When working with ladders, several safety measures should be followed to ensure a safe working environment. Here's a summary of key points:

1. General Safety and Health Provisions: Employers are responsible for maintaining programs that comply with safety regulations, conducting regular job site inspections by competent persons, and ensuring that only qualified employees operate equipment and machinery [1].
2. Ladder Usage: Ladders should not be used on scaffolds to increase the working level height, except on large area scaffolds under specific criteria [2]. When a ladder is placed against a structure not part of the scaffold, the scaffold must be secured against sideways thrust. The platform units must be secured to prevent movement, and ladder legs must be stabilized and secured to prevent slipping [2].
3. Access: When scaffold platforms are more than 2 feet above or below a point of access, use portable ladders, hook-on ladders, attachable ladders, stair towers, stairway-type ladders, ramps, walkways, or direct access from another scaffold or structure [3]. Crossbraces should not be used as a means of access [3].
4. Ladder Requirements: Portable, hook-on, and attachable ladders should be positioned to avoid tipping the scaffold, with the bottom rung no more than 24 inches above the supporting level [3]. Ladders on scaffolds higher than 35 feet should have rest platforms at 35-foot intervals 3, 6. Hook-on and attachable ladders must be specifically designed for the scaffold type, have a minimum rung length of 11.5 inches, and have uniformly spaced rungs with a maximum spacing of 16.75 inches [3].
5. Stairway-Type Ladders: Stairway-type ladders should have their bottom step no more than 24 inches above the scaffold supporting level, rest platforms at 12-foot intervals, a minimum step width of 16 inches (or 11.5 inches for mobile scaffolds), and slip-resistant treads on all steps and landings [4].
6. Scaffold Use: Scaffolds and components must not be loaded beyond their maximum intended loads or rated capacities [5]. Shore or lean-to scaffolds are prohibited [5]. Scaffolds should be inspected for visible defects by a competent person before each work shift and after any incident that could affect structural integrity [5].
7. Fall Protection: Each employee on a scaffold more than 10 feet above a lower level must be protected from falling by a personal fall arrest system or guardrail system [6]. Guardrail systems should comply with fall protection requirements [7].
8. Ramps and Walkways: Ramps and walkways 6 feet or more above lower levels must have guardrail systems [7]. Ramps should not be inclined more than a 1:3 slope (20 degrees above horizontal) [7]. If steeper than 1:8, cleats no more than 14 inches apart should be securely fastened to provide footing [7].
9. General Scaffold Safety: Employees should not work on scaffolds covered with snow, ice, or other slippery materials unless for removal [2]. Tag lines should be used when hoisting loads onto or near scaffolds [2]. Work on or from scaffolds is prohibited during storms or high winds unless deemed safe by a competent person and employees are protected by fall arrest systems or wind screens [2]. Debris should not accumulate on platforms, and makeshift devices like boxes and barrels should not be used to increase working height [2].

By adhering to these guidelines, you can significantly reduce the risk of accidents and injuries when working with ladders and scaffolds.