Table of Contents
Ladder Safety
Last Update: April 2019
Prepared by CCOHS
The following are the references to the provincial and federal legislation where you will find information about the requirements associated with ladders in the different jurisdictions in Canada. Legislation interpretation and enforcement varies by jurisdiction. Please see the Canadian Governmental Occupational Health & Safety Departments (http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/information/govt.html) for contact information.
This list is prepared by CCOHS as part of the Canadian enviroOSH Legislation service . This service is a comprehensive and easy to search compilation of the full text of Canadian health, safety and environmental legislation and critical guidelines and codes of practice from all jurisdictions. All the legislation is compiled into one convenient location and is regularly updated with amendments highlighted.
Subscribers to this service and paid learners of the CCOHS e-courses have access to the full text of the legislation listed in this document. To become a subscriber please contact Client Services .
OSH Answers Fact Sheets
Canada
As made under the Canada Labour Code, Part II, R.S.C. 1985, c. L-2,
Canada Occupational Safety And Health Regulations, SOR/86-304
Part II, Permanent Structures
Sections 2.7 - 2.10, Ladders, Stairways and Ramps
Part III, Temporary Structures and Excavations
Alberta
As made under Occupational Health and Safety Act, R.S.A. 2000, c. O-2
Occupational Health and Safety Code, 2009
Part 1, Definitions and General Application
Section 3, Adoption of standards
Part 8, Entrances, Walkways, Stairways and Ladders
Ladders - General
Section 124, Restriction on use
Section 125, Prohibition on single rail
Section 126, Prohibition on painting
Section 127, Use near energized electrical equipment
Section 128, Ladders on extending booms
Crawl Board or Roof Ladder
Section 129, Safe use - Fixed Ladders
Section 131, Fixed ladders in manholes
Section 132, Rest platform exemption
Portable Ladders
Section 134, Constructed portable ladder
Section 135, Manufactured portable ladder
Section 136, Securing and positioning
Part 9, Fall Protection
Section 154, Fixed ladders and climbable structures
Occupational Health and Safety Code Explanation Guide 2009
British Columbia
As made under the Workers Compensation Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 492,
Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, B.C. Reg. 296/97
Part 13, Ladders, Scaffolds and Temporary Work Platforms
2 - Ladders
Manitoba
As made under the Workplace Safety and Health Act, R.S.M. 1987, c. W210,
Workplace Safety and Health Regulation, Man. Reg. 217/2006
Part 13, Entrances, Exits, Stairways and Ladders
LADDERS - GENERAL
Section 13.8 Worker to inspect ladder
Section 13.9 Metal ladders near electrical equipment
Section 13.10 Coatings on wood ladders
PORTABLE LADDERS
Section 13.11 Commercially manufactured portable ladder
Section 13.12 Site-fabricated portable wood ladder
Section 13.13 Double width site-fabricated portable ladder
Section 13.14 Extension ladders
Section 13.15 General limitation re length
Section 13.16 Portable ladders
Section 13.18 Workers using portable ladder
Section 13.19 Prohibitions re use of portable ladder
FIXED LADDERS
Section 13.21 Fixed ladders re multi-level buildings
See also:
Section 22.21 Ladders attached to extending boom
New Brunswick
As amended by the Occupational Health and Safety Act, A.N.B. 1983, c. O-0.2,
General Regulation - Occupational Health And Safety Act, N.B. Reg. 91-191
Part VII.1, Equipment for Firefighters
Section 51.91 Portable Ladders
Part X, Construction, Traffic and Building Safety
Sections 122- 126, Portable Ladders
Newfoundland and Labrador
As made under the Occupational Health and Safety Act, R.S.N.L. 1990, c. O-3,
Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, 2012, N.L.R. 5/12
Part XI, Scaffolds, Stages and Work Platforms
Section 148, Portable ladder standards
Section 149, Job built ladders
Section 150, Protective coatings
Section 152 Inclination and support
Section 154, Restrictions on use
Section 156, Special purpose ladders
Northwest Territories
As amended by Safety Act, R.S.N.W.T. 1988, c. S-1,
Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, R-039-2015
Part 16, Entrances, Exits and Ladders
Section 260, Use of portable ladders
Section 262, Construction ladders
Nova Scotia
As made under Occupational Health and Safety Act, S.N.S. 1996, c. 7,
Occupational Safety General Regulations, N.S. Reg. 44/99
Part 13, Premises and Building Safety, Construction and Demolition
Part 16, Equipment for Firefighters
Nunavut
As amended by the Safety Act, R.S.N.W.T. 1988, c. S-1,
Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, R-003-2016
Partie 16, Entrances, Exits and Ladders
Section 260, Use of portable ladders
Section 262, Construction ladders
Ontario
As made under the Occupational Health and Safety Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. O,
Construction Projects, O. Reg. 213/91
Part II, General Construction
Industrial Establishments, R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 851
Part I, Safety Regulations
Window Cleaning, R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 859
Section 10, Safety Precautions and Requirements
Prince Edward Island
As made under the Occupational Health and Safety Act, S.P.E.I. 2004, c. 42,
Occupational Health and Safety Act Regulations, E.C. 180/87
See also:
Quebec
As made under the Act Respecting Occupational Health and Safety, R.S.Q., c. S-2.1,
Regulation respecting occupational health and safety, O.C. 885-2001
Division III, Establishment Conditions
Section 21, Work station access
Section 25 Compliance with the standard
Section 26, Installation conditions
Sections 27- 30, Portable extension ladde
Safety Code for the Construction Industry CQLR c. S-2.1, r. 4,
Division III, Construction Sites
§ 3.5. Ladders and step ladders
Section 3.5.3, Commercial ladders
Sections 3.5.4 - 3.5.5, Site-fabricated ladders
Sections 3.5.6 - 3.5.6.1, Ladder utilization
Sections 3.5.7 - 3.5.9, Stepladder
Saskatchewan
As made under the Saskatchewan Employment Act, S.S. 2013, c. S-15.1,
Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, 1996, R.R.S., C. O-1.1, R. 1
Partie XVI, Entrances, Exits and Ladders
Section 254, Use of portable ladders
Section 256, Construction ladders
Yukon
As made under the Occupational Health and Safety Act, R.S.Y. 2002, c. 159
Occupational Health and Safety Regulation, O.I.C. 2006/178
Partie 10, Construction and Building Safety
Ladders - General
Section 10.21, General requirements Ladders - Fixed Section 10.22, Standards
Ladders - Portable
Section 10.28, Portable extension ladders
Section 10.29, Worker's responsibilities
CSA Standards
Compliance with CSA standards is voluntary, unless legislated by the local jurisdiction or mandated by industry or trade associations. Listed below are the CSA standards that have been cited in the legislation above. As well, newer versions of each standard are linked for review and comparison.
C225-M88, Vehicle-Mounted Aerial Devices
See also:
C225-00, Vehicle-Mounted Aerial Devices
C225-10, Vehicle-Mounted Aerial Devices
Z259.2.4-12, Fall arresters and vertical rigid rails
See also:
Z259.2.4-15, Fall arresters and vertical rigid rails
Z259.2.5-12, Fall arresters and vertical lifelines
Z259.2.5-17, Fall arresters and vertical lifelines
See also: