                          SUBMITTED BY

                        KENNETH P. SOBEL
                      SAFETY ADMINISTRATOR
                       CITY OF LOS ANGELES
                         (213) 485-4691
                       FAX (213) 485-8765
_________________________________________________________________


                      CITY OF LOS ANGELES 
                  LADDER INSPECTION GUIDELINES

Rev. 12-88


TABLE OF CONTENTS

TITLE                                                                           PAGE

ANSI Standard Ladder Specifications . . . . . . . . . . 3

Properties of Wood  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Wood Ladder Inspection Diagrams . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Wood Ladder Inspection Checklist  . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Metal Ladder Inspection Checklist . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Fiberglass Ladder Inspection Checklist  . . . . . . . . 10

Storage and Transport of Ladders  . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Wood Ladder Reference Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Metal Ladder Reference Guide  . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Fiberglass Ladder Reference Guide . . . . . . . . . . . 15





                                                                            ii
                                                       American National Standards Institute (ANSI)
                                                              Standard Ladder Specifications

Type     Designation     Working Load       Max Length
                                           
       Wood       Metal               Step  Single   Extension
                                           
  I  Industrial   Heavy   250 lbs     20'     30'       60'
 II  Commercial   Medium  225 lbs     12'     24'       48'
III  Household    Light   200 lbs      6'     16'       32'


Miscellaneous Specifications

        Safety Factor = 4 times the working load.
        Bucket Shelf Rating = 25 lbs.


Minimum Extension Ladder Overlap

        0' to 36'  = 3'
        36' to 48' = 4'
        48' - up   = 5'




                                                                    PROPERTIES OF WOOD


Every tree, every log, every piece of lumber has its individual
characteristics that separate it from the others.  Less than ten
percent of the lumber marketed has any of the defects mentioned in
these guidelines.  A given piece of wood may lack several
characteristics considered to be desirable without affecting its
strength, durability, or appearance.


GRADE

        A lumber grade is a grouping of these slightly different
     pieces with regard to the end use for which the grade is
     intended.  A grade is generally determined by the number,
     size, type, and position of knots, shakes, wane, or other
     visible characteristics based on the character of each piece
     examined.


DEFECTS

        Lumber is subject to about a dozen important natural defects. 
     The following defects are of special importance and their
     presence may adversely affect the strength of a ladder.

     Knots      Compression Failure     Cross Grain
     Shakes     Pitch Defects           Wanes & Back Pockets

        Wood is also subject to five primary defects that arise from
     the drying or seasoning process and preparation of wood for
     market (falling, transporting, sawing, handling).  The fol-
     lowing are most important in ladder inspection:

     Warping        Checking       Compression     Failure

        Finally, wood is subject to three load categories of defects
     caused by foreign organisms.  These are generally of little
     concern in the manufacture or care of ladders because of the
     careful selection, grading, and high quality of ladder wood.

     Fungi        Insect Infestation      Marine Borers



LADDER WOODS

        Many soft and hard woods may be used for the manufacture of
     ladders.  Some varieties may be subject to limiting factors
     such as weight, flexibility, durability, etc.  For example,
     oak is widely used for library ladders and stepladders for
     moderate weight, yet it is generally unsuitable for extension
     ladders and long stepladders because of its weight, poor
     weathering qualities and strength characteristics.

        Several woods predominate in the manufacture of ladders -
     Douglas fir, West Coast hemlock, Sitka spruce and Hem-fir, a
     combination species that includes Hemlock, Red fir, Grand fir,
     Silver fir, and White fir.

        Pound for pound, Douglas Fir is one of the strongest woods
     ever tested and enjoys a world-wide reputation as an all
     purpose wood.  It has superior characteristics of strength,
     stiffness, ease of working, durability and freedom from
     warping, cupping or twisting.

        West Cost hemlock and Hem-fir are similar to Douglas fir,
     slightly lower in strength and a widely used ladder material. 
     It should be remembered that the species of wood used is not
     as important as conforming to grading rules for the use
     intended.

        Ladder woods are categorized into two primary grades - Ladders
     and pole stock, and ladder rails.  The latter is further
     separated into three groups, vertical grain, mixed grain and
     ladder rail stock, suitable for short components.  The primary
     strength for the highest grade ladder rail stock is described
     below:

                Slope of grain 1 in 12
                Six or more annual rings per inch
                torn grain - - very light
                Burls - - less than 1/2" diameter
                Seasoning checks - - small, one in any 3 linear feet
                Compression wood - - 1/2" wide or equivalent narrow
          streaks
                Pitch or bark pockets - - small, one in any 3 linear
          feet.

        The City of Los Angeles buys high quality wood ladders con-
     forming to Type I OSHA requirements and ANSI standards.  These
     are made from fine woods and will normally have few defects
     in the woods used or those resulting from manufacturing pro-
     cesses.



Fig. 1

                                                               YEARLY WOOD LADDER INSPECTION

NOTE:   Conduct inspections in a well lighted location.

Look for these items in portable wood ladders:

        A.      General

                        1.      Wood irregularities:  Cross grain, pitch and bark
                 pockets, checks, shakes, wanes, compression
                 failure, compression wood, decay or rot knots. 
                 Knots shall not appear in the narrow faces of
                 siderails, backlegs, flat steps or cleats.

                        2.      Loose steps or rungs (they are considered loose
                 if they can be moved at all with the hand).

                        3.      Cracked, split or broken uprights, braces, steps
                 or rungs.

                        4.      Slivers or uprights, rungs or steps.

                        5.      Loose or missing nails, screws, bolts, rivets or
                 other metal parts.

                        6.      Metal parts shall be free of sharp cutting edges
                 and burrs and shall not be damaged.

                        7.      Damaged or worn nonslip bases.

                        8.      Steps should be free of grease and oil.

                        9.      Truss rods - Tight?  Missing?

                        10.     DO NOT TEST WOOD LADDERS BY PLACING ON BLOCKS AND
                 JUMPING ON RUNGS.

        B.      Step Ladders

                        1.      Wobbly (due to side strain).

                        2.      Loose and bent hinge spreaders.

                        3.      Stop broken on hinge spreaders.

                        4.      Broken, split or worn steps.

                        5.      Loose hinges.

        C.      Extension Ladders

                        1.      Loose, broken or missing extension locks.

                        2.      Defective locks that do not seat properly when
                 ladder is extended.

                        3.      Nonslip bases shall be securely bolted, riveted
                 or attached by equivalent construction to the side
                 rails.

                        4.      Condition of rope - check whether worn or frayed.

                        5.      Condition and attached of pulley and side guides.

        D.      Trestle Ladders 

                        1.      Loose in hinges.

                        2.      Wobbly.

                        3.      Loose or bent hinge spreaders.

                        4.      Stop broken on hinge spreader.

                        5.      Center section guide for extension out of align-
                 ment.

                        6.      Defective locks for extension.


                                                                  YEARLY METAL LADDER INSPECTION

        A.      All metal ladders must be legibly marked with a sign
          reading "CAUTION - DO NOT USE AROUND ELECTRICAL
          EQUIPMENT" or equivalent wording.

        B.      Check for bent steps and side rails.  Examine for
          evidence of straightening of steps or rails.  These
          members are not weakened if no permanent defection
          results from testing or use; however, if a member is
          permanently defected and then straightened, it would have
          only a small portion of its original strength.

        C.      Inspect for cracks at sharp bents where rung is attached
          to rail.

        D.      Inspection for corrosion damage and damage due to caustic
          materials.

        E.      Examine for dents in side rails and rung; rung-to-
          siderails connections; hardware connections; missing or
          sheared rivets.  Cracks or deformations in rail or step
          flanges are particularly critical.

        F.      Check extension ladder rail guides and rungs locking
          devices for deformation, security and longitudinal cracks
          at angle bends.  Examine rope and pulleys for condition.

        G.      Inspect ladder levelers and safety shoes for condition.