Ladder and stairway training

The employer must provide a training program that teaches employees to recognize ladder and stairway hazards and how to minimize them. This is required by 1926.1060(a).

• The training must be sufficient so employees can identify hazards and follow safe procedures when using ladders and stairways.
• This training obligation flows from the broader construction training duties in 1926.21 and the specific ladder-and-stairway training rule at 1926.1060(a).

Employees must be trained by a competent person. 1926.1060(a)(1) requires that each employee "has been trained by a competent person" in the applicable areas listed in the standard.

• A competent person is someone who can identify hazards in the work area and has authority to correct them; employers should use a supervisor or safety professional who meets that capability.
• See also the general employer training duties in 1926.21(b).

Training must explain the kinds of fall hazards present in the specific work area and how those hazards can cause injury. 1926.1060(a)(1)(i) requires teaching employees the nature of fall hazards in the work area.

• Examples include slips/trips on ladder rungs, falls from the top of a ladder, and hazards around stairway openings.
• Training should connect hazards to real workplace conditions so employees can recognize them on the job.

Training must cover the correct procedures for erecting, maintaining, and disassembling any fall protection systems that will be used. 1926.1060(a)(1)(ii) requires this instruction.

• Employees must learn how to put systems up and take them down safely, how to keep them in safe working condition, and any limitations or inspection steps.
• Where additional, specific fall-protection rules apply, familiarize employees with the relevant parts of Subpart X and related fall-protection standards in 1926.

Employees must be trained on the proper construction, use, placement, and care in handling of all stairways and ladders. This is required by 1926.1060(a)(1)(iii).

• Training should teach correct ladder setup (angle, securement), safe climbing techniques, material handling on ladders, and how to store and care for ladders to prevent damage.
• Include inspection steps so employees can spot cracks, damaged rungs, missing safety features, or other defects before use.

Employers must train employees on the maximum intended load-carrying capacities of ladders used. 1926.1060(a)(1)(iv) requires this.

• Training should show how to read or determine a ladder’s rated load, include the weight of the worker plus tools and materials, and explain consequences of overloading.
• Use manufacturers’ labels, data plates, or documented ratings in training so employees can make safe choices in the field.

Yes—employees must be trained on the standards contained in the subpart governing ladders and stairways. 1926.1060(a)(1)(v) requires instruction on those standards.

• Training should include the rules in Subpart X and any other applicable sections of 1926 so workers understand regulatory requirements that affect their work.
• Point trainees to the exact rules (for example, ladder angle, guardrail, or stairway requirements) that apply to the tools and tasks they use.

Retraining must be provided as necessary so employees maintain the knowledge and understanding required by the section. 1926.1060(b) requires retraining when needed.

• "As necessary" means retraining after incidents, observed unsafe work practices, changes in equipment or procedures, or when an employee’s performance indicates they do not understand the training.
• OSHA guidance on retraining frequency for other safety topics explains that many standards do not set a fixed retraining interval; employers must judge when retraining is needed (OSHA letter on CPR retraining).

The ladder-and-stairway training standard itself does not explicitly require written training documentation. 1926.1060 sets content requirements but does not mandate written records.

• Although the rule does not require written proof, keeping records or written lesson plans is a best practice to show you provided the required topics and to support retraining decisions.
• Maintain any documentation required by other standards that may apply to your work (for example, site-specific programs or PPE certifications) and follow the employer training duties in 1926.21(b).

Short toolbox talks can meet the requirements if they effectively teach the required topics and are given by a competent person. 1926.1060(a) requires training that enables employees to recognize hazards and minimize them, and 1926.1060(a)(1) requires competent-person instruction in applicable areas.

• The key is that the training—whether a toolbox talk or a classroom session—actually teaches the topics listed (fall hazards, system erection, ladder use/care, load capacity, and standards).
• If the talk is brief, follow up with demonstrations, hands-on practice, or additional coaching as needed so employees demonstrate understanding.

Yes—training must be provided "as necessary" and "as applicable," so it should be tailored to the job and equipment employees actually use. 1926.1060(a) and 1926.1060(a)(1) require instruction in areas that are applicable to the work.

• For example, training on extension-ladder setup and inspection should be provided when employees will use extension ladders; training on stairway hazards should be given to employees working around stairways.
• Job-specific training reduces the chance of missing hazards unique to a particular site, ladder type, or task.

Yes—any employee who uses ladders or stairways must receive training as necessary. 1926.1060(a) covers "each employee using ladders and stairways."

• Even occasional users need basic training on hazard recognition, correct ladder selection and setup, load limits, and inspection so brief or infrequent use does not create an unexpected risk.
• Use concise, targeted training for occasional users and document when retraining is needed under 1926.1060(b).

Each employer is responsible for training its own employees on ladder and stairway hazards and procedures regardless of who provides the ladder. 1926.1060(a) requires an employer-provided training program for each employee using ladders and stairways.

• If multiple employers share a worksite, coordinate training so all employees understand hazards created by site conditions, equipment, and other trades.
• The general contractor and subcontractors should communicate about ladder types, special hazards, and any site-specific procedures to ensure consistent training and safe practices (see general duties in 1926.21).

While 1926.1060 requires training "by a competent person," the term generally means someone qualified to identify hazards and authorized to correct them under the construction rules in 1926. This requirement appears in 1926.1060(a)(1).

• Practically, a competent trainer should have hands-on experience with ladders and stairways, understand applicable rules, and be able to demonstrate correct procedures and spot defects.
• Employers should choose trainers who can identify hazards on-site, explain protections, and verify employee understanding (see employer training duties in 1926.21(b)).

Yes—training should teach employees how to inspect ladders and stairways before use as part of proper construction, use, placement, and care. 1926.1060(a)(1)(iii) requires instruction on these topics.

• Include checks for damaged rungs, split rails, missing safety devices, loose bolts, and clean, dry rungs.
• Teach employees to remove defective ladders from service and report them so they can be repaired or replaced.

Training must explain the ladder’s maximum intended load and how to include the worker’s weight plus tools and materials when determining safe load. 1926.1060(a)(1)(iv) requires this.

• Teach employees to read a ladder’s rated load (nameplate or manufacturer information) and to compute total on-ladder weight.
• Emphasize that exceeding the rated load can lead to ladder failure and falls, and show alternatives (e.g., use a higher-capacity ladder or mechanical lift) when loads are large.

Yes—retraining should be provided when job tasks or equipment change such that previous training is no longer adequate. 1926.1060(b) requires retraining as necessary to maintain required knowledge.

• Moving from a fixed stair platform to work that requires extension ladders or roof access would trigger retraining so the worker understands the new hazards and safe procedures.
• Document the change and the retraining provided to demonstrate compliance and that the employee is competent for the new task.

Manufacturer labels are useful tools but cannot replace training; employers must still teach employees how to use, place, care for, and calculate load capacity. 1926.1060(a)(1)(iii) and 1926.1060(a)(1)(iv) require direct instruction on these topics.

• Labels should be incorporated into the training (show employees what to look for and how to interpret ratings), but practical demonstrations and hands-on checks are necessary to confirm understanding.
• Ensure employees know how to act when a ladder’s label is missing or unreadable (e.g., remove ladder from service until its capacity can be verified).

Yes—1926.1060 applies to both ladders and stairways and requires training on hazards, proper construction, use, placement, and care for both. 1926.1060(a) and 1926.1060(a)(1)(iii) explicitly include stairways.

• Train employees about stairway-specific hazards such as broken steps, missing handrails, temporary openings, and congested stairways.
• Include stairway inspection, marking, housekeeping, and temporary stairway safety procedures in your program so stair-related hazards are minimized.

Yes—employers should assess workplace hazards and use that assessment to shape ladder and stairway training. 1926.1060(a) requires training as necessary to recognize hazards, and OSHA’s PPE hazard-assessment interpretation explains the employer’s duty to evaluate workplace hazards before selecting controls or PPE (see OSHA letter on PPE hazard assessment at https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2024-03-28).

• A hazard assessment identifies ladder and stairway risks (slippery surfaces, overhead obstructions, fall exposures) so training can address what employees will actually face.
• Document the assessment and use it to determine training topics, PPE needs, and when retraining is necessary.