California Code of Regulations › Title 8 - Industrial Relations › Division 1 - Department of Industrial Relations › Chapter 4 - Division of Industrial Safety › Subchapter 7 - General Industry Safety Orders › Group 1 - General Physical Conditions and Structures › Article 4 - Access, Work Space, and Work Areas › Section 3276 - Portable Ladders

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 28, July 12, 2024
(a)
						Scope. This section is intended to prescribe rules and establish minimum
						requirements for the design, construction, selection, care, and use of all
						self-supporting and non-self-supporting portable ladders, in order to insure
						safety under normal conditions of usage. This section does not apply to ladder
						type step stools or other types of step stools except for the definition of
						"step stool (ladder type)" in subsection (b) and the design and construction
						requirements of subsection (c)(5).
(b) Definitions.
Extension Ladder. An extension ladder is a
						  non-self-supporting portable ladder adjustable in length. It consists of two or
						  more sections traveling in guides or brackets so arranged as to permit length
						  adjustment. Its size is designated by the sum of the lengths of the sections
						  measured along the side rails.
Extension Trestle Ladder. An extension trestle ladder
						  is a self-supporting portable ladder, adjustable in length, consisting of a
						  trestle ladder base and a vertically adjustable single ladder, with suitable
						  means for locking the ladders together. The size is designated by the length of
						  the trestle ladder base.
Ladders. A ladder is an appliance usually consisting of
						  two side rails joined at regular intervals by crosspieces called steps, rungs,
						  or cleats, on which a person may step in ascending or descending.
Sectional Ladder. A sectional ladder is a
						  non-self-supporting portable ladder, nonadjustable in length, consisting of two
						  or more sections of ladder so constructed that the sections may be combined to
						  function as a single ladder. Its size is designated by the overall length of
						  the assembled sections.
Side-Rolling Ladder. A side-rolling ladder is a
						  semifixed ladder, nonadjustable in length, supported by attachments to a guide
						  rail, which is generally fastened to shelving, the plane of the ladder being
						  also its plane of motion.
Single Ladder. A single ladder is a non-self-supporting
						  portable ladder, nonadjustable in length, consisting of but one section. Its
						  size is designated by the overall length of the side rail.
Single-Rail Ladder. A ladder with rungs, cleats, or
						  steps mounted on a single-rail instead of the normal two rails used on most
						  other ladders.
Special-Purpose Ladder. A special-purpose ladder is a
						  portable ladder which represents either a modification or a combination of
						  design or construction features in one of the general-purpose types of ladders
						  previously defined, in order to adapt the ladder to special or specific
						  uses.
Step Ladder. A step ladder is a self-supporting
						  portable ladder, nonadjustable in length, having flat steps and a hinged back.
						  Its size is designated by the overall length of the ladder measured along the
						  front edge of the side rails.
Step stool (ladder type). A self-supporting, foldable,
						  portable ladder, nonadjustable in length, 32 inches or less in length, with
						  flat steps and without a pail shelf, designed so that the ladder top cap as
						  well as all steps can be climbed on. The side rails may extend above the
						  top-cap but such extension is not considered as part of the step stool
						  length.
Trestle Ladder. A trestle ladder is a self-supporting
						  portable ladder, nonadjustable in length, consisting of two sections hinged at
						  the top to form equal angles with the base. The size is designated by the
						  length of the side rails measured along the front edge.
Trolley Ladder. A trolley ladder is a semifixed ladder,
						  nonadjustable in length, supported by attachments to an overhead track, the
						  plane of the ladder being at right angles to the plane of
						  motion.
(c) Design and
						Construction.
(1) Portable wood ladders
						placed in service after January 7, 2011 shall meet the design and construction
						requirements of ANSI A14.1-2007, American National Standard for Ladders -- Wood
						Safety Requirements, which is hereby incorporated by reference. Portable wood
						ladders placed in service on or before January 7, 2011, shall meet the design
						and construction requirements of the ANSI A14.1 standard in effect at the time
						such ladders were placed in service.
EXCEPTION: Portable job-made cleat ladders that are
						  designed and constructed in accordance with the requirements of Section
						  1676 of the Construction Safety
						  Orders.
(2) Portable metal
						ladders placed in service after January 7, 2011, shall meet the design and
						construction requirements of ANSI A14.2-2007, American National Standard for
						Ladders -- Portable Metal -- Safety Requirements, which is hereby incorporated
						by reference. Portable metal ladders placed in service on or before January 7,
						2011, shall meet the design and construction requirements of either the ANSI
						A14.2 standard or the ANSI A14.10 standard, American National Standard for
						Ladders -- Portable Special Duty Ladders, in effect at the time such ladders
						were placed in service.
(3)
						Portable reinforced plastic ladders placed in service after January 7, 2011,
						shall meet the design and construction requirements of ANSI A14.5-2007,
						American National Standard for Ladders -- Portable Reinforced Plastic -- Safety
						Requirements, which is hereby incorporated by reference. Portable reinforced
						plastic ladders placed in service on or before January 7, 2011, shall meet the
						design and construction requirements of either the ANSI A14.5 standard or the
						ANSI A14.10 standard in effect at the time such ladders were placed in
						service.
(4) Portable special
						purpose ladders that are not covered by one of the ANSI A14 standards
						referenced in this section shall be designed and constructed in accordance with
						sound engineering principles and approved per Section
						3206.
(5) Ladder type step stools shall be designed
						and constructed such that the rungs, cleats, and steps are not less than 8
						inches apart, or more than 12 inches apart, as measured between center lines of
						the rungs, cleats, and steps.