Washington Administrative Code

(1) You must provide a safe means of access for persons erecting or dismantling scaffolds if it is:(a) Feasible; and(b) Does not create a greater hazard.(2) You must have a competent person determine the feasibility of providing safe access.(3) You must make sure the determinatio…

(1) You must make sure, before a scaffold is moved, that employees on the scaffold are made aware of the move.(2) You must apply manual force being used to move a scaffold:(a) As close to the base as practicable; and(b) Within five feet (1.5 m) of the supporting surface.(3) You m…

(1) You must reinforce wood scaffolds with gussets on both sides of each corner.(2) You must make sure diagonal braces are installed:(a) On all sides of each square;(b) Between squares on the front and back sides of the scaffold;(c) Extending from the bottom of each square to the…

(1) You must make sure scaffolds over one hundred twenty-five feet (38.0 m) high above their base plates are:(a) Designed by a registered professional engineer; and(b) Constructed and loaded as specified in the design.(2) You must brace frames and panels using crossbraces, horizo…

(1) You must make sure integral prefabricated scaffold access frames meet all of the following:(a) Have been specifically designed and constructed to be used as ladder rungs;(b) Have a rung length of at least eight inches (20 cm);(c) Have a maximum spacing between rungs of sixtee…

(1) You must secure folding-type metal brackets that have been extended for use, with:(a) Bolts; or(b) Locking-type pins.(2) You must make sure wooden-bracket form scaffolds are an integral part of the form panel.(3) You must attach each bracket, other than those for wooden brack…

(1) You must make sure horse scaffolds are not constructed or arranged higher than two tiers or ten feet (3.0 m), whichever is less.(2) You must do all of the following if horses are arranged in tiers:(a) Place each horse directly over the horse in the tier below;(b) Nail down or…

(1) You must make sure the platform height is not higher than twenty feet (6.1 m).(2) You must make sure ladder jacks are designed and constructed so they rest:(a) On the side rails and ladder rungs together; or(b) Only on the rungs.(3) You must make sure ladder jacks that rest o…

(1) You must make sure outrigger scaffolds and scaffold components are:(a) Designed by a registered professional engineer; and(b) Constructed and loaded as specified in the design.(2) You must make sure the part of the outrigger beam from the fulcrum point to the inboard end (far…

(1) You must make sure pole scaffolds over sixty feet high are:(a) Designed by a registered professional engineer; and(b) Constructed and loaded as specified in the design.(2) You must leave existing platforms undisturbed until new bearers have been set in place and braced before…

(1) You must make sure pump jack brackets, braces, and accessories are made from metal plates and angles.(2) You must make sure pump jack brackets have two positive gripping mechanisms to prevent any failure or slippage.(3) You must secure poles to the structure using rigid trian…

(1) You must make sure brackets are all of the following:(a) Secured in place by at least one wire rope that's at least one-half inch (1.27 cm) in diameter;(b) Attached to the securing wire rope by a positive locking device, or equivalent, that will prevent the bracket from being…

You must make sure scaffold brackets meet all of the following:(1) Are constructed to fit the pitch of the roof;(2) Provide a level support for the platform;(3) Are anchored in place by nails.Note:If it's not practical to use nails to anchor brackets, secure them in place with fi…

(1) You must make sure ladders used to support step, platform, and trestle ladder scaffolds are:(a) Type I (250 pound rated capacity) or Type IA (300 pound rated capacity); and(b) Placed, fastened, or equipped with devices to prevent slipping.Note:Ladders with a duty rating or we…

(1) You must make sure tube and coupler scaffolds over one hundred twenty-five feet high are:(a) Designed by a registered professional engineer; and(b) Constructed and loaded as specified in the design.(2) You must leave existing platforms undisturbed until new bearers have been …

You must make sure window jack scaffolds meet all of the following:(1) Are securely attached to the window opening;(2) Are used for working only at the window opening the jack is placed through;(3) Are not used:(a) To support planks placed between one window jack and another; or(…

Cage. An enclosure mounted on the side rails of a fixed ladder or fastened to a structure behind the fixed ladder that is designed to surround the climbing space of a fixed ladder. It may also be called a "cage guard" or "basket guard."Carrier. The track of a ladder safety system…

This chapter applies to portable and fixed ladders (including job-made wooden ladders), mobile ladder stands, and mobile ladder stand platforms. For fall arrest harness, rope/cable grab, and similar requirements related to ladder safety systems which are used on fixed ladders (se…

Your responsibility: To train employees who use ladders.You must meet the requirements...in this section:TrainingWAC 296-876-15005[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, 49.17.060, and chapter 49.17 RCW. WSR 14-09-095, § 296-876-150, filed 4/22/14, effective 7/…

(1) You must train employees to recognize ladder hazards and the procedures to minimize these hazards.(2) You must have a competent person train employees that use ladders in at least the following topics:(a) The proper construction, use, placement, and care in handling ladders.(…

SummaryYour responsibility: To make sure portable ladders meet design and construction requirements.You must meet the requirements...in this section:Design and constructionWAC 296-876-20005[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, 49.17.060, and chapter 49.17 RCW…

Important:Design and construction requirements of this section do not apply to special purpose ladders.(1) You must make sure portable ladders and job-made wooden ladders manufactured on or after January 1, 2006, meet the design and construction requirements and specifications of…

SummaryYour responsibility: To make sure portable ladders are inspected, maintained, stored, and transported properly.You must meet the requirements...in this section:Condition and inspectionWAC 296-876-30005RepairWAC 296-876-30010StorageWAC 296-876-30015TransportWAC 296-876-3002…

(1) You must keep portable ladders in good, usable condition. Good, usable condition includes, but is not limited to:(a) Joints between the steps or rungs and the side rails are tight.(b) Rungs, cleats, or steps are not bent, broken, or missing.(c) Side rails are not bent, broken…

(1) You must make sure repairs restore the ladder to a condition meeting its original design criteria.(2) You must prohibit repairs to a defective side rail.Note:A commercially manufactured ladder with a defective side rail cannot be repaired by the user. Side rail repair can onl…

You must make sure material is not put on ladders in storage.Note:Store portable ladders on racks designed to protect them when not in use. The racks should have enough supporting points to prevent the ladder from sagging. Do not store wood ladders near sources of heat, moisture,…

(1) You must properly support ladders while transporting them on vehicles.(2) You must make sure ladders transported in a truck rack are positively secured in a fixed position that prevents chafing or abrasion.Note:Securing the ladder to each support point will greatly reduce dam…

SummaryYour responsibility: To use portable ladders safely.You must meet the requirements...in this section:Designed useWAC 296-876-40005Workplace activities or trafficWAC 296-876-40010SupportWAC 296-876-40015Set-upWAC 296-876-40020Climbing and descendingWAC 296-876-40025Getting …

(1) You must use ladders only for their intended purpose.Note:Unless specifically recommended by the manufacturer, do not use a ladder as a: 1. Brace. 2. Skid. 3. Lever. 4. Guy or gin pole. 5. Gangway. 6. Platform. 7. Scaffold plank. 8. Material hoist.(2) You must make sure not t…

(1) You must protect ladders that are set up in a location where they could be displaced by workplace activities or traffic by either:(a) Securing the ladder to prevent accidental displacement; or(b) Using a barricade to keep the activities or traffic away from the ladder.(2) You…

(1) You must place the ladder either:(a) With a secure footing on a firm, level support surface; or(b) Secure the ladder to prevent accidental displacement.(2) You must make sure a ladder is not placed on ice, snow, or other slippery surface unless the ladder is prevented from ac…

(1) You must set up nonself-supporting ladders at a safe angle. The ladder is set at the proper angle when the horizontal distance from the top support to the foot of the ladder is approximately one-quarter the working length of the ladder.(2) You must set up job-made ladders wit…

(1) You must have employees use at least one hand to grasp the ladder when climbing up and down it.(2) You must face the ladder when climbing or descending.(3) You must keep ladders free of oil, grease, or other slippery materials.(4) You must keep the area around the top and bot…

(1) You must make sure a ladder used to access an upper level has the side rails extended at least three feet (0.9 m) above the landing surface if the ladder length permits.(2) You must do the following if a ladder used to access an upper level is not long enough to obtain a thre…

You must use ladders with nonconductive side rails where the ladder could contact uninsulated, energized electric lines or equipment. Metal ladders or other ladders specifically designed to permit grounding or dissipation of static electricity may be used around high-static elect…

(1) You must make sure a ladder is not moved, shifted, or adjusted while anyone is on it.(2) You must secure the ladder at the top and bottom when working from it.(3) You must use a safety belt with a lanyard that is secured to the ladder when doing any work that:(a) Requires the…

(1) You must make sure not to tie or fasten ladder sections together to make longer ladders unless:(a) The ladder manufacturer endorses this type of use; and(b) You have hardware fittings specifically designed for this purpose.(2) You must make sure each section of a multisection…

(1) You must make sure self-supporting ladders are not used as single ladders or in the partially closed position.(2) You must make sure stepladders are fully opened with the spreaders locked.(3) You must make sure not to climb on the rear braces of a self-supporting ladder unles…

SummaryYour responsibility: To make sure fixed ladders installed on or after December 1, 2006, meet design and construction requirements.You must meet the requirements...in this section:Design and construction—Fixed ladders installed on or after December 1, 2006WAC 296-876-50010[…

You must make sure fixed ladders installed on or after December 1, 2006, meet the design and construction requirements of ANSI A14.3-2002, American National Standard for Ladders-Fixed-Safety Requirements.Note:Ladders will be considered to have met the requirements of this section…

SummaryYour responsibility: To make sure fixed ladders installed before December 1, 2006, meet design and construction requirements.You must meet the requirements...in this section:Design and construction—Fixed ladders installed before December 1, 2006.WAC 296-876-60005Design loa…

You must make sure fixed ladders installed before December 1, 2006, meet the requirements of WAC 296-876-60010 through 296-876-60080.Note:Ladders will be considered to have met the requirements of this section if they meet the design and construction requirements of ANSI A14.3, A…

(1) You must make sure each ladder is able to support, without failure, the total of the following loads:(a) At least two loads of two hundred and fifty pounds each, concentrated between any two consecutive attachments.(b) Any additional concentrated loads of two hundred and fift…

You must make sure the pitch of the ladder is no greater than ninety degrees from the horizontal.Notes:1. The preferred pitch of fixed ladders is within the range of seventy-five to ninety degrees from the horizontal. Ladders with a pitch range of sixty to seventy-five degrees fr…

You must make sure welding meets the requirements of the ANSI A14.3, American National Standard for Ladders-Fixed-Safety Requirements, in effect at the time the ladder was installed.[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, 49.17.060, and chapter 49.17 RCW. WSR 1…

See the fixed ladder inspection requirements under WAC 296-876-70010 Inspection and repair.[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, 49.17.060 and chapter 49.17 RCW. WSR 20-09-146, § 296-876-60025, filed 4/21/20, effective 10/1/20; WSR 14-09-095, § 296-876-60025,…

(1) You must make sure rungs have a minimum diameter as follows:(a) Rungs of wood ladders are at least one and one-eighth inches.(b) Rungs of metal ladders subject to unusually corrosive exposures, such as individual metal rungs imbedded in concrete which serve as access to pits …

(1) You must make sure the shape of the side rail:(a) Provides an adequate gripping surface; and(b) Is uniform throughout the length of climb.(2) You must make sure a side rail that has been spliced to obtain a longer length is at least equivalent in strength to a one-piece side …

(1) You must make sure ladders without wells or cages are at least thirty inches from the nearest permanent object on the climbing side, measured perpendicular to the ladder from the centerline of the rungs, cleats, or steps.EXEMPTION:When unavoidable obstructions are encountered…

(1) You must make sure a through ladder at the point of access or egress has a step-across distance, measured from the centerline of the steps or rungs to the nearest edge of the landing area, that is:(a) Not less than seven inches; or(b) Greater than twelve inches.(2) You must m…