Why Food & Beverage Facilities Need Ladder Safety Systems

According to the Injuries, Illnesses, and Fatalities (IIF) program, ladders are the primary source of workplace-related injuries. Most ladder injuries come from the installation, maintenance, and repair industry, followed by the construction and extraction industry, then the service industry. That is why all organizations need to prioritize using and installing ladder safety systems.

Ladders are essential in many types of operations in the workplace, especially in organizations like food processing facilities and manufacturing businesses. They cannot be done away with. To minimize workplace accidents, OSHA has extensive guidelines governing ladder fall protection that all employers must follow.

There are generally three main types of industrial ladders: portable, mobile, and fixed. Portable ladders can be easily carried or moved from one place to another, mobile ladders are self-supporting ladders with a safety rail system and casters or wheels on a rigid base, and fixed ladders are permanently mounted on a structure. Each type is ideal for different functions and situations.

OSHA safety rules regarding each type of ladder are different. To help foster compliance, this guide highlights OSHA safety standards pertaining to fixed ladders.

OSHA Regulations that Govern Ladder Fall Protection and Fixed Ladder Safety

If you're looking to install or upgrade a fixed ladder for your food and beverage facility, it must meet the following OSHA safety regulations:

• According to OSHA 1910.28, if the top of your ladder extends more than 24 feet (7.3 m) above a lower level, it must be equipped with fall safety measures such as a personal fall arrest system, ladder safety system, cage, or well. The ladder safety system or personal fall arrest system should provide protection throughout the distance of the ladder. You can also install a ladder guard, door security system, and stop cables leading up to storage silos.

• According to 1910.29, platforms used with fixed ladders must have a horizontal surface measuring at least 24 inches by 30 inches.

• 1926.1053 specifies that each fixed ladder should be capable of handling at least two loads of 250 pounds (114kg each). Each step or rung must be able to handle it when applied in the middle. You must also consider the additional weight added by winds, ice buildup, etc.

• The ladder rungs, steps, and cleats must be parallel and uniformly spaced. The space between them must be between 10 inches (25 cm) and 14 inches (36 cm). They must also be engineered to minimize slipping through skid-resistant materials.

• The vertical clearance between fixed ladder cleats, steps, and rungs and anything behind the ladder (the structure the ladder is fixed to) shall be at least 7 inches (18cm). But if you're installing an elevator pit ladder, the minimum perpendicular clearance should be at least 4.5 inches (11 cm).

• The perpendicular clearance between the fixed ladder's rungs, steps, or cleats and any obstruction on the ladder's front (climbing side) must be at least 30 inches (76 cm). If the ladder encounters an unavoidable obstruction, say, an electrical box, you can reduce the distance to 24 inches (61 cm) as long as you provide a deflection device to guide employees around the obstruction.

• The fixed ladders must have a pitch less than 90 degrees from the horizontal. It is measured to the back side of the ladder.

• If your fixed ladder has structural defects, such as broken or missing steps or corroded components, it shouldn't be used until repaired.

• If you install ladders side by side, the minimum distance between their safety rail system must be at least 16 inches.

• When the fixed ladder reaches the top of the platform or access level, the side rails must extend at least 42 inches above it. The extension shouldn't have any steps or rungs.

• If more than one fixed ladder is used to reach a certain area, there must be a landing or platform between the two ladders.

Workers may get a false sense of security when using fixed ladders because they are permanently fixed, which can cause them to disregard other aspects of ladder safety. Ensuring the fixed ladders in food & beverage facilities, such as those leading up to storage silos or above open processing vats, have all the critical safety features will protect workers and your business.

By considering the above OSHA safety regulations when installing a new fixed ladder or upgrading an old one, you can succeed in preventing ladder falls in your food and beverage processing facility.

How Ladder Safety Systems in Food and Beverage Facilities Protect Workers and the Business

Falls from ladders are among the top causes of workplace-related injury, and they vary with industry. According to the CDC, there are five major causes of ladder fall accidents:

• Incorrect setup angle. The optimal angle is 75 degrees.

• Poor ladder quality

• Insufficient ladder inspection

• Improper ladder use

• Lack of safety tools and information.

So, even with a high-quality industrial fixed ladder installed well, inspected before use, and used correctly, you can only eliminate the risk of falling with the right ladder safety systems.

OSHA now requires a ladder safety system on new or ladders being repaired; by 2036 only fall protection systems will be allowed. Personal fall arrest systems and other safety systems like a safety rail system can protect ladder users from falls and safely arrest them if a fall occurs. Cages and wells help workers regain their balance instead of falling backward if they slip. (It should be noted that cages are only permitted on older/existing ladders; new or modified ladders are now required to have a fall protection system.)

But you shouldn't stop at the OSHA recommendations because there are some ladder fall risks they don't address. You can ensure safe and easy egress and ingress to and from the rooftop or other elevated areas using a non-penetrating OSHA-compliant ladder guard, limit access using a ladder door security system, or install a stop cable permanent ladder fall protection system. The more safety systems you install on rooftops near roof-mounted mechanicals or above open processing vats and other food and beverage processing machinery, the safer your workers will be from injuries…and the safer your business will be from OSHA fines, lawsuits, damages, and lost productivity.

Protect Your Employees and Business from Ladder Falls

Ladder falls can result in severe injuries to the worker and hefty OSHA fines, damages, and lower productivity for the organization. To avoid these outcomes, food processing organizations must follow all OSHA regulations that govern fall protection. And because the OSHA regulations only go so far, to offer complete worry-free protection you should guarantee your safety by installing other fall ladder safety systems.

If you are looking for additional safety systems for ladders in your food and beverage facility, BlueWater has a variety of fall protection systems to protect your workers and business. We offer OSHA-compliant ladder guard, ladder door security systems, portable guardrails, and stop cable permanent fall protection systems that are perfect for fixed ladder fall protection

Shop our ladder safety products today.