WAC 296-59-115
Ski lift facilities and structures. (1)
Existing ski lift facilities and structures shall not be
required to be retrofitted with standard construction work
platforms, walkways, stairs or guardrails on exterior surfaces
when such features would add significantly to snow loading
considerations. When such standard protective features are
omitted, alternative personal protective measures shall be
used where possible. Examples include but are not limited to:
Safety belt and lanyard, ladder climbing safety devices,
temporary work platforms or scaffolds, temporary or removable
handrails, guardrails, or walkways.
(2) Snow removal.
(a) During the operating season, standard guardrails
which would interfere with snow removal may be omitted in
areas where it can be anticipated that frequent snow removal
will be necessary to maintain operability of ski lift
apparatus. Examples could include but are not limited to the
motor house roof or loading and unloading areas.
(b) Personnel barricades, signs, or other devices shall
be used to deflect traffic or warn personnel of existing fall
hazards.
(3) All ski lift towers installed after the effective
date of this standard shall be equipped with permanent ladders
or steps which meet the following minimum requirements:
(a) The minimum design live load shall be a single
concentrated load of two hundred pounds.
(b) The number and position of additional concentrated
live load units of two hundred pounds each as determined from
anticipated usage of the ladder shall be considered in the
design.
(c) The live loads imposed by persons occupying the
ladder shall be considered to be concentrated at such points
as will cause the maximum stress in the structural member
being considered.
(d) The weight of the ladder and attached appurtenances
together with the live load shall be considered in the design
of rails and fastenings.
(e) All rungs shall have a minimum diameter of
three-fourths inch.
(f) The distance between rungs on steps shall not exceed
twelve inches and shall be uniform throughout the ladder
length. The top rung shall be located at the level of the
landing or equipment served by the ladder.
(g) The minimum clear length of rungs or steps shall be
sixteen inches on new installations.
(h) Rungs, cleats, and steps shall be free of sharp
edges, burrs, or projections which may be a hazard.
(i) The rungs of an individual-rung ladder shall be so
designed that the foot cannot slide off the end. (A suggested
design is shown in Figure D-1, at the end of this section.)
(j) Side rails which might be used as a climbing aid
shall be of such cross sections as to afford adequate gripping
surface without sharp edges or burrs.
(k) Fastenings. Fastenings shall be an integral part of
fixed ladder design.
(l) All splices made by whatever means shall meet design
requirements as noted in (a) of this subsection. All splices
and connections shall have smooth transition with original
members and with no sharp or extensive projections.
(m) Adequate means shall be employed to protect
dissimilar metals from electrolytic action when such metals
are joined.
(n) Welding. All welding shall be in accordance with the
"Code for Welding in Building Construction" (AWS D1.0-1966).
(o) Protection from deterioration. Metal ladders and
appurtenances shall be painted or otherwise treated to resist
corrosion and rusting when location demands.
(4) Installation and clearance.
(a) Pitch.
(i) The preferred pitch of fixed ladders is between the
range of seventy-five degrees and ninety degrees with the
horizontal (Figure D-4).
(ii) Substandard pitch. Fixed ladders shall be
considered as substandard if they are installed within the
substandard pitch range of forty-five and seventy-five degrees
with the horizontal. Substandard fixed ladders are permitted
only where it is found necessary to meet conditions of
installation. This substandard pitch range is considered as a
critical range to be avoided, if possible.
(iii) Pitch greater than ninety degrees. Ladders having
a pitch in excess of ninety degrees with the horizontal are
prohibited.
(b) Clearances.
(i) The perpendicular distance from the centerline of the
rungs to the nearest permanent object on the climbing side of
the ladder shall be thirty-six inches for a pitch of
seventy-six degrees, and thirty inches for a pitch of ninety
degrees (Figure D-2), with minimum clearances for intermediate
pitches varying between these two limits in proportion to the
slope.
(ii) A clear width of at least fifteen inches shall be
provided each way from the centerline of the ladder in the
climbing space.
(iii) The side rails of through or side-step ladder
extensions shall extend three and one-half feet above parapets
and landings.
(A) For through ladder extensions, the rungs shall be
omitted from the extension and shall have not less than
eighteen nor more than twenty-four inches clearance between
rails.
(B) For side-step or offset fixed ladder sections, at
landings, the side rails and rungs shall be carried to the
next regular rung beyond or above the three and one-half feet
minimum.
(iv) Grab bars shall be spaced by a continuation of the
rung spacing when they are located in the horizontal position.
Vertical grab bars shall have the same spacing as the ladder
side rails. Grab bar diameters shall be the equivalent of the
round-rung diameters.
(v) Clearance in back of ladder. The distance from the
centerline of rungs, cleats, or steps to the nearest permanent
object in back of the ladder shall be not less than seven
inches, except that when unavoidable obstructions are
encountered, minimum clearances as shown in Figure D-3 shall
be provided.
(vi) Clearance in back of grab bar. The distance from
the centerline of the grab bar to the nearest permanent object
in back of the grab bars shall be not less than four inches. Grab bars shall not protrude on the climbing side beyond the
rungs of the ladder which they serve.
(c) The step-across distance from the nearest edge of a
ladder to the nearest edge of the equipment or structure shall
be not more than twelve inches, or less than two and one-half
inches. However, the step-across distance may be as much as
twenty inches provided:
(i) The climber is wearing a safety belt and lanyard; and
(ii) The lanyard is attached to the tower structure
before the climber steps off the ladder.
(5) Ski lift towers are not required to be equipped with
ladder cages, platforms or landings.
(6) Maintenance and use.
(a) All ladders shall be maintained in a safe condition. All ladders shall be inspected regularly, with the intervals
between inspections being determined by use and exposure.
(b) When ascending or descending, the climber must face
the ladder.
(c) Personnel shall not ascend or descend ladders while
carrying tools or materials which could interfere with the
free use of both hands.
(7) Personnel shall be provided with and shall use ladder
safety devices or safety belt and lanyard whenever feasible.
(8) Personnel shall not place mobile equipment or
personal equipment such as skis, ski poles, or large tools
within the falling radius of the lift tower while climbing or
working on the lift tower.
(9) Ski lift towers and terminals are not required to be
equipped with sheave guards on the haulrope wheels.
(10) Ski lift towers are not required to be equipped with
work platforms.
(11) Personnel shall use personal protective equipment
such as a safety belt and lanyard when working at unprotected
elevated locations. Exception to this requirement shall only
be permitted for emergency rescue or emergency inspection if a
safety belt and lanyard is not immediately available. Required personal protective equipment shall be made available
as quickly as possible.
(12) When fixed ladders on towers do not reach all the
way down to the ground or snow level, a specifically designed
and constructed portable ladder shall be used for access to
and from the fixed ladder. Portable ladders shall be
constructed and maintained to the following requirements:
(a) The portable ladder shall be constructed in
accordance with applicable provisions of subsection (3) of
this section.
(b) The portable ladder shall be constructed with a
minimum of two attachment hooks near the top to be utilized
for securing the portable ladder onto the fixed ladder.
(c) The attachment hooks shall be installed to support
the portable ladder near the fixed ladder siderails.
(d) Rungs or steps on the portable ladder shall be spaced
to be identical with rungs or steps on the fixed ladder when
the portable ladder is attached for use. The design criteria
shall be to achieve a horizontal plane relationship on the top
(walking surface) portion of both steps when overlapping is
necessary.
(e) The portable ladder shall be equipped with a hold-out
device near the bottom to assure clearance behind the steps as
required by subsection (4)(b)(v) of this section.
