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603 Stairway and Ladder Safety
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Introduction

Stairways and ladders are a major source of injuries and fatalities among workers.

According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics (2012), 14 percent of all work-related deaths are due to falls, with 20 percent of these deaths being related to the use of ladders. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) estimates there are more than 24,000 injuries and as many as 36 fatalities per year due to falls from stairways and ladders used in construction. Nearly half of these fall-related injuries are serious enough to require time off the job. These statistics are a sobering reminder of the dangers faced when working on or around ladders and stairways. More importantly, most, if not all, of these injuries and deaths could have been prevented.

This training course is designed to provide both employers and employees with the knowledge needed to work safely on stairways and ladders.

Course Objectives

At the end of this course, you should be able to:
ID Objective
TO 1.0 Achieve a minimum score of 70% on the final course assessment.
LO 1.1.1 Describe the various types of portable ladders.
LO 1.2.1 Discuss the general requirements for using portable ladders.
LO 1.2.2 Describe the three-point-control method for climbing ladders.
LO 1.2.3 Identify and describe how to determine the correct angle for ladder placement.
LO 1.3.1 Describe general safety requirements for stairways during and after construction.
LO 1.3.2 Describe stair rail, handrail, and mid rail design and safety requirements.

Key: Terminal Objective (TO), Learning Objective (LO)