Ship ladder statistics (2027)
A numerical guide to OSHA-defined ship ladders, including geometry, landings, loads and current rail requirements.
| Indicator | Value | What it measures |
|---|---|---|
| Ship ladder and ship stair share one definition | 1 category | OSHA terminology |
| The minimum tread width is 18 inches | 18 in | Tread width |
| Landings require 30 inches of depth | 30 in | Minimum landing depth |
| The structural floor is a 1,000-pound concentrated load | 1,000 lb | Minimum concentrated load |
| Elevated landing protection starts at four feet | 4 ft | Landing fall threshold |
What these statistics measure
A numerical guide to OSHA-defined ship ladders, including geometry, landings, loads and current rail requirements. Under federal general-industry terminology, “ship ladder” and “ship stair” describe the same treaded stairway. Fixed ladders are a separate category. Statistical claims are useful only when the numerator, denominator, geography, reporting threshold and time period describe the same population. This page therefore keeps every number attached to the organization that produced it and the population that organization observed. It does not merge incompatible datasets to create a more dramatic total.
How the 2025–2026 evidence was selected
The evidence review uses material published or reporting activity from 2025 and 2026. Preference is given to government agencies, intergovernmental bodies, public-health authorities and industry datasets that disclose their scope. Event reporting is used only to illustrate classification or outcome—not to estimate an unobserved worldwide total. Each statistic is reproduced with its unit and time window so a ship count is not confused with berth capacity, a reported allegation with a conviction, or an outbreak with the number of people who became ill. — OSHA stairways
Ship ladder and ship stair share one definition
OSHA defines “ship stair (ship ladder)” as one stairway category with treads, stair rails, open risers and a 50-to-70-degree slope. The figure should be read within the stated osha terminology and should not be projected onto operators, regions or reporting periods that the source does not cover.
The minimum tread width is 18 inches
The ship-stair rule requires at least 18 inches of tread width, while application and other codes may justify more. The figure should be read within the stated tread width and should not be projected onto operators, regions or reporting periods that the source does not cover. — OSHA stairways
Landings require 30 inches of depth
Landings and platforms must be at least stair width and at least 30 inches deep in the direction of travel. The figure should be read within the stated minimum landing depth and should not be projected onto operators, regions or reporting periods that the source does not cover. — OSHA stairways
The structural floor is a 1,000-pound concentrated load
Each stair must support five times anticipated live load and never less than a concentrated 1,000-pound load applied at any point. The figure should be read within the stated minimum concentrated load and should not be projected onto operators, regions or reporting periods that the source does not cover. — OSHA stairways
Elevated landing protection starts at four feet
An exposed stairway-landing edge four feet or more above a lower level requires a guardrail or stair rail system; detailed system criteria and current guidance must also be reviewed. The figure should be read within the stated landing fall threshold and should not be projected onto operators, regions or reporting periods that the source does not cover. — OSHA fall-protection duties
Why datasets can disagree
Two credible sources can publish different values without either being wrong. Membership boundaries, vessel definitions, report dates, legal jurisdiction, event thresholds and later revisions all change what enters a dataset. Under federal general-industry terminology, “ship ladder” and “ship stair” describe the same treaded stairway. Fixed ladders are a separate category. A transparent comparison first reconciles those definitions. If they cannot be reconciled, the figures should remain side by side instead of being summed or averaged. — OSHA stairways
How to interpret rates and trends
A rate requires a numerator and denominator covering the same people, vessels, geography and dates. Passenger totals from a global industry report cannot responsibly be paired with incidents reported only by U.S.-linked operators or one health jurisdiction. A year-over-year change can also reflect altered reporting, fleet growth or publication timing. For that reason, these pages emphasize observed counts and coverage before drawing directional conclusions. — OSHA stairways
What to monitor during 2026
Monitor revisions to the cited 2025 series, new 2026 quarterly releases and changes to definitions or reporting thresholds. Record the date a table was retrieved and preserve its original unit. When a current-year series is incomplete, compare it with the equivalent elapsed period—not a completed prior year—and label it year to date. This approach produces slower conclusions, but they are easier to audit and less likely to mislead. — OSHA fall-protection duties
How to interpret the numbers
Under federal general-industry terminology, “ship ladder” and “ship stair” describe the same treaded stairway. Fixed ladders are a separate category. Counts can change when records are revised, investigations close, deliveries move or a reporting threshold is crossed. Compare like with like, retain the source date and avoid converting incomplete counts into universal rates. Statistics support questions and decisions; they do not replace investigation findings, engineering analysis, public-health advice or a jurisdiction-specific compliance review. — OSHA fall-protection duties
Explore custom ship-stair planning
For projects involving industrial ship stairs or OSHA-defined ship ladders, the Ship Stair Builder turns site measurements into a configurable concept and checks selected dimensional ranges. It does not certify compliance, resolve maritime regulations or validate cruise-vessel systems. Use it to identify preventable specification issues, then obtain qualified engineering, safety and jurisdictional review.
Open the Ship Stair Builder →Sources
This article summarizes selected federal requirements and is not a site-specific compliance determination, engineering approval or legal opinion.