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Workplace Safety & Tools · Energy Control

Ladders, falls, and confined spaces

Reading47mLesson 3 of 3 in this module

Inspect and set up a ladder safely, and recognise a confined space you must never enter untrained.

Why it matters

Falls are the leading cause of death in US construction, and many happen from heights of under 10 feet, often from ladders. Confined spaces are rarer but deadly in a different way: the air inside can kill in minutes, and too often the victims include co-workers who rush in to help.

Awareness level only. This lesson explains the ideas so you recognise them on day one. It does not qualify you to do the work. Your employer, apprenticeship or school must train you on its own procedures and equipment, and you must work under supervision until they say you are qualified.

Choosing the right ladder

  • Type and duty rating. The label shows the maximum load (you plus tools and materials): Type III 200 lb, Type II 225 lb, Type I 250 lb, Type IA 300 lb, Type IAA 375 lb. Site work usually needs Type I or better.
  • Material. Use fibreglass (non-conductive when clean and dry) for any work near electricity. Aluminium conducts.
  • Length. A stepladder you can reach from without standing on the top cap or the step below it. An extension ladder long enough to extend 3 feet above the landing you are stepping onto.

Inspect before each use

Check, top to bottom:

  1. Labels present and readable (type, rating).
  2. Side rails straight, no cracks, dents or burns.
  3. Rungs or steps tight, clean, not bent.
  4. Feet present, with pads in good condition.
  5. Spreader braces on a stepladder lock fully.
  6. Extension ladder rung locks and rope work.
  7. No oil, mud or paint hiding damage.

If anything fails, tag it "Do Not Use" and report it. Never repair a ladder yourself.

Setting up safely

  • Stepladder: fully open, spreaders locked, on firm level ground. Never use a folded stepladder leaned against a wall.
  • Extension ladder: the 4-to-1 rule. For every 4 feet of height to the point where the ladder rests, the base goes 1 foot out from the wall (about 75 degrees). Worked example: the ladder touches the wall at 16 feet, so the base sits 16 / 4 = 4 feet out. A quick check: stand with your toes at the feet, arms straight out; your palms should just reach a rung.
  • Secure the top and bottom where possible, and keep the area at the base clear and barricaded in traffic.
  • Look up for power lines before raising it.

Using a ladder

  • Face the ladder and keep three points of contact (two hands and a foot, or two feet and a hand).
  • Carry tools in a belt or haul them up with a line, not in your hands.
  • Keep your belt buckle between the side rails; do not overreach. Climb down and move the ladder instead.
  • One person at a time unless the ladder is designed for more.

Other fall hazards

Unprotected edges, floor openings, skylights and scaffolds need guardrails, covers (marked "HOLE" and secured) or personal fall arrest systems (lesson 3). In construction, fall protection generally starts at 6 feet. Scaffolds must be erected and inspected by a competent person.

Confined spaces

A confined space is large enough to enter, has limited means of entry or exit, and is not designed for continuous occupancy. Examples: tanks, vaults, pits, manholes, silos, ductwork, crawl spaces.

A permit-required confined space also has, or could have, a serious hazard:

  • a hazardous atmosphere (too little oxygen, flammable gas, toxic gas such as hydrogen sulfide or carbon monoxide),
  • engulfment (grain, sand, liquid),
  • an entrapment shape (inward-sloping walls),
  • or another serious hazard (moving parts, heat, electricity).

Entry needs a written permit, atmospheric testing with a calibrated meter (oxygen first, then flammables, then toxics), ventilation, an attendant outside, an entry supervisor, and a rescue plan. OSHA's rules are 29 CFR 1910.146 (general industry) and 1926 Subpart AA (construction).

The most important rule for a new worker: never enter a confined space you have not been trained and authorised to enter, and never go in after someone who has collapsed. Call for help and the trained rescue team. Many confined-space deaths are would-be rescuers.

Common mistakes

  • Standing on the top cap of a stepladder.
  • Using an aluminium ladder for electrical work.
  • Leaning an extension ladder too steep or too shallow.
  • Treating a short climb as too quick to bother with three points of contact.
  • Looking into a vault and climbing in "for a second".

Official sources

Checked on 2026-10-23.

Recap

  • Pick the right type, rating and material; inspect before every use.
  • 4-to-1 rule, 3 feet above the landing, three points of contact.
  • A confined space with atmospheric, engulfment or entrapment hazards needs a permit, testing, an attendant and rescue. Never enter or rescue untrained.

Try it

The Do tab walks you through inspecting a household stepladder and practising the setup, staying on the ground or the bottom step.

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