Ladders1.0 PURPOSEThe purpose of this standard is to define the minimum requirements for selection and use of portable and fixed Ladders.2.0 SCOPEThe standard applies to the Portable and Fixed Ladders that are used at SABIC and it’s Affiliates f acilities.3.0 DEFINITIONS3.1Fixed L adder: means a ladder that cannot be readily moved or carriedbecause i t i s an i ntegral part of a bui l ding or structure. A side-step fixedl adder i s a f i xed l adder t hat requires a person gett i ng of f at the top to stept o t he s i de of t he l adder s i de rai l s to reach the landing. A through fixedl adder i s a f i xed l adder t hat requires a person gett i ng of f at the top to stepbetween the side rails of the ladder to reach the landing.3.2Gin Pole: A supported pole with line attached with which loads may beraised or lowered through a sheave or block secured to the crosspiece (ginpole).3.3Mobile Ladder: means ladders with wheels that can be readily moved.3.4P ortable ladder: means a ladder that can be readily moved or carried.3.5Safety Feet: Non-slip material and or fixtures on the bottoms of ladder feet.Metal spikes or spurs add increased resistance to movement of ladder feet.3.6Shall: Signifies mandatory requirements.3.7Should: Signifies recommended/optional requirements.3.8Spreader: Locking device of sufficient size and strength to securely hold thefront and back sections of a portable stepladder in an open position.3.9Stepladder:A stepladder i s a sel f-support i ng portable l adder, nonadjustablei n l ength, having f l at steps and a hinged back. I t s s i ze i s designated by theovera l l l ength of t he l adder m easured along t he f r ont edge of t he s i de rails.4.0 REQUIREMENTSSABIC and its Affiliates using Ladders shall develop procedures and programs that meets the following requirements:SABIC Industrial Security shall be consulted for any clarification to this standard.The clarification given by SABIC Industrial Security shall be complied with and considered final.4.1All single ladders and lower halves of extension ladders shall be equippedwith safety feet. (Metal spikes or spurs may be used when needed).4.2All wood ladders will be of natural finish. Painting of ladders that may concealcracks, chemical attack, wood or metal deterioration shall not be allowed.Wooden ladders may be sealed with clear materials that seals out moistureand other liquids but it should be transparent to aid inspection.4.3Stepladders longer than 6 meters shall not be permitted for use. A substantialspreader shall be provided to hold the front and back sections in the openposition. Ladders with slopes of less than 22 degrees shall not be used.4.4Single (straight) ladders longer than 9 meters shall not be permitted for use.4.5Two-section extension ladders longer than 18 meters shall not be permittedfor use.4.6Ladder rungs, c l eats,and steps shal l be para l l e l,l evel, and uniformly spacedw hen the ladder is in position for use.4.7On two-section (extension) ladders, the minimum overlap for the twosections in use shall be as follows:SIZE OF LADDER (METERS) OVERLAP (METERS)Up to and including 11.4 0.9Over 11.4 up to and including 14.4 1.2Over 14.4 up to and including 18.0 1.54.8All single and two-section ladders should be equipped with at least a 1.8 mlong rope about 4 cms in diameter to secure the top of the ladder.4.9Non-conductive ladders shall be used near potential electric hazards. 4.10When setting up a ladder for use, the following shall be observed:4.10.1The ladder base shall be on a firm, level surface. Laddersshall not be leaned against unstable surfaces.4.10.2Stepladders shall have the legs fully opened and thespreader locked.4.10.3The top portion of ladder shall protrude about 1.0 metersbeyond the top support. Where this is impossible because ofinterference by the surroundings, a suitable hand grip in theform of an extension secured to one of the ladder side railsor to adjacent equipment should be made available.4.10.4Straight ladders should be set against the wall (support) at afour-to-one ratio.4.10.5Barricades or guards are required if the ladder is set up in acrowded area. The area at the base of the ladder shallalways be kept uncluttered.4.10.6When a straight ladder is used to mount a roof or platform,the top of the ladder shall extend at least one meter abovethe roof or platform edge. Ladders used for access to andegress from excavations shall extend at least one meterabove the natural grade line or the top of the cut.4.10.7Straight and extension ladders should be secured (tied off)as close to the support point as possible. If this is notpossible, a second person should be assigned to support thebase. When a ladder is used on a scaffold, anchor both endsof the ladder.4.10.8Portable Ladders should not be placed in front of doors orpassageways unless the door is locked, blocked, orotherwise guarded.4.10.9When placing ladders in close proximity to sprinkler systemsor other delicate or hazardous equipment where damagemay be done, care should be exercised in the positioning ofthe ladder to avoid contact.4.10.10Stepladders of proper length shall be used so that the userdoes not have to stand on the topmost step of the ladder.Enough of the ladder shall extend above the step beingstood on to allow the user something to hold for support.4.10.11Spreaders on stepladders shall be locked into place. Astepladder should not be used as a straight ladder.4.10.12Portable Ladder rails should be placed against a solidsurface.4.11Portable straight ladders that are equipped with shoes/feet shall only beused.4.12Fixed l adders shal l be provided with cages, w el l s,l adder safety devices, orse l f-r etract i ng l i f el i nes w here t he l ength of c l i m b i s l ess t han 7.3 m eters butt he t op of t he l adder i s at a distance greater than 7.3 m eters above lowerlevels.4.13W here t he t otal length of a climb equals or exceeds 7.3 m eters, fixedladders shall be equipped with one of the following:4.13.1Ladder safety devices.4.13.2Sel f-r etract i ng l i f el i nes, and rest platforms at intervals not toexceed 45.7 m eters.4.13.3 A cage or w el l,and m ult i ple l adder sect i ons, each l adder sectionnot to exceed 15.2 m eters length. Ladder sections shall beoffset f r om adjacent sect i ons, and landing platforms shall beprovided at maximum intervals of 5.2 meters.4.14C ages for fixed ladders shall conform to all of the following:4.14.1Cages shal l extend not less than 66 cm, or more than 76 cmf r om t he center l i ne of t he step or rung (exc l uding the flare att he bottom of t he cage), and shall not be less than 68 cm inw idth.4.14.2The inside of the cage shall be clear of projections.4.14.3H or i zontal bands shal l be spaced not more than 1.2 m eters onvertical center s.4.14.4Vert i ca l bars shal l be spaced at intervals not more than 24 cmon horizontal center s.4.14.5T he bottom of t he cage shal l be at a level not less than 2.1m eters nor m ore t han 2.4 m eters above t he point of access tot he bottom of the ladder. The bottom of the cage shall bef lared not less than 10 cm all around within the distancebetw een t he bottom hor i zonta l band and t he next higher band.4.14.6The t op of t he cage shal l be a minim um of 1.1 m eters above thet op of t he plat f orm, or t he point of access at the top of thel adder, with provis i on f or access t o t he plat f orm or other pointof access.4.15Mobile ladders shall be fitted with casters to facilitate mobility. They shallbe provided with “Step lock” mechanism to hold ladder in place, when inuse. Mobile ladders shall be used on hard level surfaces and not on sandor gravel.4.16The following unsafe practices should be avoided:4.16.1Ladders shall not to be used in a horizontal position as a platform,runway or scaffold. Neither they shall be used as a brace, skid, ginpole, etc.4.16.2Ladders shall not be tied together to provide longer sections. Ifthey are designed for extended use, they shall be equipped withhardware fittings.4.16.3Climbing higher than the third rung from the top of straight orextension ladders, nor the second step from the top ofstepladders.4.16.4Climbing or descending without holding on to the rungs with bothhands and facing the ladder.4.16.5Climbing or descending with material in hand (Tool belt or a handline with a suitable container should be used).4.16.6Climbing or descending of more than one person at a time.4.17Portable Ladder should be properly stored; that is, off the ground, securedand out of normal walkways.4.18When stored horizontally, the racks should provide enough support toprevent sagging. Wooden ladders shall be stored where they are not exposed to excessive heat or dampness.4.19Portable/Step Ladders shall be inspected periodically by the Owner Unit,section, craft, etc., and those with missing rungs, broken or split sides, worn safety shoes or other defects are to be withdrawn from service for repair or destruction and tagged “DANGEROUS, DO NOT USE.” A record of the inspection and results should be kept on file for one year.4.20In addition to the formal inspections, employees should perform theinspection prior to using a ladder. Following should be included in the visual inspection:4.20.1Corrosion of metallic parts such as bolts, rivets, braces, screws, tierods, brackets, etc.4.20.2Breakage and cracking on Fiberglass ladders.4.20.3Splitting of side rails and rungs on wooden ladders.4.20.4Loose rung to rail joints and tie-rod condition.4.21Portable Ladder integrity should be checked periodically. Integrity of theladder may be checked by laying the ladder in a flat horizontal plane on blocks at each end and than placing approximately 90 kilograms or one person near the center to check for deflection, cracks, etc.4.22Employees who use ladders in the performance of their duties shall be trainedon the proper use, care, and inspection of ladders.。