scope:

This standard prescribes rules governing the safe construction, design, testing, care, and use of portable metal ladders of various types including, but not limited to, step stools, portable extension, step, trestle, sectional, combination, single, and platform ladders, but excluding ladders in and on mines, the fire services, mobile equipment, hoisting equipment, work platforms, antenna communications towers, transmission towers, utility poles, and chimneys. It does not cover special purpose ladders that do not meet the general requirements of this standard, nor does it cover ladder accessories, including, but not limited to, ladder levelers, ladder stabilizers or stand-off devices, ladder jacks, or ladder straps or hooks, that may be installed on or used in.conjunction with ladders.

This standard also prescribes rules and minimum requirements for labeling of the common types of portable step ladders, extension ladders, and single ladders, in order to ensure safety under normal conditions of usage. It does not cover stools (ladder type), platform ladders, trestle ladders, extension trestle ladders, and combination ladders, nor does it apply where training, supervision, or established safety procedures are in conflict with or serve in lieu of this standard.

Purpose. The purpose of this standard is to provide reasonable safety for life, limb, and property. In order to develop an effective safety program, the standard may serve also as a basis for purchase requirements and for instruction in personnel training, such as safety practices, manuals, posters, and the like.

This standard is also intended to provide the manufacturer of metal ladders with a set of performance and dimensional requirements against which his product may be compared. It is not the purpose of this standard to specify all the details of construction of portable metal ladders. The limitations imposed are for the purpose of providing adequate general requirements and testing methods.