Cage Ladders – Right Solutions Offering Fall Protection for Your Employees

Ladders are not important – it is a common belief. Every one of us at some point of time has dealt with ladders. We all have climbed once either at our home or at the workplace. However, we never give a second thought about the importance of the ladder. How useful it can be especially when they are set up for safety precautions. Amongst different types of ladders, cage ladders offer optimum fall protection. Even if you are not afraid of heights, it can be daunting to climb and that is when the ladders with cage protection come in.

The Basics of Cage Ladder Requirements

It is the responsibility of any employer to provide a safe working environment for their employees. Their ultimate responsibility is not one of complying with a rule or guideline about ladder design. As an employer, you need to provide optimal safety to your employees and you must provide all safety measurements to your workers who are working on height.

As per the regulations, the requirement for the cage only comes in when you have fix ladder longer than 20 feet. The policies say that if your workplace has a fixed ladder which is taller than 20 feet, then you have to install a cage ladder which meets the requirements which are as follows:

• Ladders with cages must extend 42 inches and more above the top of the landing. The minimum amount of the flare requirement at the bottom of the cage should be 4 inches. The policies also suggest that the cage should start between 7-8 feet from the ground. This way the person gets a good view to walk into the cage and to climb the ladder without hurting. These are perfect dimensions that can provide complete fall protection to your workers.
• There are certain exemptions when it comes to installing ladder safety devices for e.g. horizontal lifelines, rope grabs, etc. These can be used on the ladders which are greater than 20 feet in length in lieu of a cage in varied circumstances.
• There are some specific requirements for the tower, water tank, and chimney ladders, and you must maintain such regulations. This means that tower, water tank, and chimney ladders are the only locations where cage ladders are exempted. Additionally; silo, ski lift tower and smokestack are exempted. However, understand that a 25 feet ladder on the side of the warehouse or office building shall not be exempted. In this case, you can consult with an expert and discuss your requirements. They can suggest the best ladders according to your business type.

The above-mentioned basics of installing a cage ladder should tell you whether the building ladders are required to be complying or not. If the ladders are not compliant start the process of bringing them into compliance immediately, especially if your employees or contractor crew is frequently accessing your roof. 

Cage Ladders Features

• Each fixed cage ladder features with a walk-thru handrail extending about 43 inches reaching the top rung, guiding contractors up and down their steps.
• The ladder cage starts about 8 feet from the ground and extends to the top of the ladder.
• The caged ladder has a shape of the flared bottom which makes it comfortable in letting the person climb up and down the ladder stairs To prevent unauthorized access, many property owners offer a swivel gate kind of cage at the bottom or there is a security panel installed over the rungs.

Choose to work with a professional and reliable fabrication partner who can deliver customized design for your cage ladder requirements along with ensuring the compliance regulations. The commercial fabrication partner will have an expert contractor who is updated on rules and regulations.