OSHA 1910.28: Cage ladders prohibited on new fixed installations since 2018

SEE WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOUR FACILITY →

HIGHSTEP SYSTEMS AG | OSHA COMPLIANT

YOUR FIXED LADDERS NEED MORE THAN A CAGE.

OSHA eliminated cage ladders for new fixed ladder installations in 2018. HighStep Systems is the compliant alternative — already deployed in the US. 
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OSHA REQUIREMENTS

THE CHALLENGE

TWO PROBLEMS.
ONE SYSTEMS.

Industrial facilities with fixed ladders face two overlapping problems — a regulatory one and an operational on

OSHA 1910.28

Cage Ladders Are Prohibited for New Installations

Since November 19, 2018, any new fixed ladder over 24 feet must be equipped with a personal fall arrest system or ladder safety system. Cage ladders are no longer a legal option for new installations — regardless of industry.

Operational Problem

Your Contractors Can't Use Your Ladders

Under OSHA’s multi-employer worksite rules, facility owners bear liability if a contractor is injured on a ladder they control. The result: most facilities restrict contractor access entirely — creating expensive workarounds and operational delays.

THE SOLUTION

The HighStep SYSTEMS
Ladder Safety System

A rail-based guided fall arrest system that mounts to your existing fixed ladder. No cage. No training requirement. Fully OSHA compliant.

HighStepsystems

01

OSHA COMPLIANT

Qualifies as a ladder safety system under 29 CFR 1910.28(b)(9). Certified to ANSI Z359 (US) and EN 353-1 (EU).

02

Contractor Accessible

No specialized training required. Facilities can open safe access to authorized contractors under a documented policy.

03

Retrofittable

The rail mounts to most existing ladder structures. No full replacement required in the majority of installations.

04

Automatic Fall Arrest

The safety sleeve travels freely upward with the climber and locks immediately in the event of a fall — no manual action required.

05

Swiss Engineering

Developed and manufactured in Switzerland. Continuous quality and precision engineering since 2010.

06

TÜV Süd verified

TÜV-certified quality: Our fall protection systems meet the highest safety standards for total peace of mind.

HOW IT WORKS

Choose your
climbing component.

The HighStep system is built on a modular design. Once the permanent rail is installed, you gain full flexibility: choose between the ergonomic HighStep Easy for manual climbing or the world’s first portable Service Lift for maximum comfort.
schiene

01

RAIL

The support system with maintenance-free rail: easy to install, durable, and extremely heavy-duty.
Highstep Easy Neue Bindung

02

Highstep easy

The ergonomic climbing system – as simple as walking up stairs, yet far more secure.
lift

03

highstep lift

The world’s first mobile service lift – your safe, time-saving, and effortless solution for reaching any working height.

REGULATORY CONTEXT

OSHA 1910.28:
What It Means for Your Facility

New Fixed Ladders (After Nov. 19, 2018)

Must be equipped with a personal fall arrest system or ladder safety system. Cage ladders are explicitly prohibited for new installations.

EXISTING CAGE LADDERS

May remain in service — but must be upgraded when any cage section requires replacement, or when multi-employer liability exposure makes the risk unacceptable.

Multi-Employer Liability

Facility owners are responsible for fixed ladder hazards that injure contractors on-site, even if the contractor provided their own harness.

Update: April 2026

OSHA has proposed removing the 2036 retroactive deadline for existing cage ladders. This does not affect the rule for new installations, which remains in full effect.

HIGHSTEP SYSTEMS MEETS THE STANDARD

HighStep qualifies as a ladder safety system under 29 CFR 1910.28(b)(9) and is certified to ANSI Z359 — the American National Standard for fall protection systems.
Arbeitsschutz in der Höhe
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REFERENCE CUSTOMERS

PROVEN IN THE US AND ACROSS EUROPE
HighStep is not a prototype. It is a system running in demanding industrial environments on two continents.

🇺🇸 US Reference Customer

Medical Technology

Medical Device Manufacturing · High-Bay Storage · United States

A leading US medical device manufacturer deployed HighStep for high-bay storage access—enabling authorized contractor access while maintaining full OSHA compliance and EHS audit readiness.

 

🇩🇪 European Reference

50Hertz

~850 Transmission Towers · Germany

One of Germany’s major grid operators uses HighStep across its entire transmission tower network — directly analogous to the challenge faced by US utilities and telecom tower operators.

🇩🇪 European Reference

Volkswagen

Automotive Manufacturing · Germany

Volkswagen deployed HighStep across its manufacturing facilities — covering both internal maintenance staff and external service contractors under a single, compliant access policy.

Is Your Facility OSHA 1910.28 Compliant?

Request a 30-minute consultation. We review your specific setup, answer your compliance questions, and tell you exactly what HighStep can do for you.

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GET STARTED

Request a 30-Minute Demo

We’ll walk you through the HighStep system, review your specific ladder setup, and confirm whether it’s the right fit — no commitment required.

  • Review your current fixed ladder setup and OSHA compliance status
  • See the HighStep system in action (live demo or video)
  • Get a preliminary assessment for retrofitting vs. new installation
  • Discuss contractor access policy and liability implications
  • Receive a written summary within 48 hours

BOOK YOUR DEMO

No spam. We respond within 1 business day.

FAQ

COMMON QUESTIONS

Does HighStep replace my existing ladder?
No. The HighStep rail system mounts to your existing fixed ladder structure. In most installations, no structural replacement is required — only the rail and safety sleeve are added.

No. The HighStep safety sleeve requires no certification or training to operate correctly. This is one of its core advantages over personal fall arrest systems.

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