Only ladder rungs meeting OSHA and ANSI standards should be held while climbing. Because of the narrow climbing surface, the hands must grip securely to avoid a fall. Only on horizontal bars are the hands reliable for holding the body weight for a brief time (sufficient for the feet to regain the rung). However, a near-vertical bar cannot be held securely in any fall situation. Sloped rails have been shown to be appropriate up to a certain pitch.
See “Introduction to Fall Protection, 4th Edition” page 124.
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