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Saskatchewan Legislation

Saskatchewan 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 The Queen’s Printer, Saskatchewan, Manitoba

The Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, 1996
PART XI
Powered Mobile Equipment
Ladders attached to extending boom 166(1) An employer or contractor shall ensure that:
(a) subject to subsection (2), no worker is on a ladder that is attached as a permanent part of an extending boom on powered mobile equipment during any movement of the equipment, including extension or retraction of the boom;
(b) where outriggers are incorporated into powered mobile equipment, no worker climbs a ladder attached to an extending boom unless the outriggers are deployed; and
(c) no worker operates any powered mobile equipment equipped with an extending boom unless the powered mobile equipment is stable under all operating conditions.
(2) Clause (1)(a) does not apply to firefighting equipment. 4 Oct 96 cO-1.1 Reg 1 s166.

Ladders attached to extending boom
166(1) An employer or contractor shall ensure that:
(a) subject to subsection (2), no worker is on a ladder that is attached as a permanent part of an extending boom on powered mobile equipment during any movement of the equipment, including extension or retraction of the boom;
(b) where outriggers are incorporated into powered mobile equipment, no worker climbs a ladder attached to an extending boom unless the outriggers are deployed; and
(c) no worker operates any powered mobile equipment equipped with an extending boom unless the powered mobile equipment is stable under all operating conditions.
(2) Clause (1)(a) does not apply to firefighting equipment. 4 Oct 96 cO-1.1 Reg 1 s166.

PART XII Scaffolds, Aerial Devices, Elevating Work Platforms and Temporary Supporting Structures
Interpretation 168 In this Part:
(a) “aerial device” means a vehicle-mounted telescoping or articulating unit that is used to position a worker at an elevated worksite, and includes a work basket or bucket, an aerial ladder, an extendable and articulating boom platform, a vertical tower and any combination of those devices;
(k) “ladderjack scaffold” means a platform that is supported by brackets attached to ladders;

Scaffold required
169 Where work cannot be safely done from the ground or from a permanent structure, an employer or contractor shall provide a scaffold or other safe working platform or a ladder that meets the requirements of Part XVI for the use of workers. 4 Oct 96 cO-1.1 Reg 1 s169.
Limited use of certain scaffolds
171(1) An employer or contractor shall ensure that the following types of scaffolds are used only as light-duty scaffolds:
(a) half-horse scaffolds;
(b) ladderjack scaffolds;
(c) single-pole scaffolds.
(2) An employer or contractor shall ensure that the following types of scaffolds are used only as light-duty scaffolds unless the scaffold is designed by a professional engineer and constructed, erected, used, maintained and dismantled in accordance with that design:
(a) bracket scaffolds;
(b) outrigger scaffolds;
(c) suspended scaffolds;
(d) suspended powered scaffolds. 4 Oct 96 cO-1.1 Reg 1 s171.
(4) An employer or contractor shall ensure that a scaffold that is built from the ground or other surface:
(a) is supported by a foundation that is of sufficient area, stability and strength to ensure the stability of the scaffold;
(b) is set level on a stable sill that is at least 38 x 240 millimetres and continuous under at least two consecutive supports;
(c) where an upright could penetrate the sill, a base plate is installed in the upright;
(d) is supported against lateral movement by adequate, secure bracing;
(e) is anchored:
(i) vertically at not less than four-metre intervals and horizontally at not less than six-metre intervals;
(ii) where designed by a professional engineer, at intervals recommended by a professional engineer; or

(iii) where commercially manufactured, at intervals recommended by the manufacturer;
(f) is provided with internal stairways or ladders if the scaffold is nine metres or more in height; and
(g) is checked to ensure that the scaffold is plumb and level after each tier is added.
(4) A single manufactured extending painter’s plank, or a plank that is 51 x 305 millimetre, number 1 structural grade spruce lumber or material of equivalent or greater strength, may be used in a ladderjack scaffold. 4 Oct 96 cO-1.1 Reg 1 s174.

Half-horse scaffolds
178(1) An employer or contractor shall ensure that the legs of a half-horse scaffold are not spliced, are less than three metres high and have an angle of repose and an angle of splay that are 15° from the vertical.
(2) An employer or contractor shall ensure that a ladder is used to provide access to and exit from a half-horse scaffold. 4 Oct 96 cO-1.1 Reg 1 s178.
Ladderjack scaffolds
180 An employer or contractor shall ensure that:
(a) brackets and ladders used for a ladderjack scaffold are:
(i) designed and constructed to support the anticipated load safely; and
(ii) used according to the manufacturer’s specifications and recommendations; and
(b) ladders used for a ladderjack scaffold are not more than three metres apart. 4 Oct 96 cO-1.1 Reg 1 s180.

Crawl boards, roof ladders
190 An employer, contractor or owner shall ensure that a crawl board or roof ladder used for roof work is securely fastened to the roof. 4 Oct 96 cO-1.1 Reg 1 s190.
PART XVI Entrances, Exits and Ladders
General duty re entrances, exits 248 An employer, contractor or owner shall provide and maintain a safe means of entrance to and exit from a place of employment and all worksites and work-related areas in or on a place of employment. 4 Oct 96 cO-1.1 Reg 1 s248.
Ladders
252(1) An employer, contractor or supplier shall ensure that every ladder is designed, constructed, used and maintained to perform its function safely.
(2) An employer, contractor or supplier shall ensure that:
(a) no wooden ladder or stepladder is painted with any substance other than a transparent coating; and
(b) no ladder is made by fastening cleats across a single rail or post. 4 Oct 96 cO-1.1 Reg 1 s252.

Portable ladders
253(1) In this section and section 254, “portable ladder” means any ladder that is not fixed in place, and includes a stepladder.
(2) An employer or contractor shall ensure that:
(a) a portable ladder is equipped with non-slip feet;
(b) a portable ladder is secured against accidental movement during use;
(c) a metal or wire-bound portable ladder is not used where the ladder or a worker handling or using the ladder may come into contact with an exposed energized electrical conductor; and
(d) a portable ladder extends at least one metre above any platform, roof or other landing to which the ladder is used as a means of access.
(3) An employer or contractor shall ensure that each worker who handles or uses a portable ladder is instructed in the requirements of this section.
(4) An employer or contractor shall ensure that a stepladder:
(a) is not more than six metres high when set for use;
(b) has legs that are securely held in position by means of metal braces or an equivalent rigid support; and
(c) when in use, has a front section slope at an angle of one horizontal to six vertical.
(5) An employer or contractor shall ensure that:
(a) an extension ladder is equipped with locks that securely hold the sections of the ladder in the extended position;
(b) where a section of an extension ladder is extended, the section that is extended overlaps another section for at least one metre;
(c) an extension ladder consisting of two sections does not exceed 14.6 metres in length; and
(d) an extension ladder consisting of more than two sections does not exceed 20 metres in length.
(6) An employer or contractor shall ensure that no single portable ladder and no section of an extension ladder exceeds nine metres in length. 4 Oct 96 cO-1.1 Reg 1 s253.

Use of portable ladders
254(1) Where a worker uses a portable ladder other than a stepladder, an employer or contractor shall ensure that:
(a) the ladder is placed against the structure so that the slope of the lader is one horizontal to four vertical;
(b) the worker does not extend any part of the worker’s body except for the worker’s arms beyond the side rails of the ladder; and
(c) the worker maintains a three-point stance on the ladder at all times.
(2) An employer or contractor shall ensure that a worker does not work from either of the top two rungs or steps of a portable ladder, unless the ladder is a stepladder that has a platform equipped with a suitable handrail. 4 Oct 96 cO-1.1 Reg 1 s254. Fixed ladders 255(1) In this section, “fixed ladder” means a ladder that is fixed to a structure in a vertical position or at an angle that is between vertical and 25° to the vertical, but does not include a ladder used in underground mining operations to which The Mines Regulations apply.
(2) A ladder that is fixed to a structure at an angle of more than 25° to the vertical, or more than one horizontal to two vertical, is deemed to be a stairway and is subject to the requirements of sections 121 and 251.
(3) An employer, contractor or owner shall ensure that:
(a) the rungs on a fixed ladder are uniformly spaced with centres that are not less than 250 and not more than 300 millimetres apart;
(b) a clearance of at least 150 millimetres is maintained between the rungs on a fixed ladder and the structure to which the ladder is affixed;
(c) a fixed ladder is securely held in place at the top and bottom and at any intermediate points that are necessary to prevent sway;
(d) the side rails of a fixed ladder extend not less than one metre above any platform, roof or other landing on the structure to which the ladder is fixed;
(e) a ladder opening in a platform, roof or other landing does not exceed 750 millimetres by 750 millimetres;
(f) a fixed ladder that is more than six metres high:
(i) is equipped with:
(A) platforms at intervals of not more than six metres or ladder cages, in the case of ladders installed on or before March 11, 1986; or
(B) platforms at intervals of not more than six metres and ladder cages, in the case of ladders installed on or after March 12, 1986; or
(ii) is equipped with a personal fall arrest system that meets the requirements of Part VII; and
(g) a fixed ladder in an excavated shaft is installed in a compartment that is separated from the hoist compartment by a substantial partition.
(4) Where a ladder cage is required by these regulations, an employer, contractor or owner shall ensure that:
(a) the ladder cage is constructed of hoops that are not more than 1.8 metres apart, joined by vertical members not more than 300 millimetres apart around the circumference of the hoop;
(b) no point on a hoop of the ladder cage is more than 750 millimetres from the ladder; and
(c) the ladder cage is of sufficient strength and is designed to contain any worker who may lean or fall against a hoop.
(5) In the case of a ladder cage constructed before July 1, 1997, an employer, contractor or owner shall ensure that:
(a) the lowest hoop of the ladder cage is not more than three metres from a platform, landing or the ground; and
(b) the uppermost hoop of the ladder cage is at the level of a platform, landing or roof.
(6) In the case of a ladder cage constructed on or after July 1, 1997, an employer, contractor or owner shall ensure that:
(a) the lowest hoop of the ladder cage is not more than 2.2 metres from a platform, landing or the ground; and
(b) the uppermost hoop of the ladder cage extends at least one metre above the level of a platform, landing or roof. 4 Oct 96 cO-1.1 Reg 1 s255; 10 Aug 2007 SR 67/ 2007 s23.

Construction ladders
256(1) In this section, “construction ladder” means a ladder constructed at a worksite.
(2) An employer or contractor shall ensure that:
(a) the side rails of a construction ladder that is five metres or less in length are constructed of number 1 structural grade spruce lumber that measures not less than 38 by 89 millimetres or of material of equivalent strength and rigidity;
(b) the side rails of a construction ladder that is over five metres in length are constructed of number 1 structural grade spruce lumber that measures not less than 38 by 140 millimetres or of material of equivalent strength and rigidity;
(c) no construction ladder is more than 10 metres long;
(d) the rungs of a construction ladder are:
(i) constructed of number 1 structural grade spruce lumber that measures not less than 21 by 89 millimetres or of material of equivalent strength and rigidity;
(ii) supported by filler blocks or secured by a single continuous wire; and

(iii) uniformly spaced with not more than 300 millimetres between their centres;
(e) the width between the side rails of a construction ladder is at least 500 millimetres;
(f) every two-way construction ladder that permits traffic in both directions at the same time is not less than 1.2 metres wide and is constructed with a centre structural rail throughout the ladder’s entire length; and
(g) no plywood is used for the side rails or rungs of a construction ladder. 4 Oct 96 cO-1.1 Reg 1 s256.

PART XVII Excavations, Trenches, Tunnels and Excavated Shafts
(6) Where a worker is required to enter a trench, an employer or contractor shall:
(a) install ladders, stairways or ramps to provide a safe means of entrance to and exit from the trench; and
(b) ensure that the ladder, stairway or ramp is located not more than eight metres from a worker working in the trench.
(7) An employer or contractor shall ensure that workers are instructed in and comply with the requirements of this section. 4 Oct 96 cO-1.1 Reg 1 s263.

Platforms, ladders and stairways
421(1) An employer, contractor or owner shall ensure that:
(a) a derrick is equipped with a fixed ladder or ladders providing access from the derrick floor to the crown platform and to each intermediate platform; and
(b) platforms are provided:
(i) on a drilling rig, at the fourble board, stabbing board and crown; and
(ii) on a service rig, at the tubing board and rod basket.
(2) An employer, contractor or owner shall ensure that a derrick floor and all stairways, ladders, ramps, catwalks and platforms are kept free of obstructions that may hinder or prevent the exit of workers. 4 Oct 96 cO-1.1 Reg 1 s421.

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