General industry and construction, side by side
The same question has two answers because OSHA writes two sets of rules. A shop, plant, warehouse or office follows 29 CFR part 1910. A construction jobsite follows 29 CFR part 1926.
| Topic | General industry (29 CFR 1910) | Construction (29 CFR 1926) |
|---|---|---|
| Reaching an upper landing | Portable ladders used to gain access to an upper landing surface have side rails that extend at least 3 feet above the upper landing surface.29 CFR 1910.23(c)(11) | The side rails shall extend at least 3 feet above the landing. When that is not possible because of the ladder's length, the ladder shall be secured at its top to a rigid support and a grasping device such as a grabrail shall be provided.29 CFR 1926.1053(b)(1) |
| Inspection | Ladders are inspected before initial use in each work shift, and more frequently as necessary, to identify visible defects that could cause employee injury.29 CFR 1910.23(b)(9) | A competent person shall inspect ladders for visible defects on a periodic basis and after any occurrence that could affect their safe use. The paragraph names no interval.29 CFR 1926.1053(b)(15) |
| A damaged ladder | Any ladder with structural or other defects is immediately tagged “Dangerous: Do Not Use” or with similar language and removed from service until repaired, or replaced.29 CFR 1910.23(b)(10) | A portable ladder with structural defects shall be immediately marked as defective, or tagged “Do Not Use” or similar language, and withdrawn from service until repaired.29 CFR 1926.1053(b)(16) |
| Setup angle of a leaning ladder | Section 1910.23 gives no ratio for a leaning portable ladder. It asks that ladders be used only on stable and level surfaces unless they are secured or stabilized.29 CFR 1910.23(c)(4) | A non-self-supporting ladder shall be used at an angle where the horizontal distance from the top support to the foot is approximately one-quarter of the working length of the ladder.29 CFR 1926.1053(b)(5)(i) |
| Load | Ladders are not loaded beyond the maximum intended load, which includes the employee and all tools, equipment and materials being carried.29 CFR 1910.23(c)(3) | Ladders shall not be loaded beyond the maximum intended load for which they were built, nor beyond their manufacturer's rated capacity.29 CFR 1926.1053(b)(3) |
| Top of a stepladder | The cap, if equipped, and the top step of a stepladder are not used as steps.29 CFR 1910.23(c)(8) | The top or top step of a stepladder shall not be used as a step.29 CFR 1926.1053(b)(13) |
| Near energized parts | Portable ladders shall have nonconductive siderails if they are used where the employee or the ladder could contact exposed energized parts. The paragraph is in the electrical work practices subpart.29 CFR 1910.333(c)(7) | Ladders shall have nonconductive siderails if they are used where the employee or the ladder could contact exposed energized electrical equipment, with an exception for power line work in 1926.955.29 CFR 1926.1053(b)(12) |
| Training | Section 1910.23 has no training paragraph of its own. Fall hazard training under 1910.30 is due before an employee is exposed to a fall hazard, for employees who use personal fall protection systems.29 CFR 1910.30(a)(1) | The employer shall provide a training program for each employee using ladders and stairways, as necessary, so that each can recognize the related hazards and follow the procedures that reduce them.29 CFR 1926.1060(a) |
What is OSHA's rule and what is not
| Level | What it says |
|---|---|
| OSHA requirement | Both parts name the 3-foot extension, the inspection duty and the removal of a defective ladder. The text of each paragraph is the rule, and the wording differs between part 1910 and part 1926.29 CFR 1910.23(c)(11) and 29 CFR 1926.1053(b)(1) |
| Consensus standard | Duty ratings such as Type IA, and the labels on the rails, come from the ANSI A14 ladder standards. They are consensus standards and not an OSHA requirement. The rating on the label is the manufacturer's rated capacity that 1926.1053(b)(3) refers to.29 CFR 1926.1053(b)(3) |
| Recommended practice | Many employers inspect every ladder daily and keep a log, whatever the part. A written log is recommended, not required, by either paragraph.29 CFR 1910.23(b)(9) and 29 CFR 1926.1053(b)(15) |
Does your state do it differently?
Some states run their own State Plan and write their own text, so the federal paragraphs above describe federal OSHA states. Look up your state on the State Plans page and read its rule before you rely on the federal wording.
What OSHA cited most under these standards in FY2025
| Paragraph | What it covers | FY2025 citations |
|---|---|---|
| 1910.23(b)(10) | Tag and remove a defective ladder | 110 |
| 1910.23(c)(11) | Rails extend 3 feet above the landing | 84 |
| 1910.23(b)(9) | Inspect before use in each work shift | 63 |
| 1910.23(b)(8) | Use only for the purpose designed | 49 |
| 1910.23(c)(8) | No standing on the cap or top step | 24 |
| 1910.23(c)(4) | 14 | |
| 1926.1053(b)(1) | Rails extend 3 feet above the landing, or secure the top | 2,627 |
| 1926.1053(b)(13) | No standing on the top or top step | 374 |
| 1926.1053(b)(4) | Use only for the purpose designed | 339 |
| 1926.1053(b)(16) | Mark or tag a defective ladder | 138 |
| 1926.1053(b)(6) | Stable and level surface, or secured | 103 |
| 1926.1053(b)(22) | 89 |
1910.23: 500 citations in FY2025 at 381 inspections, 61 of them at construction sites (NAICS 23). 1926.1053: 4,009 citations in FY2025 at 3,326 inspections, 3,935 of them at construction sites (NAICS 23). Citation items issued Oct 1, 2024 to Sep 30, 2025, counted by HazComFast on U.S. Department of Labor enforcement data (extracted Oct 13, 2026). Inspected establishments, not the whole industry.
Mistakes that turn up in inspections
- Using a ladder that stops at the roof edge. The rails have to extend 3 feet above the landing, or the ladder has to be secured at the top with a grasping device. In FY2025 this one paragraph, 1926.1053(b)(1), made up most of the citations under 1926.1053.29 CFR 1910.23(c)(11) and 29 CFR 1926.1053(b)(1)
- Quoting the construction one-quarter setup rule for a warehouse as if it were in 1910.23. General industry has no ratio for a leaning ladder. It asks for a stable, level surface or a secured ladder, and the manufacturer's label gives the setup the ladder was rated for.29 CFR 1910.23(c)(4) and 29 CFR 1926.1053(b)(5)(i)
- Stepping on the top step to gain a few inches. Both parts prohibit it for a stepladder.29 CFR 1910.23(c)(8) and 29 CFR 1926.1053(b)(13)
- Leaving a damaged ladder in the truck with a note on it. The paragraph asks that the ladder be tagged or marked and withdrawn from service until repaired.29 CFR 1910.23(b)(10) and 29 CFR 1926.1053(b)(16)
Free tool
Choose the ladder for the task and check the setup against the paragraph for your part, 1910 or 1926.