Job-made Wooden Ladders

Job-made wooden ladders are ladders that are custom-made for a specific construction project. Their primary purpose is to provide access to or egress from a work area. They are temporary structures and can only be used until the work task is complete or until a permanent stairway or fixed ladder is ready for use. They may not be used as a work station; instead, a platform, scaffolding, or similar structure may be used as a work space.

Job-made ladders are not permitted to exceed 24 feet in working length. If the required length exceeds 24 feet, then two or more job-made ladders can be used in conjunction with platforms that have protective railings. If the job-made ladder is the only way to enter or exit a working area with 25 or more people, or if it serves two-way, simultaneous traffic, the ladder must be double-cleated.

Job-made ladders must be built of construction-grade lumber. The side rails of single cleat ladders should be continuous and constructed of 2" x 6" stock lumber. The rails must extend above the top landing, between 36 inches and 42 inches, in order to provide a handhold for mounting and dismounting. In addition, each rung should be between 16 inches and 20 inches wide.

The cleats in a job-made ladder should be equally spaced 12 inches from the center of one cleat to another. The cleats should be fastened to each side of the rail with three 12d wire nails. Filler blocks are inserted on the rail between cleats. Each filler block should be a 2" x 2" wood strip.

Job-made ladders should be set up on stable and level surfaces that are not slippery, and the base of the ladder should be secured so that the ladder does not move. To protect the ladder, it may be painted with a clear varnish. Load and impact tests should be conducted before use. The ladder should be able to support four times the intended maximum load.

To learn more about Ladder & Stairway Safety visit our Ladder & Stairway Safety Online Training web page.