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Ladder Safety Policy <br />The Ladder Safety Policy is intended to provide employees with safe guidelines for the use of portable ladders, <br />while complying with applicable OSHA and other Regulatory Compliance Standards. This policy is designed to <br />meet or exceed ANSI requirements. <br />Policy <br />Except where either permanent or temporary stairways or suitable ramps or runways are provided, <br />employees are to only use manufactured portable ladders that are labeled as being designed and <br />manufactured in accordance with the provisions of the American National Standards Institute. Under no <br />circumstances are portable ladders to be used unless conditions are considered safe, secure and in compliance <br />with OSHA and company procedures and safe work practices. <br />Procedures <br />• The use of ladders with broken or missing rungs or steps, broken or split side rails, or other faulty <br />or defective construction is prohibited. All rungs, cleats, and steps will be parallel, level and uniformly <br />spaced when the ladder is being used. All ladders will be inspected prior to use by a competent <br />person. When ladders with such defects are discovered they must be immediately removed from <br />service and tagged as such. <br />® Employees will face the ladder and will not carry material or tools in their hands while ascending <br />or descending. <br />Ladders will not be loaded beyond the maximum intended load for which they were built or beyond <br />the <br />manufacturer's rated capacity. <br />All ladders shall be placed on secure footing, and the area around the top and bottom will be kept <br />clear of work materials, tools and debris. <br />• Planks will not be used on the top step of stepladders. <br />® Portable ladders will be placed and used at a pitch that places the horizontal distance, from the top <br />support to the foot of the ladder, at about one-quarter of the working length of the ladder. Ladders will <br />not be used in a horizontal position as a platform, runway or scaffold. <br />Ladders shall not be placed in front of doors, unless door is blocked open, and/or a barricade or <br />guard is provided. <br />® Ladders shall not be placed on scaffold, boxes, boards, barrels, or other unstable bases. <br />Ladders shall not be spliced together. <br />• Employees will not stand on the top cap or the step below the top cap of a stepladder. <br />Any ladder splashed with caustic or acid shall not be used until thoroughly cleaned and inspected <br />for possible corrosive damage. <br />® There shall be ample clearance and clear access at the top and bottom of portable ladders. <br />Portable rung ladders shall only be used with the metal supports on the underside. <br />34 <br />