WASHINGTON, D.C. – Fed up with the lackadaisical response to fall hazard protection, OSHA has instituted new measures designed to further protect tradesmen working at height. As of April 1, 2021, OSHA is mandating that king-size mattresses be placed at the bottom of all ladders.
“By placing mattresses at the bottom of all ladders 6 ft high or greater, tradesmen will have a safer, cushier landing spot in the event of a fall,” said an OSHA spokesperson. While OSHA doesn’t encourage pre-testing the mattress for resiliency, it has determined that pillow-tops provide the most protection during a fall event. It is also not necessary to have a box spring underneath the mattress in order to maintain compliance.
OSHA also prohibits the use of air mattresses, waterbeds, and thin memory foam mattresses. Instead, mattresses must have coiled inner springs using at least 14-gauge steel.
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