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Uniform spacing of manhole ladder rungs

Summary A manufacturer asked for guidance on uniform rung spacing in sewer manholes. OSHA said a December 1978 instruction supplied spacing dimensions and superseded an earlier instruction. The archived page also notes a correction made in 2007.
Document
Federal opinion letter
Agency
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Document number
1979-01-10
Date issued
January 10, 1979
Status
Archived by the agency
OSHA labels this an archive document and warns that it may no longer represent OSHA policy. The page notes a correction on June 19, 2007, without explaining what changed.
Status last verified October 10, 2026
Topics
Workplace Safety OSHA 1910 Ladders Manholes
Source
View the official document

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The current status of this document is unclear
OSHA labels this an archive document and warns that it may no longer represent OSHA policy. The page notes a correction on June 19, 2007, without explaining what changed. 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 Treat this page as historical context, not current guidance, and verify current law before relying on anything here.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NOTICE: This is an OSHA Archive Document, and may no longer represent OSHA Policy. It is presented here as historical content, for research and review purposes only.

January 10, 1979

Mr. Dee Walters
National Sales Manager
M.A. Industries, Inc.
[Recipient address omitted]
Dear Mr. Walters:

This is the final response to your letter dated September 25, 1978, and your request for clarification of OSHA guidance concerning the uniform spacing of steps or rungs in sanitary and storm sewer manholes.

A thorough review of the uniform spacing for steps or rungs used in sanitary and storm manholes has been completed. On December 29, 1978, this office issued OSHA Instruction STD 1-1.9, (copy enclosed). This Instruction supersedes OSHA Instruction STD 1-1.2, by including spacing dimensions for individual rungs or steps meeting good engineering practices as you requested.

Thank you for your continued interest in occupational safety and health. If I can be of any further assistance, please feel free to contact me.

Sincerely,

John K. Barto,
Chief Division of Occupational Safety Programming

[Corrected 6/19/07]

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