Inspect a ladder every time before you climb it, and take it out of service the moment you find damage. OSHA’s portable ladder guidance says a damaged ladder “must be removed from service and tagged until repaired or discarded.” Cleaning and storage habits matter mostly because they keep defects visible and keep slippery material off the steps.

This page covers condition checks for household stepladders and extension ladders. Choosing a ladder’s duty rating is covered in the ladder weight rating guide .

Pre-use inspection checklist

OSHA’s stepladder fact sheet lists the defects to look for: structural damage, split or bent side rails, broken or missing rungs, steps or cleats, and missing or damaged safety devices. In practice, check:

  • Rails: cracks, bends, crushed edges, loose rivets or joints. On fiberglass, look for exposed fibers or deep gouges.
  • Rungs and steps: looseness, bends, and anything slippery such as oil, mud, paint drips or drywall dust.
  • Feet: worn, split or missing tread, and feet that don’t sit flat.
  • Spreaders and hinges (stepladders): they must open fully and lock. OSHA says not to use a stepladder with the spreaders unlocked.
  • Rung locks, rope and pulley (extension ladders): every lock must fully engage before you climb.
  • Labels: the duty rating, load limit and highest permitted standing level must still be readable.

If any load-bearing part fails, stop. Repair it only with the maker’s listed part, or retire the ladder.

Keep defects visible

OSHA’s fact sheet tells users not to paint a ladder with opaque coatings, and it flags paint or stickers (other than warning or safety labels) as things that can hide defects. Don’t wrap rails in tape, and don’t paint over a crack, dent or worn foot. A ladder that looks fresh but hides a split rail is more dangerous than an honest, scuffed one.

Clean after dirty jobs

OSHA requires ladders to be free of slippery material on the rungs, steps and feet. After painting, gutter cleaning or drywall work, wipe the steps and feet with mild soap and water and let the ladder dry fully before storing it. Don’t spray lubricant on steps, rungs or feet. If a hinge or lock needs lubrication, use only what the manual allows, and only on that part.

Store it so it stays straight and dry

Store the ladder somewhere dry, off damp floors, and out of traffic, where it won’t be knocked over or have things stacked on it. Support long ladders at more than one point so the rails don’t twist. Check the manual for any storage, temperature or chemical-exposure limits for that model.

Setup checks that catch wear

Several setup rules also expose problems you might otherwise miss:

  • Extension ladder angle: place the base a quarter of the working length out from the wall, the 4-to-1 rule in OSHA’s QuickCard. A ladder that won’t hold that angle on firm ground may have worn feet.
  • Roof or landing access: the ladder must extend at least 3 feet above the point of support.
  • Locks: OSHA’s QuickCard says to make sure every extension-ladder lock is properly engaged.
  • Top step: don’t stand on the top step or rung unless the ladder was designed for it.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Climbing a ladder after a fall or impact without inspecting it first
  • Painting over damage, or using tape to “repair” a rail
  • Leaving mud, paint or dust on the rungs
  • Using an aluminum ladder near power lines or exposed energized equipment
  • Swapping in generic feet or hardware the ladder maker doesn’t list for that model

FAQ

How often should I inspect a ladder?

Before every use, as OSHA’s ladder QuickCard directs, and again after anything that could affect it, such as a fall, a hard impact or a slide off a rack.

Can I paint a wooden or fiberglass ladder?

Not with an opaque coating. OSHA’s stepladder fact sheet lists paint and stickers, other than warning or safety labels, as things that can hide defects.

When should a ladder be replaced instead of repaired?

Retire it when a rail is split or bent, a rung or step is broken or missing, or a lock or spreader no longer engages. Replace it too if the maker doesn’t offer approved parts. A missing duty label is another reason, because you can no longer confirm its rating.

Is an aluminum ladder safe for electrical work?

OSHA says to avoid metal ladders near power lines or exposed energized electrical equipment. A fiberglass ladder only helps if it’s clean, dry and undamaged, and it doesn’t make live work safe.

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