Reducing Falls in Construction: 

Safe Use of Job-made Wooden Ladders

Workers who use job-made wooden ladders risk permanent injury or death from 

falls and electrocutions. These hazards can be eliminated or substantially reduced 

by following good safety practices. This fact sheet lists some of the hazards workers 

may encounter while working on job-made wooden ladders and explains what 

employers and workers can do to reduce injuries. OSHA’s requirements for job-made 

ladders are in Subpart X—Stairways and Ladders of OSHA’s Construction standards.

What is a Job-made Wooden Ladder?

A job-made wooden ladder is a ladder constructed 

at the construction site. It is not commerciallymanufactured. A job-made wooden ladder 

provides access to and from a work area. It is 

not intended to serve as a work platform. These 

ladders are temporary, and are used only until 

a particular phase of work is completed or until 

permanent stairways or fixed ladders are installed. 

A 24-ft. job-made ladder built in accordance with 

the non-mandatory provisions of 29 CFR Part 1926, 

Subpart X, Appendix A, is shown below.

Figure 1: Single-Cleat Ladder

Training Requirements

Employers must provide a training program for 

employees using ladders and stairways. The 

training must enable each worker to recognize 

ladder-related hazards and to use ladders 

properly to minimize hazards.

Constructing a Safe Job-made 

Wooden Ladder

Side rails:

• Use construction-grade lumber for all 

components.

• Side rails of single-cleat ladders up to 24 ft. 

(7.3 m) long should be made with at least 2 in. 

(3.8 cm) x 6 in. (14 cm) nominal stock lumber.

• Side rails should be continuous, unless splices 

are the same strength as a continuous rail of 

equal length.

• The width of single-cleat ladders should be at 

least 16 in. (41 cm), but not more than 20 in. 

(51 cm) between rails measured inside to inside.

• Rails should extend above the top landing 

between 36 in. (91.5 cm) and 42 in. (1.1 m) 

to provide a handhold for mounting and 

dismounting, and cleats must be eliminated 

above the landing level.

• Side rails of ladders which could contact 

energized electrical equipment should be 

made using nonconductive material. 

Cleats:

• Cleats should be equally spaced 12 inches on 

center from the top of one cleat to the top of 

the next cleat.

• Cleats should be fastened to each rail with 

three 12d common wire nails which are 

nailed directly onto the smaller surfaces of 

the side rails.

• Making cuts in the side rails to receive the 

cleats is not advisable.

• Cleats should be at least 1 in. (2.5 cm) x 4 in. 

(8.9 cm) for ladders 16 ft. (41 cm) to 24 ft. 

(7.3 m) in length.

FactSheet
Filler Blocks:

• Filler should be 2 in. (3.8 cm) x 2 in. (3.8 cm) 

wood strips.

• Insert filler between cleats.

• Nail filler at the bottom of each side rail first. 

Nail the ends of a cleat to each side rail with 

three 12d common nails. One nail is placed 

1-1/2 inch in from each end of the filler block. 

• Nail the next two fillers and cleat, and then 

repeat. The ladder is complete when filler is 

nailed at the top of each rail.

• Make all side rails, rungs and fillers before the 

ladder is assembled.

Inspecting Ladders

• A competent person must visually inspect jobmade ladders for defects on a periodic basis 

and after any occurrence that could affect 

their safe use.

• Defects to look for include: structural damage, 

broken/split side rails (front and back), missing 

cleats/steps, and parts/labels painted over.

• Ladders should be free of oil, grease and other 

slipping hazards.

Safe Ladder Use—DO:

To prevent workers from being injured from falls 

from ladders, employers are encouraged to adopt 

the following practices:

• Secure the ladder’s base so that it does not move.

• Smooth the wood surface of the ladder to 

reduce injuries to workers from punctures or 

lacerations and to prevent snagging of clothing.

• Use job-made wooden ladders with spliced side 

rails at an angle so that the horizontal distance 

from the top support to the foot of the ladder is 

one-eighth the working length of the ladder.

• Ensure that job-made wooden ladders can 

support at least four times the maximum 

intended load.

• Only use ladders for the purpose for which 

they were designed.

• Only put ladders on stable and level surfaces 

unless secured to prevent accidental movement.

• Ensure that the worker faces the ladder when 

climbing up and down.

• Maintain a 3-point contact (two hands and a foot, 

or two feet and a hand) when climbing a ladder.

• Keep ladders free of any slippery materials.

• Maintain good housekeeping in the areas 

around the top and bottom of ladders.

Safe Ladder Use—DO NOT:

• Paint a ladder with nontransparent coatings.

• Carry any object or load that could cause the 

worker to lose balance and fall.

• Subject a job-made wooden ladder to excessive 

loads or impact tests.

OSHA standard: 29 CFR 1926 Subpart X—Stairways and Ladders 

American National Standards Institute standard: ANSI A14.4-1979, ANSI A14.4-2009

Employers constructing job-made ladders must follow the ladder requirements set forth in 29 C.F.R. 1926 

Subpart X. They are encouraged to consult the non-mandatory guidelines set forth in ANSI A.14.4-1979—

Safety Requirements for Job-Made Ladders (referenced in Appendix A to Subpart X of Part 1926—Ladders).

State plan guidance: States with OSHA-approved state plans may have additional requirements for 

avoiding falls from ladders. For more information on these requirements, please visit: www.osha.gov/

stateplans/statestandards.

Most OSHA offices have compliance assistance specialists to help employers and workers comply with 

OSHA standards. For details call 1-800-321-OSHA (6742) or visit: www.osha.gov/contactus/bystate.

DOC FS-3661 01/2024

PLAN. 

PROVIDE. 

TRAIN.

Three simple steps 

to prevent falls.

This is one in a series of informational fact sheets highlighting OSHA programs, policies or standards. 

It does not impose any new compliance requirements. For a comprehensive list of compliance 

requirements of OSHA standards or regulations, refer to Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations. 

This information will be made available to sensory-impaired individuals upon request. The voice 

phone is (202) 693-1999; teletypewriter (TTY) number: (877) 889-5627.