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Rung width on telecommunications tower ladders

Summary A telecommunications company asked which ladder rule governed fixed ladders on its towers. OSHA said the telecommunications provision required a minimum 12-inch clear rung width and applied to the described tower. It said other ladder dimensions from different provisions did not govern that fixed-tower application; OSHA archives the letter.
Document
Federal opinion letter
Agency
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Document number
1996-02-26-1
Date issued
February 26, 1996
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OSHA labels this an archive document and warns that it may no longer represent OSHA policy.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 9, 2026
Topics
Workplace Safety OSHA 1910 Telecommunications Ladders
Source
View the official document

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NOTICE: This is an OSHA Archive Document, and may no longer represent OSHA Policy. It is presented here as historical content, for research and review purposes only.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, 1996

Mr. Gordon Lyman
TSQ Manager
LeBlanc Communications, Inc.
[Recipient address omitted]
Dear Mr. Lyman:

This is in response to your letter of February 22, a previous letter you sent to Mr. Gerald Reidy, and confirms a telephone conversation with a member of my staff. Your letter requested a clarification of Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards, Section 1910.268 Telecommunications.

Regarding 29 CFR 1910.268 Telecommunications, and more specifically 1910.268(h)(2), the standard requires that all fixed ladder rungs have a minimum clear width of 12 inches. The application that you specify in your letter would clearly be covered by the requirements of this section. Other width and length requirements relating to ladders found elsewhere in OSHA standards (i.e. 29 CFR 1910.27 or 1910.268(h)(8)) do not apply to fixed ladders on telecommunications towers. Those standards apply only for general walking, working surfaces and metal manhole ladders, respectively.

We hope this clarification has provided you with the assistance you sought. If we can be of further assistance, please contact Margo Daniel of my staff at (202)219-8041, #107.

Sincerely,

Raymond Donnelly, Director
Office of Safety Compliance Assistance

[Requester letter reproduced on OSHA page; omitted here.]

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