Ladder Inspection
If we have ladders that are used almost daily do you need a document stating that the ladders were inspected? I have conflicting people telling me you can document an inspection annually, and don't need the papers to say the inspections were done daily. I already have a check sheet to be filled out at the start of every shift but some are arguing that we can do it monthly and still be fine. Which is it?
We are ISO 45001 also if that makes a difference.
Comments (3)
It depends on which standard(s) you're wanting to comply with. OSHA just says they have to be inspected daily and "periodically", but mentions nothing about documentation. However, if you're wanting to assist with your ISO 45001 management system (which is big on documentation), then documentation is always best. OSHA (1910.23) simply mentions "Ladders are inspected before initial use in each work shift, and more frequently as necessary, to identify any visible defects that could cause employee injury." In addition, inspect them after any incident which could've damaged them.
With that being said, I've never seen companies that use ladders as frequently as you do (daily) perform a "documented" inspection - usually just a visual inspection by the user, with a policy that states your inspection frequencies. Regarding your "periodic" inspections, if you're using them daily, you may want to consider a "periodic" documented inspection every 3 or 6 months (as compared to annually) based on the frequency of use at your facility.
Like many here I teach OSHA Outreach in 1910. Taught over 50, 10 & 30 Hour card courses. I have worked in Manufacturing for over 50 years. I am also a former ISO 9001 Manager and my former corporation was ISO 9001 and 14000 certified. We were also ISO 18000 "compliant", meaning Corporate did not want to go to the expense to get actual ISO certification, but all of our 300 locations had to be able to very easily and quickly obtain actual certification if we were so required to do so by our OEM customers. like they required for 9001 and 14000. If you are familiar with ISO the basic structure is basically the same no matter the discipline. I have set up 9001 from scratch in 2000, and once you have gone though that process 14000 and 18000 (and probably 45001) is a lot of work but simply done! We were actually audited by Corporate EHS to 18001 like ISO did for certification in 9001 and 14001.
I tell all my students in Outreach that the second rule of dealing with OSHA is that, "If you did not document it, you did NOT do it!"
About 10 years ago OSHA had an Local Emphasis Program in Region 5, which covers my home state of WI on ladder safety. (I cannot believe it was that long ago, but I think it was 2015.) Corporate EHS put out an edict that all of us in Region 5 had to have a Ladder Training and Inspection Program! I know the Appleton (WI) OSHA office was including Ladder Training and Inspection in their audits.
We made hydraulic couplings for hose lines. Basically we had many ladders but usually only the Maintenance Department used them. We had initial and annual training on ladder use which included an inspection upon every use of a ladder. We did not complete daily checklists like we did with PITS, Cranes, Hoists, Scissors, and Manlifts. However, we did have twice-annual (every 6 months) inspection of all ladders. I remember going to Fleet Farm to get numbered red cow tags to zip tie to each ladder, assigning them a number. These inspections and the tra