Osha Step Stool Requirements

What are the osha regulations for ladders.

Osha step stool requirements.

And immediately tagged and removed from service if any structural or other defects are found until the unit is repaired or replaced. The federal osha standard at 29 cfr 1926 1050 b defines a step stool which is the equipment you refer to as a self supporting foldable portable ladder nonadjustable in length 32 inches or less in overall size with flat steps and without a pail shelf designed to be climbed on the ladder top cap as well as all steps. Don t step on chairs boxes bins or other objects. The osha regulations for step stools are woven within the stairways ladders regulation 1926 1053 which is much too lengthy to print here.

The side rails may continue above the top cap. Rungs cleats and steps of step stools shall be not less than 8 inches 20 cm apart nor more than 12 inches 31 cm apart as measured between center lines of the rungs cleats and steps. Any step stools that are 24 inches or higher are required to have a handrail. Step stool ladder type means a self supporting foldable portable ladder nonadjustable in length 32 inches or less in overall size with flat steps and without a pail shelf designed to be climbed on the ladder top cap as well as all steps.

Choose the right style height material and performance duty rating required for the job. A ladder type step stool must not be used unless its base is spread fully open and the spreaders locked. A step stool or ladder is required when attempting to reach or perform tasks overhead. If this work site condition does not exist a ladder type step stool should not be selected for the job.

Inspection requirements stepstools meeting osha s definition must be. A ladder type step stool requires level ground support for all four of its side rails. According to osha there are no requirements for general purpose step stools under the height of 24 inches.