Specific inspection frequency beyond each shift | manufacturer / ANSI A14 | Consensus or manufacturer, not OSHA |
The distinction matters when someone asks why a control exists. "Because the standard says so" and "because it is good practice and our insurer expects it" are both reasonable answers — but they are different answers, and conflating them is how a programme loses credibility the first time somebody checks.
What this checklist does not do
- It is not fall protection. Work at height beyond ladder use has its own standards and duties that a ladder check does not touch.
- It is not ladder training. 1910.30(b) requires training on ladder hazards and procedures where applicable; completing this form contributes nothing to it.
- It does not cover every ladder type. Fixed ladders, mobile ladder stands and platforms have separate requirements.
- The manufacturer's instructions take precedence over any generic list, including this one.
Sources
This is a checklist, not legal advice
Nothing here is endorsed, approved or reviewed by OSHA, and ANSI material is identified as consensus guidance rather than federal law. See our editorial standards for how this content is written and reviewed.
Ladders as assets, not as anonymous equipment
A ladder with a tag number has a history; a ladder from the rack does not. In EHSTEC a ladder can be an asset with its own inspection schedule and record, a defect becomes a corrective action with an owner and a due date, and the one that keeps failing is visible as a pattern. See how equipment inspections work in EHSTEC.