Ladder safety for anyone who uses ladders at work

For anyone who uses portable ladders or stepladders at work: choose, inspect, set up, climb and store ladders the way OSHA's rules expect.

For: Anyone who uses portable ladders, stepladders or step stools at work, in general industry or construction

  • 2 contact hours
  • 7 modules
  • 7 interactives
  • 4 job aids
  • Updated October 11, 2026

What you will be able to do

  • Decide whether a ladder is the right tool for a task and identify which OSHA ladder rule and training duties apply.
  • Select a ladder of the right type, length, material and duty rating for the task and the user.
  • Inspect a ladder before use and remove a defective ladder from service correctly.
  • Set up portable ladders correctly, including angle, extension above the landing, footing, securing and electrical clearance.
  • Climb and work from a ladder safely, using three points of contact, staying centered and carrying tools correctly.
  • Store and maintain ladders, recognize common ladder accident patterns and report hazards and incidents.

Ladders are so familiar that people stop thinking about them, and that is exactly when they fall. This course covers the full life of a ladder job: deciding whether a ladder is the right tool, choosing the right type and duty rating, inspecting it, setting it up at the right angle and height, climbing and working without overreaching, and storing and maintaining it.

It is written for maintenance and facilities staff, retail and warehouse workers, custodians, technicians, trades helpers and anyone else who climbs a portable ladder or stepladder at work. Each requirement is tied to OSHA's general industry ladder rule, 29 CFR 1910.23, and the construction ladder rule, 29 CFR 1926.1053, with ANSI A14 standards and NIOSH guidance as context.

This is awareness training, not OSHA Outreach training. OSHA requires employers to train ladder users on the ladders and hazards at their own workplace, and hands-on practice under a qualified trainer is the best way to build skill. You earn a certificate of completion for 2 contact hours.

What you’ll be able to do Monday morning

  1. Before your next ladder job, ask whether a long-reach tool, platform ladder or lift would do the job without a ladder.
  2. Inspect the ladder before your first climb of the shift, and tag any defective ladder Dangerous: Do Not Use.
  3. Set extension ladders at the 4-to-1 angle and extend them 3 feet above the landing.
  4. Lock the spreaders on every stepladder and never stand on the top cap or top step.
  5. Keep your belt buckle between the side rails and move the ladder instead of reaching.
  6. Use a fiberglass ladder anywhere near electrical work and stay well away from power lines.

Curriculum

7 modules · 28 lessons · about 2 contact hours

01Is a ladder the right tool, and which rules apply?Free preview14 min
  1. Why ladders deserve respect
  2. Start with the hierarchy of controls
  3. Which OSHA rule applies to your ladder?
  4. When a ladder is not enough
  • Decision tree: Is a ladder the right tool?

Diagram · In practice checklist · 3-question knowledge check

02Which ladder fits the job?14 min
  1. Types of portable ladders
  2. Duty ratings: what the ladder can hold
  3. Material and length
  4. Matching the ladder to the person and the place
  • Matching activity: Match the job to the ladder

Diagram · In practice checklist · 2-question knowledge check

03How do you inspect a ladder before you use it?13 min
  1. What OSHA requires
  2. The pre-use inspection, step by step
  3. When a ladder fails inspection
  4. Inspection in the real world
  • Spot the issue: Spot the defects in a ladder inspection

Diagram · In practice checklist · 3-question knowledge check

04How do you set up a ladder safely?15 min
  1. The right angle: the 4-to-1 rule
  2. Height, top support and footing
  3. Securing the ladder and protecting the area
  4. Putting it together
  • Branching scenario: Gutter job at the fellowship hall

Diagram · In practice checklist · 3-question knowledge check

05How do you climb and work from a ladder?15 min
  1. Climbing: face it, hold it, keep three points
  2. Carrying tools and materials
  3. Working from the ladder: stay centered
  4. Your body, your shoes and the conditions
  • Self-assessment: Your ladder habits

Diagram · In practice checklist · 2-question knowledge check

06How do you stay safe on ladders near electricity and in special situations?14 min
  1. Ladders and electricity
  2. Wind, weather and slippery surfaces
  3. Special situations
  4. Putting it together near power lines
  • Spot the issue: Spot the ladder hazards in a work scene

Diagram · In practice checklist · 2-question knowledge check

07How do you store and maintain ladders, learn from accidents and report problems?13 min
  1. Storage and transport
  2. Maintenance and repair
  3. Common ladder accident patterns
  4. Reporting and responding
  • Sort activity: Safe or unsafe ladder practice?

Diagram · In practice checklist · 2-question knowledge check

Final assessment: 23 questions, 80% to pass, then your certificate

Try it now, no account needed

Gutter job at the fellowship hall

A branching scenario from this course. Your choices are not saved.

Free sample activity

Gutter job at the fellowship hall

Yannick needs to clear a gutter about 14 feet up above a busy door. The ground slopes slightly. He has a 24-foot fiberglass extension ladder.

Inside the course

Practice activities

  • Decision tree1
  • Matching activity1
  • Spot the issue2
  • Branching scenario1
  • Self-assessment1
  • Sort activity1

Job aids you keep

  • Ladder Pre-Use Inspection and Hazard ChecklistChecklist
  • Job Hazard Analysis Template: Ladder TasksTemplate
  • Ladder Incident and Near-Miss ReportTemplate
  • Ladder Training Sign-Off RecordLog

Credit and approval status

Certificate of completion

This course awards a certificate of completion for 2 contact hours of instruction. It is not approved or accredited by any licensing board, state agency or continuing education accreditor, and it is not OSHA Outreach (10-hour or 30-hour) training. OSHA does not approve or certify general awareness courses. OSHA requires employers to train employees in the proper use, inspection and care of ladders before use (29 CFR 1910.30(b) in general industry; 29 CFR 1926.1060 in construction, by a competent person), so this course does not replace site-specific and hands-on training. Check with your employer whether this course meets your specific requirement.

Pathways we may pursue include review against IACET continuing education unit criteria and arrangements with employers who use this course within their safety training programs. No such approval exists today; the course page will show an approval only after it is granted.

Our full approvals list

Questions about this course

Does this course meet OSHA's ladder training requirement?

OSHA requires employers to train ladder users on the ladders, hazards and procedures at their workplace before use. In construction, training must be given by a competent person. This online awareness course gives a strong foundation and a certificate of completion for 2 contact hours, but your employer must add site-specific and hands-on training. Ask your supervisor.

Does it cover construction as well as general industry?

Yes. The course explains both 29 CFR 1910.23 for general industry and 29 CFR 1926.1053 for construction, and points out where they differ, such as who inspects ladders and who provides training. Fixed ladders, scaffolds and full fall protection systems are outside this course.

What about step stools?

Step stools are covered by OSHA's general industry ladder rule and are included in the course's ladder selection and use guidance. Many falls at work happen from step stools and chairs used as step stools, so the course treats them seriously.

How long does it take?

About 2 hours: seven short modules with scenarios, interactive exercises and knowledge checks, then a 23-question final assessment. You need 80% to pass. You can pause and come back at any time.

Is there a hands-on component?

No. This is an online awareness course. Practicing ladder set-up, inspection and climbing under a qualified trainer at your workplace is the best way to build skill, and many employers require it. The course's job aids make that hands-on session easier to run.

What do I get when I finish?

A certificate of completion with your name, the course title, the date and 2 contact hours, plus job aids: a ladder inspection and hazard checklist, a job hazard analysis template for ladder tasks, an incident report form and a training sign-off record. It is not an OSHA card or a state approval.

This course is general education and training awareness from CE Courses Hub on ladder safety. It is not legal, medical or professional advice and does not replace your employer's policies, your licensing board's rules, or advice from a qualified professional. Completing it earns a certificate of completion for the stated contact hours; it is not approved or accredited by any licensing board, state agency or accreditor unless an approval is shown on the course page. Check with your board, employer or state agency whether this course meets your specific requirement.