Ridgehooks & Fall Protection To the Editor: Thank you for Jay Klein's informative article "Scaffolding Options" (12/96). Regarding ridgehooks, our reading of OSHA regs is that fall protection is not required when on a secured ladder or an OSHA-compliant platform (with guardrails, toeboards, etc.). This would preclude the need for supplemental fall protection while actually on a ridgehook ladder. Ladders (ridgehook or ground-supported) are intended to provide a safe route for workers to get to and from their work site. Also, ladders are often used in routine repair and maintenance tasks such as chimney cleaning, flashing repair, and so forth — tasks that we understand are not subject to OSHA regulation. This is the guideline we follow, but an official interpretation
