Lesson 6: Ladder Safety Legislation
Completion requirements
Lesson 6: Ladder Safety Legislation
Workers' Compensation Board (WCB)
The Workers' Compensation Board offers no-fault insurance for workers' injured on the job. To help prevent workplace ladder injuries, the WCB outlines the responsibilities of both the employer and the employee, when it comes to ladder safety.
Click here to read the responsibilities of a worker, when using ladders.
Occupational Health & Safety (OHS) Codes
The Alberta Occupational Health and Safety Code legislates responsibilities regarding ladder safety.
Volume 9 - Issue 3 of the "Safety Compliance Insider" magazine, gives you information about complying with portable ladder requirements. Click here .
You can read about the specific sections, in the Alberta Occupational Health and Safety Code, that deal with ladder safety.
Ladders - General
Restriction on use
124 An employer must ensure that workers do not use a ladder to enter or leave an elevated or sub-level work area if the area has another safe and recognizable way to enter or leave it.
127 An employer must ensure that a ladder used during the servicing of energized or potentially energized electrical equipment is made of non-conductive material.
Portable Ladders
Prohibition
133(1) A worker must not perform work from either of the top two rungs, steps, or cleats of a portable ladder unless the manufacturer's specifications allow the worker to do so.
133(2) Despite subsection (1), a worker may work from either of the top two rungs, steps, or treads of a stepladder:
a. if the stepladder has a railed platform at the top, or
b. if the manufacturer's specifications for the stepladder permit it.
Securing and positioning
136 A worker must ensure that
a. a portable ladder is secured against movement and placed on a base that is stable
b. the base of an inclined portable ladder is no further from the base of the wall or structure than one-quarter of the distance between the
base of the ladder and the place where the ladder contacts the wall
c. the side rails of a portable ladder extend at least 1 metre above a platform, landing, or parapet if the ladder is used as a means of access to
the platform, landing, or parapet.
Restriction on use
124 An employer must ensure that workers do not use a ladder to enter or leave an elevated or sub-level work area if the area has another safe and recognizable way to enter or leave it.
127 An employer must ensure that a ladder used during the servicing of energized or potentially energized electrical equipment is made of non-conductive material.
Portable Ladders
Prohibition
133(1) A worker must not perform work from either of the top two rungs, steps, or cleats of a portable ladder unless the manufacturer's specifications allow the worker to do so.
133(2) Despite subsection (1), a worker may work from either of the top two rungs, steps, or treads of a stepladder:
a. if the stepladder has a railed platform at the top, or
b. if the manufacturer's specifications for the stepladder permit it.
Securing and positioning
136 A worker must ensure that
a. a portable ladder is secured against movement and placed on a base that is stable
b. the base of an inclined portable ladder is no further from the base of the wall or structure than one-quarter of the distance between the
base of the ladder and the place where the ladder contacts the wall
c. the side rails of a portable ladder extend at least 1 metre above a platform, landing, or parapet if the ladder is used as a means of access to
the platform, landing, or parapet.
In addition, the Canada Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, outlines the safety requirements when using ladders.