Section 39.531. Testing structures before climbing

(a) Before climbing poles, ladders, scaffolds, or other elevated structures employes shall first insure that the pole, ladder, scaffold, tree, crossarm, messenger wire, cable car, or boatswain’s chair, or other elevated support is strong enough to safely sustain their weight.

(b) On pole replacement work no pole shall be climbed for the purpose of clearing it of all wires and cables without first guying or bracing the pole securely. Where poles or crossarms are apparently unsafe from decay, or have unequal strains of wires on them, they should be properly braced or guyed, if necessary, before they are climbed.

(c) An uncoiled handline, rope, or wire of any sort should not be fastened to the employe while climbing a pole, but where this is necessarily done the employe should exercise due care to prevent the line from catching on obstructions.

(d) In climbing poles careful watch should be kept for nails or other foreign attachments which may catch in the clothing and cause a fall.

Notation

Cross References

This section cited in 34 Pa. Code § 39.501 (relating to general requirements).