Guide to Ladder Inspection and Retirement

Guide to Ladder Inspection and Retirement

OSHA requires that every ladder be inspected for visible defects before it is used on a job site, and a ladder that fails that inspection has to come out of service the same day. Most crews do this by feel. A written checklist takes about thirty seconds per ladder, and it is what keeps a damaged rail off a two-story wall. Dallas Ladder supplies replacement ladders and parts from our Rowlett warehouse for DFW contractors.

The Pre-Use Inspection

Check the rails for cracks, bends, and dents, then look at the rungs for wear, looseness, and missing rivets. Open the spreaders and confirm they lock on both sides. Look at the feet: a worn shoe is the most common cause of a ladder sliding out on smooth concrete, and shoes cost a fraction of what a fall costs.

On fiberglass, look for sun damage, chalking, and exposed fibers, which show up first on the rails near the top. On extension ladders, check the rope, pulley, and the locks that hold each section, and confirm the sections slide freely without binding. Any ladder with a cracked rail, a bent rung, or hardware that will not lock is out of service.

Repair or Retire

Ladders are meant to be repaired only with manufacturer parts, and only for the items the manufacturer supports. Feet, shoes, ropes, pulleys, and rung kits are normal wear items. Structural damage to a rail is not. If a rail is cracked, bent, or has ever been welded, the ladder is retired.

Then get it off the truck. Tag it clearly, or cut it up, because a damaged ladder sitting on a rack is an invitation to use it. Our Werner extension ladder covers and Werner stage rung replacement kits cover the two items that fail most often on extension and stage equipment.

Keeping Ladders in Service Longer

Storage does most of the work. Keep ladders out of direct sun when they are not in use, do not lay them across sawhorses where they can take a hit, and never use a ladder as a shelf or a walkway. On fiberglass, clean the rails with mild soap and water rather than solvents, which degrade the resin.

When a ladder finally goes, replace it at the same duty rating or higher. Most DFW commercial work runs Type IA at 300 pounds; industrial plants and heavy trades step up to Type IAA at 375 pounds. Our ladder category covers both, and we keep Werner Type IA fiberglass extension ladders and Louisville Type IA fiberglass stepladders on the floor.