1926.1053(a) General. The following requirements apply to all ladders as indicated, including job-made ladders.
1926.1053(a)(13) The minimum perpendicular clearance between fixed ladder rungs, cleats, and steps, and any obstruction behind the ladder shall be 7 inches (18 cm), except in the case of an elevator pit ladder, for which a minimum perpendicular clearance of 4½ inches (11 cm) is required.
HAZARD: Employees exposed to fall/death hazards.
ABATEMENT: The minimum perpendicular clearance between fixed ladder rungs, cleats, and steps, and any obstruction behind the ladder MUST be 7 inches.
 Ladders.
1926.1053(a) General. The following requirements apply to all ladders as indicated, including job-made ladders.
1926.1053(a)(11) Ladder components shall be surfaced so as to prevent injury to an employee from punctures or lacerations, and to prevent snagging of clothing.
HAZARD: Employees exposed to puncture/laceration/infection hazards.
ABATEMENT: Ladder components MUST be surfaced so as to prevent injury to an employee from punctures or lacerations, and to prevent snagging of clothing.
1926.1053(b) Use. The following requirements apply to the use of all ladders, including job-made ladders, except as otherwise indicated:
1926.1053(b)(1) When portable ladders are used for access to an upper landing surface, the ladder side rails shall extend at least 3 feet (.9 m) above the upper landing surface to which the ladder is used to gain access; or, when such an extension is not possible because of the ladder’s length, then the ladder shall be secured at its top to a rigid support that will not deflect, and a grasping device, such as a grab rail, shall be provided to assist employees in mounting and dismounting the ladder. In no case shall the extension be such that ladder deflection under a load would, by itself, cause the ladder to slip off its support.
HAZARD: Employees exposed to fall/death hazards.
ABATEMENT: When portable ladders are used for access to an upper landing surface,  the ladder side rails MUST extend at least 3 feet above the upper  landing surface to which the ladder is used to gain access.
1926.1053(b) Use. The following requirements apply to the use of all ladders, including job-made ladders, except as otherwise indicated:
1926.1053(b)(4) Ladders shall be used only for the purpose for which they were designed.
HAZARD: Employees exposed to fall/death hazards.
ABATEMENT: Ladders MUST be used only for the purpose for which they were designed.
NOTE: Self-supporting ladders (A-Frame ladders) are not designed to be used for  accessing/egressing from level to level. Self-supporting ladders are designed to work from.
