WA state ladder weight rating minimum?

[OlympicPrecision]

Is there a minimum ladder weight rating for WA state?

We most typically run the 300lbs. orange fiberglass ladders, but one of our service wagons has blue ladders 225-250lb ratings I think. Is there an WA L&I or OSHA rule that dictates a ladders weight rating for electrical contractors?

 

[Smart $]

Don't know about WA, but OSHA has a requirement that I read as disallowing myself and most all of my co-workers from using the typical fiberglass-reinforced, plastic-rail stepladder, regardless of rating. See if you get the same impression from reading 1926.1053(a)(1) and its subdivision (i)...

http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=10839

It says a Type IA ladder (rated 300lbs.) must sustain 3.3 times the maximum intended load. That means to me that the maximum intended load cannot be more than 300lbs ? 3.3 = 90.9 lbs... and the only manner in which I will weigh 90.9 lbs. or less is when I'm dead and flesh (and fat) has withered away from my bones.

Or is there something in the ANSI rating system that says a Type IA, 300lbs rated stepladder is capable of sustaining a load of 990lbs...??? And if can sustain 990lbs, why is it not rated for 990lbs...???

 

[hurk27]

Don't know about WA, but OSHA has a requirement that I read as disallowing myself and most all of my co-workers from using the typical fiberglass-reinforced, plastic-rail stepladder, regardless of rating. See if you get the same impression from reading 1926.1053(a)(1) and its subdivision (i)...

http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=10839

It says a Type IA ladder (rated 300lbs.) must sustain 3.3 times the maximum intended load. That means to me that the maximum intended load cannot be more than 300lbs ? 3.3 = 90.9 lbs... and the only manner in which I will weigh 90.9 lbs. or less is when I'm dead and flesh (and fat) has withered away from my bones.

Or is there something in the ANSI rating system that says a Type IA, 300lbs rated stepladder is capable of sustaining a load of 990lbs...??? And if can sustain 990lbs, why is it not rated for 990lbs...???

the 990 lbs is the correct one, this is not the use rating but the testing and certifying rating, same as for slings and cables, the use rating is the max rating posted on the ladder that is certified to carry that weight for ever. the higher rating is the safety over head if you were to jump down on to a step it would safely carry the impact.
Most ladders have both these figures on the label on the side of the ladder.

 

[hurk27]

This part is what the above is ment to say.

The ability of a ladder to sustain the loads indicated in this paragraph shall be determined by applying or transmitting the requisite load to the ladder in a downward vertical direction.

 

[renosteinke]

The OSHA rule is simply attempting to restate the test practices of the UL/ANSI standards. It's a 'loophole' that few know about. Here's the scoop:

In testing ladders, a properly set-up ladder is subjected to a test load of four times the rating for types I, II, and III. For a type III (250#) rated ladder, this would be 1000 pounds.

The standard goes on to state that higher duty-rated ladders will be tested to a 1000-lb. load. For a type III-A, this is approximately 3.3x the rating. When the OSHA rule was written, there was no higher rating; since then the type III-AA (350#) rating has been created by the manufacturers.

For a double-sided ("mechanic's") ladder, the standard also explains that the ladder is rated to support the rated load on both sides at the same time. Yes, you CAN have two guys on it.

The test loads are NOT intended to be considered as the 'real useable strength' in the field. They are applied to perfect new ladders in perfect lab conditions, with the loads applied gradually, spread over distance, and in carefully placed directions.