If help is needed, can two people work from the same extension ladder if both are belted in?

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Only if one stands at the top
• D. Only with a second ladder

Answer: (B)

Ladder safety and occupancy limits when using extension ladders. Extension ladders are designed for a single person to climb and work from at a time, and they have a load rating that assumes one person plus their gear. When two people are on the same ladder, even if both are belted in, the combined weight and the dynamic forces from moving can exceed that rating and create instability. Movement can cause the ladder to shift, slip, or buckle, or the top of the ladder or its anchor points to fail. Harnesses don’t change the ladder’s structural limits; they provide fall protection for a single operator, not a guarantee of stability with two climbers on one ladder. If help is needed, use a second ladder or another access method, and keep the helper on the ground or coordinating from a safe distance rather than sharing one ladder.