Federal Register #Docket No. OSHA-2025-0072

OSHA Proposed Rule Change for Walking-Working Surfaces Standard

This notice announces a proposed regulatory change by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regarding the Walking-Working Surfaces standard for fixed ladders: - OSHA (Department of Labor) is proposing to remove the compliance deadline for equipping fixed ladders over 24 feet with personal fall arrest or ladder safety systems - The rule may be revised or repealed to allow continued use of ladder cages or wells, instead of requiring personal fall arrest systems - No specific Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) or vendors are named in this notice - OSHA is seeking public comment on: - The service life of ladders - Compliance and installation costs for safety systems - The impact of extending or removing the compliance deadline - The proposal aims to provide employers with greater flexibility and reduce compliance costs - No products or services are being procured; this is a regulatory change proposal, not a purchasing action

Description

This proposed rule by OSHA seeks to remove a compliance deadline in the Walking-Working Surfaces standard that requires all fixed ladders over 24 feet to be equipped with personal fall arrest or ladder safety systems by November 18, 2036. The rule also requests comments on potentially repealing or revising the requirement to use personal fall arrest systems on all fixed ladders over 24 feet, possibly allowing continued use of ladder cages or wells. The proposal aims to provide greater compliance flexibility without eliminating the safety requirements, and it anticipates cost savings by extending compliance timelines. Comments are due by June 5, 2026.

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