Manufacturing makes the world go round and that's why safety is typically the number one priority for manufacturing facilities like yours. Ladders are a big part of keeping production safe and on track. Ladders are used to check and maintain equipment, which helps keep the quality of your products secure. Yet, 20 percent of fatal and work loss injuries can be attributed to falls from ladders. The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) recently put a focus on ladders in the workplace and enacted some new regulations. As a company are you prepared to stay up-to-date on those regulations?
How have OSHA's fall protection regulations changed?
Previously under OSHA standards, cages were required on ladders where the climbs were over 20 feet, but recent changes have been made to the fall protection standards. In OSHA’s new regulations cages and wells are being phased out and all fixed ladders over 24 feet require a Personal Fall Arrest System (PFAS) or Ladder Safety System. A PFAS will follow the same regulations set in previous safety standards. These systems will require an anchor, harness, and connection device. Ladder Safety Systems consists of a carrier, safety sleeve, lanyard, connectors, and body harness. The new standards are designed to increase safety and minimize the risk of injury as OSHA suggested ladder cages were not offering adequate protection.
How can my facility comply with the new ladder regulations?
Existing ladders with cages have been grandfathered in to allow for a transition period. Facility owners should begin making plans to replace cages and wells with ladder safety systems or personal arrest systems prior to the November 18, 2036 deadline. It's hard to keep track of all the nuances of the new regulations, but we can help.
What can Paul Mueller Company do for you?
At Paul Mueller Company we strive to ensure efficiency, quality, and safety throughout all of your processes. We have updated our ladder designs to be compliant with the new OSHA regulations.
"The thought of updating a facility full of caged ladders can be daunting. Our teams at Paul Mueller Company have the expertise to make this process easy for you. We can come onsite and retrofit your older ladders to meet the new requirements or help remove cages from your tanks that are no longer required. We can do this on your timeline"
- Kyle Garber, P.E.
Contact one of our experts today to see how our new ladder design can benefit your facility.
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