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Uniform 13.75-inch rungs on a fixed ladder

Summary An OSHA regional office asked how to treat a fixed ladder with uniformly spaced 13.75-inch rungs, above the rule's 12-inch maximum. OSHA said the condition could be noted as a de minimis violation. The memo is dated February 26 despite its February 21 URL, and OSHA archives it.
Document
Federal opinion letter
Agency
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Document number
1982-02-21
Date issued
February 26, 1982
Status
Archived by the agency
OSHA labels this an archive document and warns that it may no longer represent OSHA policy. The official URL ends in 1982-02-21, but the memo itself is dated February 26, 1982.
Status last verified October 10, 2026
Topics
Workplace Safety OSHA 1910 Fixed Ladders Enforcement Policy Access
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OSHA labels this an archive document and warns that it may no longer represent OSHA policy.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 official URL ends in 1982-02-21, but the memo itself is dated February 26, 1982. 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 Treat this page as historical context, not current guidance, and verify current law before relying on anything here.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NOTICE: This is an OSHA Archive Document, and may no longer represent OSHA Policy. It is presented here as historical content, for research and review purposes only.

February 26, 1982

MEMORANDUM FOR:
ALAN C. MCMILLAN
Regional Administrator

THRU:
JOHN MILES
Field Coordination

FROM:
PATRICK R. TYSON
Director
Federal Compliance and State Programs

SUBJECT:
29 CFR 1910.27(b)(I)(ii) (Rung Spacing)

29 CFR 1910.27(b)(1)(ii) requires the distance between rungs, cleats, and steps shall not exceed 12 inches and shall be uniform throughout the length of the ladder. However, the 13.75 inch uniform spacing is acceptable and should be noted as a de minimis violation.

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