Only ladder rungs meeting OSHA and ANSI standards should be held while climbing. Because of the narrow climbing surface, the hands must grip securely to avoid a fall. Only on horizontal bars are the hands reliable for holding the body weight for a brief time (sufficient for the feet to regain the rung). However, a near-vertical bar cannot be held securely in any fall situation. Sloped rails have been shown to be appropriate up to a certain pitch.
See “Introduction to Fall Protection, 4th Edition” page 124.
Order your copy of “Introduction to Fall Protection, 4th Edition” today. This invaluable resource will take you from the structure design stage to post construction maintenance. Click to find out more!
