OSHA 10-Hour Construction ReviewStairways and LaddersMedium
An employer is constructing a temporary stairway to provide access between two levels of a building under construction. What is the maximum permissible angle, in degrees, for this temporary stairway according to OSHA standards?
- A75 degrees
- B60 degrees
- C50 degrees
- D90 degrees
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. 75 degrees
OSHA specifies that temporary stairways must not be installed at an angle steeper than 75 degrees from the horizontal. Angles steeper than this are considered ladders, not stairways.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. This angle is too steep for a stairway and would be considered a fixed ladder.
- C. This angle is well within the acceptable range for a stairway, but not the maximum.
- D. This represents a vertical climb, which is far too steep for a stairway and would be a fixed ladder.
Stairway Angle Limit
Temporary stairways must not exceed a 75-degree angle from the horizontal to be classified as a stairway under OSHA.
- Angles steeper than 75 degrees are considered ladders.
- Ensures safe ascent and descent.
- Applies to all temporary stairways.
Memory trick: Seventy-five degrees: a stairway's peak, beyond that, a ladder you seek!