FactSheet

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? Constructing a Safe Job-made

A job-made wooden ladder is a ladder constructed Wooden Ladder
at the construction site. It is not commercially- Side rails:
manufactured. A job-made wooden ladder • Use construction-grade lumber for all
provides access to and from a work area. It is components.
not intended to serve as a work platform. These • Side rails of single-cleat ladders up to 24 ft.
ladders are temporary, and are used only until (7.3 m) long should be made with at least 2 in.
a particular phase of work is completed or until (3.8 cm) x 6 in. (14 cm) nominal stock lumber.
permanent stairways or fixed ladders are installed. • Side rails should be continuous, unless splices
A 24-ft. job-made ladder built in accordance with are the same strength as a continuous rail of
the non-mandatory provisions of 29 CFR Part 1926, equal length.
Subpart X, Appendix A, is shown below. • 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.
Figure 1: Single-Cleat Ladder • Making cuts in the side rails to receive the
cleats is not advisable.
Training Requirements • Cleats should be at least 1 in. (2.5 cm) x 4 in.
Employers must provide a training program for (8.9 cm) for ladders 16 ft. (41 cm) to 24 ft.
employees using ladders and stairways. The (7.3 m) in length.
training must enable each worker to recognize
ladder-related hazards and to use ladders
properly to minimize hazards.
Filler Blocks: Safe Ladder Use—DO:
• Filler should be 2 in. (3.8 cm) x 2 in. (3.8 cm) To prevent workers from being injured from falls
wood strips. from ladders, employers are encouraged to adopt
• Insert filler between cleats. the following practices:
• Nail filler at the bottom of each side rail first.
Nail the ends of a cleat to each side rail with • Secure the ladder’s base so that it does not move.
three 12d common nails. One nail is placed • Smooth the wood surface of the ladder to
1-1/2 inch in from each end of the filler block. reduce injuries to workers from punctures or
• Nail the next two fillers and cleat, and then lacerations and to prevent snagging of clothing.
repeat. The ladder is complete when filler is • Use job-made wooden ladders with spliced side
nailed at the top of each rail. rails at an angle so that the horizontal distance
• Make all side rails, rungs and fillers before the from the top support to the foot of the ladder is
ladder is assembled. one-eighth the working length of the ladder.
• Ensure that job-made wooden ladders can
Inspecting Ladders support at least four times the maximum
• A competent person must visually inspect job- intended load.
made ladders for defects on a periodic basis • Only use ladders for the purpose for which
and after any occurrence that could affect they were designed.
their safe use. • Only put ladders on stable and level surfaces
• Defects to look for include: structural damage, unless secured to prevent accidental movement.
broken/split side rails (front and back), missing • Ensure that the worker faces the ladder when
cleats/steps, and parts/labels painted over. climbing up and down.
• Ladders should be free of oil, grease and other • Maintain a 3-point contact (two hands and a foot,
slipping hazards. 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.
PLAN.
PROVIDE. Safe Ladder Use—DO NOT:
TRAIN. • Paint a ladder with nontransparent coatings.
• Carry any object or load that could cause the
Three simple steps worker to lose balance and fall.
to prevent falls. • 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.

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.

DOC FS-3661 01/2024