ANSI And OSHA: Safety Standards For Ladders
Ladders are an
essential part of a construction worker’s trade. Safety on the jobs is
of prime importance and therefore OSHA, the Occupational Safety and
Health Administration was created by the Department of Labor that
regulates and enforces over 180 federal labor laws. Ladder manufacturers
need to conform to OSHA standards where ladders need to support at least
four times its maximum intended load. Ladder angles also need to be
positioned at a specific distance of ¼ the working length of the ladder.
Ladder rungs, or steps, must be evenly spaced between 10 and 14 inches
apart, and must be skid-resistant.
Keller Ladders comply with OSHA standards and the 107 Series Step Ladder
leads the way in the heavy duty ladders with a load bearing capacity of
375 lbs. The ladder features a shoulder bolt and lock nut on top hinge
and a set of rear horizontals spaced one per foot. Each front rail has a
set of 4 aluminum rivets attached. The steps are skid-resistant with
double rivets and knee braces.
All Gorilla Ladders products also meet OSHA standards which includes the
entire range of aluminum ladders, fiberglass ladders, multi position and
special ladders. Gorilla’s 21' Aluminum Multi Position Ladder functions
in 28 different positions and serves as a step ladder, extension ladder,
stairway ladder, and scaffold. The ladder is made from professional
grade aluminum and has a Type IA duty rating of 300 lbs.
Cosco Ladders 6' Aluminum Step Ladder Type 2 is ideal for maintenance
projects such as window cleaning, cleaning gutters, and other
construction work. The ladder conforms to ANSI and OSHA standards, and
features slip-resistant steps and pinch-proof lock release for safety. A
utility top cap provides storage for tools. The maximum reach of this
aluminum ladder is 10’. It has a load capacity of 225 lbs. and carries a
10-year warranty.
Davidson Ladders FS4000 Series fiberglass stepladder has a load capacity
of 225 lbs. Its main features are a molded top with tool slots and
skid-resistant rubber thread on all four legs for stability. Steel
spreader braces with double rivet hinges offer protection from pinched
fingers. The ladder conforms to all ANSI and OSHA standards.
Precision Ladders offer a line of pivotal ladders that conform to ANSI,
The American National Standards Institute and OSHA standards.
Apart from pivotal ladders, the Automatic Electric Disappearing Stairway
is also is sturdy and easy to climb stairway with a 52 degree pitch. The
unit has a 1000 lbs. load capacity and is made from one-piece siderails
of 7" x .230" aluminum channel and treads of 6" x .225" aluminum
channel. The stairway is operated by switch and can be fabricated with a
custom frame. The stairway features a warning buzzer when it is in
motion and can be manually operated in case of an emergency.