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 5 - Window Cleaning › Section 3287 - Ladders

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 28, July 12, 2024
(a) Use and
						Application.
(1) Ladders shall be used for
						window cleaning only where the windows cannot otherwise be cleaned safely and
						practicably by means of approved anchors and window cleaning belts, but this
						method shall not be used to clean a window that requires the use of a fully
						extended extension ladder in excess of 40 feet.
(2) At all times when a cleaner is working on
						a ladder over 18 feet working length, a person shall stand at the foot of it,
						face it, and hold it with both hands.
(3) All ladders shall be used at such a pitch
						that the horizontal distance from the top support to the foot of the ladder is
						one-quarter the assembled length of the ladder (i.e., the length along the
						ladder between the foot and the top support).
NOTE: Nonslip bases are not intended as a substitute
						  for care in safely placing, lashing or holding a ladder that is being used on
						  oily, metal, concrete or slippery surfaces.
(4) Pointed ladders may be used for window
						cleaning. Rollers shall not be used at the point.
(5) Portable metal ladders shall not be used
						in the vicinity of electrical circuits in places where they may come in contact
						with them. Portable metal ladders shall be legibly marked with signs reading
						"CAUTION--Do Not Use Around Electrical Equipment," or equivalent
						wording.
(6) Each ladder shall be
						inspected daily and those which developed defects shall be withdrawn from
						service for repair or destruction and shall be tagged or marked "Danger, Do Not
						Use." Improvised repairs shall not be made.
(7) Ladders shall be stored in such a manner
						as to provide ease of access or inspection, and to prevent danger of accident
						when withdrawing a ladder for use. Ladders, when not in use, shall be stored at
						a location where they will not be exposed to the elements, but where there is
						good ventilation. Wood ladders shall not be stored near radiators, stoves,
						steam pipes, or other places subjected to excessive heat or dampness. Rungs
						shall be kept free of grease and oil.
(8) Sectional ladders shall not be used by
						more than one man at a time, or with ladder jacks and scaffold
						planks.
(9) The top rest for the
						ladder shall be rigid and shall have ample strength to support the applied
						load. Ladders shall not be placed in front of doors unless the door is blocked
						open, locked or guarded. They shall not be placed on boxes, barrels or other
						unstable bases to obtain additional height.
(10) When ascending, working upon or
						descending the ladder, the user shall face the ladder.
(11) The use of ladders with hooks attached,
						to be hung on or over a parapet wall or other projection, shall not be
						permitted in window cleaning.
(12)
(A) No employee shall be permitted to stand
						on or work from the top 3 rungs of a ladder unless there are structural members
						that provide a firm handhold or the employee is protected from falling by a
						personal fall protection system (e.g., positioning device or fall restraint
						system) in accordance with the requirements of Section
						1670 of the Construction Safety
						Orders.
(B) Stepladders. Employees
						shall not sit, kneel, step or, stand on the pail shelf, topcap or the step
						below the topcap of a stepladder.
EXCEPTION: Employees may stand on the step below the
						  topcap provided it is located 18 inches under the topcap.
NOTE: Tops of self supporting ladders shall not be
						  considered as a rung.
(13) No ladder shall be used where the base
						of the ladder is above grade unless there is a safe means of access to the base
						and adequate fastenings to prevent the ladder from slipping or
						falling.
(14) Ladders shall not be
						used on scaffolds to gain additional height.