When working at height using portable ladders, it's crucial to follow safety regulations to prevent falls and injuries. Here's a breakdown of key requirements and guidelines:

Fall Protection Requirements:

• In Alberta, if a worker may fall 3 meters or more from a portable ladder, the employer must ensure the worker uses a personal fall arrest system LLMCitation(cited_text_snippet="An employer must ensure that a worker working from a portable ladder from which the worker may fall 3 metres or more uses a personal fall arrest system.", source_document_reference_number=1). This does not apply while the worker is moving up or down the ladder LLMCitation(cited_text_snippet="Subsection (1) does not apply while the worker is moving up or down the portable ladder.", source_document_reference_number=1).
• In some situations where using a fall arrest system is not reasonably practical, a worker may work without fall protection if the task is light duty and of short duration, the worker maintains their center of balance, and maintains 3-point contact LLMCitation(cited_text_snippet="Despite subsection (1), if it is not reasonably practical to use a personal fall arrest system, a worker may work from a portable ladder without fall protection if (a) the work is a light duty task of short duration at each location, (b) the worker's centre of balance is at the centre of the ladder at all times even with an arm extended beyond the side rails of the ladder, and (c) the worker maintains 3-point contact whenever the worker extends an arm beyond a side rail.", source_document_reference_number=1).

Safe Ladder Usage Guidelines:

• Ladder Selection: Use a ladder designed for the specific task, considering strength, type, and length LLMCitation(cited_text_snippet="Use a ladder designed for your task. Consider the strength, type, length and the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) approval.", source_document_reference_number=8).
• Ladder Condition: Inspect ladders before each use for any defects such as loose, broken, or missing rungs, and remove any defective ladders from service LLMCitation(cited_text_snippet="Portable ladders shall be inspected before use, and ladders with loose, broken or missing rungs, split side rails or other hazardous defects shall be removed from service.", source_document_reference_number=2). Tag defective ladders with "DANGEROUS - DO NOT USE" and withdraw them from service LLMCitation(cited_text_snippet="A ladder that has any of the following faults and defects shall be immediately tagged \"DANGEROUS - DO NOT USE\" and shall be withdrawn from service:", source_document_reference_number=5).
• Ladder Placement: Secure the ladder against movement and place it on a stable base LLMCitation(cited_text_snippet="a portable ladder is secured against movement and placed on a base that is stable", source_document_reference_number=1). The base of the ladder should be no further than 1/4 of the ladder's length from the wall or structure it rests against LLMCitation(cited_text_snippet="the base of an inclined portable ladder is no further from the base of the wall or structure than 1/4 of the distance between the base of the ladder and the place where the ladder contacts the wall", source_document_reference_number=1).
• Ladder Extension: Ensure that the ladder extends at least 1 meter above the platform or landing it provides access to LLMCitation(cited_text_snippet="the side rails of a portable ladder extend at least 1 metre above a platform, landing or parapet if the ladder is used as a means of access to the platform, landing or parapet.", source_document_reference_number=1), unless there is limited clearance and the ladder is adequately secured LLMCitation(cited_text_snippet="A ladder shall be of sufficient length to project approximately one metre above the level of the upper landing to which it provides access, except where there is limited clearance and the ladder is adequately secured.", source_document_reference_number=2).
• Safe Climbing: Always face the ladder when ascending or descending LLMCitation(cited_text_snippet="An employee shall face the ladder when ascending or descending.", source_document_reference_number=5), and maintain 3 points of contact at all times LLMCitation(cited_text_snippet="A worker shall maintain 3 points of contact when using a ladder.", source_document_reference_number=2).
• Restrictions: Do not work from the top two rungs of a ladder LLMCitation(cited_text_snippet="Except as otherwise permitted by a manufacturer, a worker shall not work from either the top 2 rungs of a portable single or extension ladder or the top 2 steps of a stepladder.", source_document_reference_number=2).