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Swinging gates at fixed-ladder landings

Summary An engineer asked whether swinging gates were needed at fixed-ladder landings. OSHA said the cited gate requirement applied to ladderway floor openings and platforms, not landings with fixed ladders of the types illustrated in the standard. OSHA archives the letter.
Document
Federal opinion letter
Agency
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Document number
1975-06-12-0
Date issued
June 12, 1975
Status
Archived by the agency
OSHA labels this an archive document and warns that it may no longer represent OSHA policy.
Status last verified October 10, 2026
Topics
Workplace Safety OSHA 1910 Fixed Ladders Guardrails
Source
View the official document

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OSHA labels this an archive document and warns that it may no longer represent OSHA policy. It may no longer reflect the agency's current position. Treat this page as historical context, not current guidance, and verify current law before relying on anything here.
About this page: The full text below is the official document from Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Ezel adds the plain-English summary and tracks the document's status. The official source linked on this page is authoritative for any reliance.

NOTICE: This is an OSHA Archive Document, and may no longer represent OSHA Policy. It is presented here as historical content, for research and review purposes only.

June 12, 1975
Mr. W. J. Harper
Supervising Engineer
Pangborn Division
The Carborundum Co.
[Recipient address omitted]
Dear Mr. Harper:
This is in reply to your letter of May 19, 1975 regarding the swinging gate requirement of 1910.23(a)(2).
This requirement is applicable only for ladderway floor openings and platforms. A swinging gate is not required at landings when you have a fixed ladder as illustrated by figures D-8 or D-9 under 1910.27.
Your interest in occupational safety and health is appreciated.
Sincerely yours,
DAVID H. RHONE
Assistant Regional Director for
Occupational Safety and Health

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