Alert First Aid

Alert First Aid

PEI Legislation

 

Prince Edward Island Ladder Safety

This material has been extracted from the Acts and Regulations of the Province to help students understand the subject. It is not an official source of information and must not be used for any other purpose.
Copyright © 2009: Queen’s Printer, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador

CHAPTER O-1.1 OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY ACT GENERAL REGULATIONS
Pursuant to section 34 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act
R.S.P.E.I. 1988, Cap. O-1.1, Council made the following regulations:


PART 12 EXCAVATIONS, TRENCHES AND CONSTRUCTION
12.3 The employer shall ensure that employees are not allowed to enter an excavation or trench 1 219 mm (4 ft.) or more in depth, and employees shall not enter unless 43._ the requirements of section 12.2 are complied with;
(b) CSA approved safety hats and footwear are provided and worn by the employee; 44._ Iladders, extending at least 914 mm (3 ft.) above the excavation or trench are installed and located no more than 15 240 mm (50 ft.) from where employees are working or other safe means of access and egress are provided; 43._ the sides and crests have been scaled down to prevent loose material from falling into the excavation or trench. (EC180/87)


PART 15 ACCESS TO WORKPLACES
15.2 On construction sites the employer shall ensure that means of access to every excavation, floor, platform and fixed scaffold where work is being performed above or below ground level shall 44._ be provided by a stair, runway, ramp, scaffold or ladder; and
(b) be maintained in place and in safe condition at all times. (EC180/87)


PART 22 STAIRS
22.6 The employer shall ensure that 44._ stairs and platforms made of perforated material shall not contain openings larger than 11 mm (7/16 in.);
(b) stairs, except service stairs which may be used for access to oiling platforms, machinery, etc., should be not less than 1 117 mm (44 in.) in width clear of all obstructions except handrails, and in no case shall be less than 914 mm (36 in.); 43._ the pitch of stairways except service stairways should be between 30 degrees and 35 degrees from horizontal and shall in no case be less than 20 degrees or more than 50 degrees; 43._ where the pitch would be less than 20 degrees a ramp shall be used and where the pitch is greater than 50 degrees a fixed ladder shall be used;

PART 23 LADDERS
23.1 (1) The employer shall provide a ladder where employees must work in an elevated or sub-level area not provided with other safe and recognizable means of access or egress.
(2) The employer shall ensure that a ladder is removed from service when it has loose, broken or missing rungs, split side rails or other hazardous defects. 43._ The employer shall ensure that 43._ all portable ladders shall be equipped with non-slip bases;
(b) portable metal or wire truss ladders shall not be used in the vicinity of electrical circuits or apparatus when the hazard of electrical exposure is present; 43._ Ibenches, boxes, tables or other makeshift substitutes shall not be used as ladders. (EC180/87)
23.2 The user of a ladder shall ensure that 44._ the base of an inclined portable ladder shall not be more than one-fourth the length of the ladder out from the vertical line of contact at the top unless the top is securely fastened;
(b) side rails of ladders when in use shall have secure footing and the top rest shall be rigid and have ample strength to support the applied load; 44._ Iwhere possible the top of the ladder shall be securely fastened to prevent movement; 43._ the side rails of a portable ladder shall extend at least 914 mm (3 ft.) above a landing; 43._ side rails have a uniform clear width between them not less than 305 mm (12 in.) for ladders 3 048 mm (10 ft.) in length and under, and increasing 6 mm (in.) in width for each additional 300 mm (1 ft.) in length. (EC180/87)
23.3 The user of a ladder shall 43._ inspect a ladder before use;
(b) report any unsafe condition of the ladder to the employer; 43._ Inot work from the top three rungs of a single or extension ladder;
43._ not lash or splice ladders together; 43._ not place a ladder in front of or against a door unless the door is blocked in the open position, locked or guarded; 43._ use both hands and face the ladder when ascending or descending;
(g) when standing on a ladder, keep the centre of his body between the side rails. (EC180/87)
23.4 The employer shall ensure that a wooden ladder 43._ is made of good quality, straight grained lumber;
(b) is not painted other than by being preserved with transparent protective coating; 43._ Iif made on a construction site shall have side rails 50 mm x 100 mm (2 in. x 4 in.) lumber; 43._ has rungs 43._ free of knots,
(ii) designed to carry safely a load 200 kg (450 lbs.) on the center of the rung,
(iii) uniformly spaced not exceeding a spacing of 300 mm (12 in.),
(iv) if flat, shall be at least 25 mm (1 in.) by 64 mm (2 ½ in.) and shall be secured by at least three screws or wire nails to each side,
(v) if flat, shall be notched into the side rails at least 13 mm (1/2 in.) on the lower side, or with fillers installed between the rungs; 43._ has round rungs shall be at least 31 mm (1 ¼ in.) diameter with tenons 6 mm (1/4 in.) less diameter fitting through side rails, secured with a screw or wire nail through tenon at mid-length; 43._ has side rails 43._ dressed on all sides with sharp edges taken off and free from splinters,
(ii) the minimum size of which for single wooden ladders shall be as follows: Length of Ladder Thickness Depth (feet) Up to and 29 mm 64 mm including 20 (1 1/8 in.) (2½ in.) Over 20 and up to and 31 mm 70 mm including 22 (1¼ in.) (2¾ in.) Over 22 and up to and 31 mm 76 mm including 30 (1¼ in.) (3 in.) (EC180/87)
23.5 (1) The employer shall ensure that 43._ step ladders shall not be over 6 096 (20 ft.) in length;
(b) step ladders shall be constructed so that when in the open position of the front section shall have a minimum slope of 89 mm (3 ½ in.) and the back section a minimum slope of 50 mm (2 in.) in each 305 mm (12 in.) length of side rail; 43._ when in position all treads of step ladders shall be level;
43._ the minimum inside width between side rails at the top step of step ladders shall not be less than 305 mm (12 in.) and the side rails shall have an additional spread of 25 (1 in.) for each 305 mm (12 in.) of length of step ladder; 43._ step ladders shall be equipped with metal braces to hold legs securely in position; 43._ back legs of all step ladders shall be at least 44 mm (1 ¾ in.) wide and of the same thickness as the side rails;
(g) cross rails and braces of step ladders shall be not less than 13 mm (1/2 in.) thick and shall be securely fastened;
(h) step ladders 3 048 mm (10 ft.) and less in height shall have a bottom cross rail and diagonal braces; 43._ step ladders over 3 048 mm (10 ft.) in height shall have bottom and intermediate cross rails and two sets of diagonal braces;
(j) cross rails shall not be less than 100 mm (4 in.) wide and diagonal braces shall not be less than 50 mm (2 in.) wide;
(k) step ladders shall be reinforced at each step by a metal tie rod or a metal brace;
(l) metal parts of step ladders shall be of malleable iron, wrought iron or steel;
(m) the material shelf and the top step on a step ladder are clearly marked to indicate that they are not steps.
(2) Side rails of step ladders shall have the following solid cross section or equivalent strength cross section:
Length of side rail Minimum Minimum (feet) thickness width Up to and 19 mm 70 mm including 10 (¾ in.) (2¾ in.) Over 10 and up to and 19 mm 76 mm including 12 (¾ in.) (3 in.) Over 12 and up to and 19 mm 82 mm including 16 (¾ in.) (3¼ in.) Over 16 and up to and 25 mm 82 mm including 20 (1 in.) (3¼ in.) Note: These thicknesses provide for a gain of not over inch in depth. Where gains of a greater depth are required, greater thickness must be used. (EC180/87)
23.6 The employer shall ensure that fixed or permanent ladders shall have parallel sides of either wood or metal and shall be permanently and securely fastened in such manner that the ladder 43._ is securely held in place at the top and bottom and at such intermediate points as are required to prevent sway;
(b) has a continuous clearance space of at least 165 mm (6 ½ in.) back of rungs; 43._ has rungs omitted above the landing and has rails or other secure hand holds which extend at least 1 067 mm (42 in.) above the landing. (EC180/87)
23.7 (1) The employer shall ensure that a fixed ladder more than 6 096 mm (20 ft.) in length is provided with
43._ a safety rail secured to the ladder; or
(b) cage guards with offset platforms at intervals not greater than 9 144 mm (30 ft.); or 43._ Iadequate fall arresting equipment.
(2) The employer shall ensure that employees working on fixed ladders more than 6 096 mm (20 ft.) in length shall wear adequate fall arresting equipment. 43._ Employees working on fixed ladders more than 6 096 mm (20 ft.) in length shall wear adequate fall arresting equipment. Where a safety rail is used, the employer shall provide an approved safety belt designed to be attached to the rail and all employees shall wear the safety belt and attach it to the rail. (EC180/87)
23.8 (1) The employer shall ensure that
extension ladders, except when approved by the Division shall have no more than three sections and shall not exceed 18 288 mm (60 ft.) in length when fully extended;
(b) extension ladders have locks which securely hold the sections of the ladder in an extended position; Ithe minimum lap of sections of extension ladders when extended for use shall be Up to 1 158 mm (38 ft.) extended............................................91 mm (3 ft.) overlap Up to 1 341 mm (44 ft.) extended..........................................121 mm (4 ft.) overlap Up to 1 524 mm (50 ft.) extended..........................................152 mm (5 ft.) overlap Over 1 524 mm (50 ft.) extended...........................................182 mm (6 ft.) overlap
(2) Ladder jacks shall not be used on extension ladders. Extension ladders shall not be used as part of a scaffold. (EC180/87)
23.9 In a building or structure under construction the maximum ascent by ladder or ladders shall be 9 144 mm (30 ft.);
(b) two separate lines of ladders or double ladders shall be provided if the ascent exceeds 6 096 mm (20 ft.) to a working place for more than three persons; and
Ione ladder shall be designated for ascent and one for descent. (EC180/87)
23.10 A single section ladder shall not exceed 9 144 mm (30 ft.). (EC180/87)
24.1 Sections 24.1 to 24.34 revoked by EC43/06. (EC180/87; 43/06)

PART 29 HAND TOOLS AND PORTABLE POWER TOOLS
29.5 Without limiting the generality of the duties under section 29.4 every user shall carry tools in a way that does not interfere with their using both hands on the ladder or while climbing a structure or on any hazardous work requiring the use of both hands;


PART 33 POWERED MOBILE EQUIPMENT
33.18 The employer shall ensure that powered mobile equipment
(g) has safe and easy access to the operator’s station by means of a ladder or steps and handrail. (EC180/87)


PART 36 ELECTRICITY
36.24 The employer shall ensure that metal ladders and ladders having
reinforcing wire or other conducting material shall not be used near energized electrical conductors or equipment. (EC180/87)


PART 40 TANKS AND VESSELS
40.5 (1) The supports of all elevated tanks shall be accessible for the purpose of inspection.
(2) Every tank over 1 200 mm (4 ft.) deep containing liquids shall have a fixed permanent cover, and with manholes close to the bottom and need have outside ladders only. (EC180/87)


HAZARDOUS LIQUIDS
43.9 The employer shall ensure that tanks used for storing nonflammable hazardous liquids shall meet the following requirements:
(a) provided with stairways or permanent ladders and platforms where necessary, for convenient and safe access to all parts of the tanks with standard safe railings on both stairways and platforms and preferably with floors or platforms constructed of grating. (EC180/87)
 

Alert First-Aid Inc is now serving: 

Bonshaw | Charlottetown | Georgetown | Summerside | Tignish

Back to top