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29 CFR § 1926.955 - Portable ladders and platforms.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t29/s1926.955"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "29 CFR § 1926.955 - Portable ladders and platforms."
title_number: 29
title_name: "Labor"
section_number: "1926.955"
section_name: "Portable ladders and platforms."
chapter_name: "OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF LABOR"
part_number: "1926"
part_name: "SAFETY AND HEALTH REGULATIONS FOR CONSTRUCTION"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-03-24"
last_updated: "2026-03-24"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "40 U.S.C. 3704; 29 U.S.C. 653, 655, and 657; and Secretary of Labor's Order No. 12-71 (36 FR 8754), 8-76 (41 FR 25059), 9-83 (48 FR 35736), 1-90 (55 FR 9033), 6-96 (62 FR 111), 3-2000 (65 FR 50017), 5-2002 (67 FR 65008), 5-2007 (72 FR 31159), 4-2010 (75 FR 55355), 1-2012 (77 FR 3912), or 8-2020 (85 FR 58393), as applicable; and 29 CFR part 1911, unless otherwise noted"
regulatory_source: "44 FR 8577, Feb. 9, 1979; 44 FR 20940, Apr. 6, 1979, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "1926"
---

# 1926.955 Portable ladders and platforms.

(a) *General.* Requirements for portable ladders contained in subpart X of this part apply in addition to the requirements of this section, except as specifically noted in paragraph (b) of this section.

(b) *Special ladders and platforms.* Portable ladders used on structures or conductors in conjunction with overhead line work need not meet § 1926.1053(b)(5)(i) and (b)(12). Portable ladders and platforms used on structures or conductors in conjunction with overhead line work shall meet the following requirements:

(1) *Design load.* In the configurations in which they are used, portable platforms shall be capable of supporting without failure at least 2.5 times the maximum intended load.

(2) *Maximum load.* Portable ladders and platforms may not be loaded in excess of the working loads for which they are designed.

(3) *Securing in place.* Portable ladders and platforms shall be secured to prevent them from becoming dislodged.

(4) *Intended use.* Portable ladders and platforms may be used only in applications for which they are designed.

(c) *Conductive ladders.* Portable metal ladders and other portable conductive ladders may not be used near exposed energized lines or equipment. However, in specialized high-voltage work, conductive ladders shall be used when the employer demonstrates that nonconductive ladders would present a greater hazard to employees than conductive ladders.