Toolbox talk · Falls, ladders and scaffolds
Stairways on the job
Stairs on our jobs get used all day, often before they are finished and while we carry materials. A slip on a stairway can mean a long fall onto hard edges. This week, let's make sure every stairway we use is safe to climb.
Published 2026-10-23
Key points
- 1Use a stairway or ladder any time you change levels by 19 inches or more and there is no ramp or hoist. Do not climb on buckets, block, or framing.
- 2Install handrails and stair rails before stairs get regular use. Four or more risers, or more than 30 inches of rise, means you need rails, and any open side needs a stair rail.
- 3Do not walk on bare metal pan stairs. Fill the pans with concrete, wood, or other solid material first.
- 4Keep treads and landings clear of tools, cords, scrap, mud, and ice. Clean up spills right away.
- 5Keep one hand free for the rail. If a load blocks your view of the steps or needs both hands, get help or use a hoist.
- 6Check for loose treads, uneven steps, protruding nails, and splinters. Report damage and flag the stairway until it is fixed.
- 7Where a door opens onto a stairway, there must be a landing so the door does not swing over the steps.
Talk it over
- Which stairway on our site is missing rails or has open sides right now?
- What do we usually carry up the stairs that blocks our view or takes both hands, and how can we move it better?
- Where do debris, cords, or water collect on our stairs, and who will keep them clear?
Remember
Clear steps, solid treads, a hand on the rail, every trip.
Also in the other language: Escaleras fijas en la obra
Official sources
- 29 CFR 1926.1052 — Stairways
Print it with a sign-in sheet
Pro prints every talk on your letterhead with an attendance sheet, records who attended, and emails your foremen this week's talk every Monday.
See plans and pricingGeneral information, not legal advice. Templates and examples should be reviewed by a competent person before use. HardHat Binder is not affiliated with or endorsed by OSHA.