§ 1918.21 29 CFR Ch. XVII (7–1–12 Edition)

ILO 32 are deemed to meet the require- (c) The means of access shall be illu- ments of this paragraph (a). minated for its full length in accord- (b) Public vessels and vessels holding ance with § 1918.92. 2 a valid Certificate of Inspection issued by the U.S. Coast Guard pursuant to 46 § 1918.22 Gangways. CFR part 91 are deemed to meet the re- (a) Whenever practicable, a gangway quirements of paragraph (a) of this sec- of not less than 20 inches (.51 m) in tion. width, of adequate strength, main- (c) With respect to U.S. vessels not tained in safe repair and safely secured holding a valid Certificate of Inspec- shall be used. If a gangway is not prac- tion issued by the U.S. Coast Guard, ticable, a straight ladder meeting the entries in the registers and the requirements of § 1918.24 that extends issuance of certificates required by at least 36 inches (.91 m) above the paragraph (a) of this section shall be upper landing surface and is secured made only by competent persons cur- against shifting or slipping shall be rently accredited by the U.S. Depart- provided. When conditions are such ment of Labor (OSHA) for full function that neither a gangway nor straight vessels or loose gear and wire rope test- ladder can be used, a Jacob’s ladder ing, as appropriate, as provided in part meeting the requirements of § 1918.23 1919 of this chapter. may be used. (d) With respect to vessels under for- (b) Each side of the gangway, and the eign registries, persons or organiza- turntable, if used, shall have a hand tions competent to make entries in the rail with a minimum height of 33 registers and issue the certificates re- inches (.84 m) measured perpendicu- quired by paragraph (a) of this section larly from rail to walking surfaces at shall be: the stanchion, with a midrail. Rails (1) Those acceptable as such to any shall be of wood, pipe, chain, wire, rope foreign nation; or materials of equivalent strength and (2) Those acceptable to the Com- shall be kept taut always. Portable mandant of the U.S. Coast Guard; or stanchions supporting railings shall be (3) Those currently accredited by the supported or secured to prevent acci- U.S. Department of Labor (OSHA), for dental dislodgement. full function vessels or loose gear and (c) The gangway shall be kept prop- wire rope testing, as appropriate and as erly trimmed. provided in part 1919 of this chapter. (d) When a fixed flat tread accommo- dation ladder is used, and the angle is Subpart C—Gangways and Other low enough to require employees to Means of Access walk on the edge of the treads, cleated duckboards shall be laid over and se- § 1918.21 General requirements. cured to the ladder. The employer shall not permit em- (e) When the gangway overhangs the ployees to board or leave any vessel, water so that there is danger of em- except a barge or river towboat, until ployees falling between the ship and all of the applicable requirements of the dock, a net or suitable protection this subpart have been met. shall be provided to prevent employees (a) If possible, the vessel’s means of from receiving serious injury from falls access shall be located so that sus- to a lower level. pended loads do not pass over it. In any (f) If the foot of a gangway is more event, suspended loads shall not be than one foot (.30 m) away from the passed over the means of access while edge of the apron, the space between employees or others are on it. them shall be bridged by a firm walk- (b) When the upper end of the means way equipped with a hand rail with a of access rests on or is flush with the minimum height of approximately 33 of the bulwark, substantial steps, inches (.84 m) with midrails on both properly secured, trimmed and sides. equipped with at least one substantial handrail, 33 inches (.84 m) in height, 2 § 1918.92 requires, along with other re- shall be provided between the top of quirements, an average light intensity of the bulwark and the . five foot-candles (54 lux).

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(g) Gangways shall be kept clear of length to extend three feet (.91 m) supporting bridles and other obstruc- above the upper landing surface, and be tions, to provide unobstructed passage. positively secured or held against shift- If, because of design, the gangway bri- ing or slipping. When conditions are dle cannot be moved to provide unob- such that a straight ladder cannot be structed passage, then the hazard shall used, Jacob’s ladders meeting the re- be properly marked to alert employees quirements of § 1918.23 may be used. of the danger. (d) For vessels built after July 16, (h) Obstructions shall not be laid on 2001, when six inches (15.24 cm) or more or across the gangway. clearance does not exist behind the (i) Handrails and walking surfaces of rungs of a fixed ladder, the ladder shall gangways shall be maintained in a safe be deemed ‘‘unsafe’’ for the purposes of condition to prevent employees from this section. Alternate means of access slipping or falling. (for example, a portable ladder) must (j) Gangways on vessels inspected and be used. certificated by the U.S. Coast Guard (e)(1) Where access to or from a are deemed to meet the requirements stowed deckload or other cargo is need- of this section. ed and no other safe means is available, ladders or steps of adequate strength § 1918.23 Jacob’s ladders. shall be furnished and positively se- (a) Jacob’s ladders shall be of the cured or held against shifting or slip- double rung or flat tread type. They ping while in use. Steps formed by the shall be well maintained and properly cargo itself are acceptable when the secured. employer demonstrates that the nature (b) A Jacob’s ladder shall either hang of the cargo and the type of stowage without slack from its lashings or be provides equivalent safe access. pulled up entirely. (2) Where portable straight ladders (c) When a Jacob’s ladder is used as are used they shall be of sufficient the means of access to a barge being length to extend at least three feet (.91 worked, spacers (bumpers) shall be m) above the upper landing surface. hung between the vessel, barge, or (f) The following standards for exist- other structure to which the barge is ing manufactured portable ladders tied alongside, or other equally effec- must be met: tive means shall be provided to prevent (1) Rungs of manufactured portable damage to the bottom rungs of the lad- ladders obtained before January 21, der. 1998 shall be capable of supporting a (d) When a Jacob’s ladder is being 200-pound (890 N) load without deforma- used so that there is a danger of an em- tion. ployee falling or being crushed between (2) Rungs shall be evenly spaced from the vessel, barge, or other structure nine to sixteen and one-half inches (22.9 (pier), suitable protection shall be pro- to 41.9 cm), center to center. vided. (3) Rungs shall be continuous mem- bers between rails. Each rung of a dou- § 1918.24 Fixed and portable ladders. ble-rung ladder (two side rails and a (a) There shall be at least one safe center rail) shall extend the full width and accessible ladder for each gang of the ladder. working in a single hatch. An effective (4) Width between side rails at the means of gaining a handhold shall be base of the ladder shall be at least 12 provided at or near the of each inches (30.48 cm) for ladders 10 feet (3.05 vertical fixed ladder. No more than two m) or less in overall length, and shall ladders are required in any hatch re- increase at least one-fourth inch (0.64 gardless of the number of gangs cm) for each additional two feet (0.61 present. m) of ladder length. (b) When any fixed ladder is visibly (g) Portable manufactured ladders unsafe (or known to be unsafe), the em- obtained after January 21, 1998 shall ployer shall identify such ladder and bear identification showing that they prohibit its use by employees. meet the appropriate ladder construc- (c) Where portable straight ladders tion requirements of the following are used, they shall be of sufficient standards:

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(1) ANSI A14.1–1990, Safety Require- (6) Metal and wire-reinforced ladders ments for Portable Wood Ladders; (even with wooden side rails) shall not (2) ANSI A14.2–1990, Safety Require- be used when employees on the ladder ments for Portable Metal Ladders; might contact energized electrical con- (3) ANSI A14.5–1992, Safety Require- ductors. ments for Portable Reinforced Plastic (7) Individual sections from different Ladders. multi-sectional ladders or two or more (h) Job-made ladders shall: single straight ladders shall not be tied (1) Have a uniform distance between or fastened together to achieve addi- rungs of at least 12 inches (30.48cm) tional length. center to center; (8) Single rail ladders (i.e. made by (2) Be capable of supporting a 250- fastening rungs or devices across a sin- pound (1,112 N) load without deforma- gle rail) shall not be used. tion; and [62 FR 40202, July 25, 1997, as amended at 65 (3) Have a minimum width between FR 40944, June 30, 2000] side rails of 12 inches (30.48 cm) for lad- ders 10 feet (3.05 m) or less in height. § 1918.25 Bridge plates and ramps (See also § 1918.86). Width between rails shall increase at least one-fourth inch (0.64 cm) for each (a) Bridge and car plates (dockboards). additional two feet (0.61 m) of ladder Bridge and car plates used afloat shall length. be well maintained and shall: (i) The employer shall: (1) Be strong enough to support the (1) Maintain portable ladders in safe loads imposed on them; condition. Ladders with the following (2) Be secured or equipped with de- defects shall not be used, and shall ei- vices to prevent their dislodgement; ther be tagged as unusable if kept on (3) Be equipped with hand holds or board, or shall be removed from the other effective means to permit safe vessel: handling; and (4) Be designed, constructed, and (i) Broken, split or missing rungs, maintained to prevent vehicles from cleats or steps; running off the edge. 3 (ii) Broken or split side rails; (b) Portable ramps. Portable ramps (iii) Missing or loose bolts, rivets or used afloat shall be well maintained fastenings; and shall: (iv) Defective ropes; or (1) Be strong enough to support the (v) Any other structural defect. loads imposed on them; (2) Ladders shall be inspected for de- (2) Be equipped with a railing meet- fects before each day’s use, and after ing the requirements of § 1918.21(b), if any occurrence, such as a fall, which the slope is more than 20 degrees to the could damage the ladder. horizontal or if employees could fall (j) Ladders shall be used in the fol- more than four feet (1.22 m); lowing manner: (3) Be equipped with a slip resistant (1) Ladders shall be securely posi- surface; tioned on a level and firm base. (4) Be properly secured; and (2) Ladders shall be fitted with slip- (5) Be designed, constructed, and resistant bases and/or be positively se- maintained to prevent vehicles from cured or held in place to prevent slip- running off the edge. 4 ping or shifting while in use. [62 FR 40202, July 25, 1997, as amended at 65 (3) Except for combination ladders, FR 40944, June 30, 2000] self-supporting ladders shall not be used as single straight ladders. 3 When the gap to be bridged is greater (4) Unless intended for cantilever op- than 36 inches (.91m), an acceptalbe means of eration, non-self-supporting ladders preventing vehicles from running off the shall not be used to climb above the edge is a minimum side board height of two top support point. and three-quarter inches. 4 (5) Ladders shall not be used: When the gap to be bridged is greater than 36 inches (.91m), an acceptable means of (i) As guys, braces or skids; or preventing vehicles from running off the (ii) As platforms, runways or scaf- edge is a minimum side board height of two folds. and three-quarter inches.

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§ 1918.26 Access to barges and river (b) Cargo shall not be landed on or towboats. handled over a covered hatch or (a) With the exception of ’tween-decks unless all hatch beams § 1918.25(b)(2), ramps used solely for ve- are in place under the hatch covers. hicle access to or between barges shall (c) Missing, broken, or poorly fitting meet the requirements of § 1918.25. hatch covers that would not protect (b) When employees cannot step safe- employees shall be reported at once to ly to or from the wharf and a float, the officer in charge of the vessel. barge, or river towboat, either a ramp Pending replacement or repairs by the meeting the requirements of paragraph vessel, work shall not be performed in (a) of this section or a safe walkway the section containing the unsafe cov- meeting the requirements of § 1918.22(f) ers or in adjacent sections unless the shall be provided. When a ramp or flooring is made safe. walkway cannot be used, a straight (d) Hatch covers and hatch beams not ladder meeting the requirements of § 1918.24 and extending at least three of uniform size shall be placed only in feet (.91 m) above the upper landing the hatch, deck, and section in which surface and adequately secured or held they fit properly. against shifting or slipping shall be (e) Small trimming hatches in inter- provided. When neither a walkway nor mediate decks shall be securely cov- a straight ladder can be used, a Jacob’s ered or guarded while work is going on ladder meeting the requirements of in the hatch in which they are found, § 1918.23 shall be provided. Exception: unless they are actually in use. For barges operating on the Mississippi River System, where the employer § 1918.32 Stowed cargo and temporary shows that these requirements cannot landing surfaces. reasonably be met due to local condi- (a) Temporary surfaces on which tions, other safe means of access shall loads are to be landed shall be of suffi- be provided. cient size and strength to permit em- (c) When a barge or raft is being ployees to work safely. worked alongside a larger vessel, a Ja- (b) When the edge of a hatch section cob’s ladder meeting the requirements of § 1918.23 shall be provided for each or of stowed cargo may constitute a gang working alongside unless other fall hazard to an employee, the edge safe means of access is provided. How- shall be guarded by a vertical safety ever, no more than two Jacob’s ladders net, or other means providing equal are required for any single barge or protection, to prevent an employee raft being worked. from falling. When the employer can (d) When longshoring operations are demonstrate that vertical nets or other in progress on barges, the barges shall equally effective means of guarding be securely made fast to the vessel, cannot be used due to the type of wharf, or dolphins. cargo, cargo stowage, or other cir- cumstances, a trapeze net shall be Subpart D—Working Surfaces rigged at the top edge of the elevation or other means shall be taken to pre- § 1918.31 Hatch coverings. vent injury if an employee falls. Safety (a) No cargo, dunnage, or other mate- nets shall be maintained in good condi- rial shall be loaded or unloaded by tion and be of adequate strength for means requiring the services of em- the purpose intended. ployees at any partially opened inter- (c) When two gangs are working in mediate deck unless either the hatch the same hatch on different levels, a at that deck is sufficiently covered or vertical safety net shall be rigged and an adequate landing area suitable for securely fastened to prevent employees the prevailing conditions exists. In no or cargo from falling. Safety nets shall event shall such work be done unless the working area available for such be maintained in good condition and be employees extends for a distance of 10 of adequate strength for the purpose feet (3.05 m) or more fore and and intended. athwartships.

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