Stairway Access to Scaffolds

Scaffold stairway towers used for access to scaffolds and other elevated work surfaces must meet specific safety requirements:

• Each scaffold stairway must have a toprail and a midrail on each side.
• The toprail of each stair rail system must be capable of serving as a handrail, unless a separate handrail is provided.
• Stair rail systems and handrails must be surfaced in a way that prevents injury to employees from punctures or lacerations, and to prevent snagging of clothing.
• The ends of stair rail systems and handrails must be constructed in a way that does not constitute a projection hazard.
• Scaffold stairway handrails, and toprails that are used as handrails, must have a minimum clearance of 3 inches between the handrail or toprail and other objects. Inadequate hand clearances can render handrails useless.
• Scaffold stairways must have landing platforms that are at least 18 inches wide and at least 18 inches long at each level.

Stairways to access supported scaffolds must meet the following additional safety criteria:

• Each scaffold stairway must be at least 18 inches wide between stair rails.
• Treads and landings must have slip-resistant surfaces.
• Riser heights within each flight of scaffold stairs must be uniform within 1/4 inch. This minimizes the possibility that employees will slip, trip, and fall while they are on the stairs.
• Tread depth must be uniform, within 1/4 inch, for each flight of stairs.
• Ramps and walkways used to access scaffolds that are six feet or more above lower levels must have guardrail systems.
• Ramps and walkways must not exceed a slope ratio of one vertical to three horizontal (20 degrees above the horizontal).
• If the slope ratio of a ramp or walkway is steeper than one vertical to eight horizontal, the ramp or walkway must have cleats not more than 14 inches apart that are securely fastened to the planking to provide secure footing.
• All steps and rungs of all ladder and stairway-type access points must line up vertically with each other between rest platforms.
• Direct access to or from another surface must be allowed only when the pertinent surfaces are not more than 14 inches apart horizontally and not more than 24 inches apart vertically.

This is not a complete list of all requirements for ladders and stairway access to scaffolds. Consult 29 CFR 1926.451(e) for more details.

To learn more about Scaffolding Safety visit our Construction Scaffolding Safety Online Training web page.