OSHA 10-Hour Construction ReviewStairways and LaddersHard
An employer is providing a fixed ladder to access a machinery platform that is 25 feet (7.62 meters) high. According to OSHA, what additional fall protection measure is required for this fixed ladder due to its height?
- AIntermediate landing platforms must be installed every 10 feet of climb.
- BA personal fall arrest system for all climbers, regardless of cage presence.
- CAn additional handrail on the opposite side of the ladder.
- DA cage, well, or ladder safety system must be provided.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. A cage, well, or ladder safety system must be provided.
OSHA requires that fixed ladders extending more than 24 feet (7.3 meters) above a lower level must be equipped with a cage, well, or ladder safety system. A personal fall arrest system is an alternative, but the primary requirement for fixed ladders over 24 feet is the cage/well/safety system.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Intermediate landing platforms are required for fixed ladders extending over a certain height, typically for every 50 feet of continuous climb, not every 10 feet for a 25-foot ladder.
- B. While personal fall arrest systems are a form of fall protection, the specific OSHA requirement for fixed ladders over 24 feet is a cage, well, or ladder safety system.
- C. Additional handrails are not the specific fall protection required at this height for fixed ladders; guardrails are for platforms.
Fixed Ladder Fall Protection (Over 24 ft)
Fixed ladders extending more than 24 feet (7.3 m) require a cage, well, or ladder safety system.
- Prevents falls from significant heights.
- Applies to all fixed ladders meeting the height threshold.
- Essential for worker safety on tall fixed ladders.
Memory trick: Twenty-four feet, then a cage you meet!