Ezel / Labor Guidance / US
Back to Federal guidance

Fall protection on ladder jack scaffolds

Summary An OSHA regional office asked whether a general scaffold guardrail rule applied to ladder jack scaffolds. OSHA said it did not and that the then-current ladder jack provisions had no fall protection requirement; it mentioned a proposed body belt or harness rule. OSHA now archives the memorandum as potentially outdated.
Document
Federal opinion letter
Agency
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Document number
1988-06-13
Date issued
June 13, 1988
Status
Archived by the agency
OSHA archives this memorandum and says it may no longer represent OSHA policy.
Status last verified October 10, 2026
Topics
Workplace Safety OSHA 1926 Scaffolds Fall Protection
Source
View the official document

Apply this to your situation

This page explains the general guidance. Ask about your specific situation and see what current federal labor law says, with citations.

The current status of this document is unclear
OSHA archives this memorandum and says it may no longer represent OSHA policy.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 Treat this page as historical context, not current guidance, and verify current law before relying on anything here.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NOTICE: This is an OSHA Archive Document, and may no longer represent OSHA Policy. It is presented here as historical content, for research and review purposes only.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 13, 1988

MEMORANDUM FOR: LINDA R. ANKU
Regional Administrator

THRU: LEO CAREY, Director
Office of Field Programs

FROM: THOMAS J. SHEPICH, Director
Directorate of Compliance Programs

SUBJECT: Request for Guidance Relative to Guardrail Requirements for Ladder Jack Scaffolds used on Construction sites

In response to your letter of May 20, 29 CFR 1926.451(a)(4) of the current scaffolding standard is not applicable to ladder jack scaffolds. The existing scaffold standards for ladder jacks do not require any fall protection for employees at the present time. The November 25, 1986, proposal would require body belt/harness systems to be used in ladder jacks.

Related guidance

Permanently labeled locks for electrical lockout Opinion Letter · August 17, 2026 Helmet selection for lateral head-impact hazards Opinion Letter · August 17, 2026 Asbestos precautions when restoring drywall after flood damage Opinion Letter · May 7, 2026 Enforcement policy for recording and reporting COVID-19 cases Guidance · March 31, 2026

What does federal law require in your situation?

Ezel checks current federal labor law against your facts and answers with citations.

Opens in Ezel Pro.

  • Checks the law as it stands today, not only this page
  • Cites every source it relies on, so you can verify it
  • Chat, drafting and research in one workspace