OSHA Office of Training and Education - Revised by TEEX 12/04/07

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Walking-Working SurfacesWalking-Working Surfaces

OSHA Office of Training and Education - Revised by TEEX 12/04/07

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IntroductionIntroduction Slips, trips and falls cause:

the majority of general industry accidents 15% of all accidental deaths more fatalities than all other causes but motor

vehicles

OSHA’s standards for walking and working surfaces apply to all permanent places of employment, except where only domestic, mining or agricultural work is performed

OSHA Office of Training and Education - Revised by TEEX 12/04/07

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General RequirementsGeneral Requirements

Housekeeping

Aisles and Passageways

Covers and Guardrails

Floor Loading Protection

OSHA Office of Training and Education - Revised by TEEX 12/04/07

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HousekeepingHousekeeping Workplaces must be kept clean,

orderly and sanitary

Workroom floors must be maintained as clean and dry as possible

Every floor shall be kept free from protruding nails, splinters, holes or loose boards

OSHA Office of Training and Education - Revised by TEEX 12/04/07

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Aisles and PassagewaysAisles and Passageways

Keep clear and move obstructions that could create a hazard

Mark permanent aisles and passageways

Aisles must be sufficiently wide where mechanical handling equipment is used

OSHA Office of Training and Education - Revised by TEEX 12/04/07

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Covers and GuardrailsCovers and Guardrails

Provide covers and/or guardrails to protect workers from the hazards of open pits, tanks, vats, ditches and the like

OSHA Office of Training and Education - Revised by TEEX 12/04/07

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Floor Loading ProtectionFloor Loading Protection

Mark load ratings on plates and post them conspicuously

Do not place anything, anywhere exceeding the posted load rating limit

OSHA Office of Training and Education - Revised by TEEX 12/04/07

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StairwaysStairways

Flights of stairs with four or more risers must have standard stair railings or handrails.

OSHA Office of Training and Education - Revised by TEEX 12/04/07

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Fixed Industrial StairsFixed Industrial Stairs

Treads must be slip resistant with uniform rise height and tread width

Must be able to carry 5 times expected load; minimum of 1000 lbs

Minimum width of 22”

Photo of a Violation – several steps bent and damaged

OSHA Office of Training and Education - Revised by TEEX 12/04/07

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Types of Hazardous Openings and Types of Hazardous Openings and HolesHoles

Floor Hole

Floor Opening

Wall Hole

Wall Opening

OSHA Office of Training and Education - Revised by TEEX 12/04/07

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Floor HoleFloor Hole

An opening measuring less than 12”, but more than 1” in its least dimension, in a floor, platform, pavement or yard, through which materials, but not persons may fall

OSHA Office of Training and Education - Revised by TEEX 12/04/07

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Guarding Floor HolesGuarding Floor Holes

Every floor hole into which persons can accidentally walk must be guarded by either: A standard railing with toeboard A floor hole cover of standard strength and

construction If the floor hole cover is not in place, someone

or a removable standard railing shall constantly be protecting the floor hole

OSHA Office of Training and Education - Revised by TEEX 12/04/07

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Floor OpeningFloor Opening

An opening measuring 12 inches or more in its least dimension in a floor, platform, pavement, or yard, through which persons may fall

OSHA Office of Training and Education - Revised by TEEX 12/04/07

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Guarding Floor OpeningsGuarding Floor Openings

Standard railings shall be provided on all exposed sides of a stairway opening, except at the entrance

They may be covered rather than guarded with rails When the cover is removed, temporary guardrails

must be in place or an attendant must be stationed at the opening to warn employees

OSHA Office of Training and Education - Revised by TEEX 12/04/07

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Guarding Floor OpeningsGuarding Floor Openings

Standard railing - Consists of top rail, mid rail and posts. Height from the upper surface of top rail to floor level is 42”. Mid rail height is 21”

Standard toeboard – 4” high, with not more than ¼” clearance above the floor

OSHA Office of Training and Education - Revised by TEEX 12/04/07

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Ladderway Floor OpeningsLadderway Floor Openings

Guard with a standard railing with toeboard on all exposed sides (except entrance)

Guard the passage through the railing with a swinging gate or offset it to prevent someone from walking into the opening

OSHA Office of Training and Education - Revised by TEEX 12/04/07

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Open-Sided Floors and PlatformsOpen-Sided Floors and Platforms

Open-sided floors or platforms 4’ or more above adjacent floor or ground level must be guarded by a standard railing (or equivalent) on all open sides, except where there is an entrance to a ramp, stairway or fixed ladder

Unguarded Platform

OSHA Office of Training and Education - Revised by TEEX 12/04/07

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Open-Sided Floors and PlatformsOpen-Sided Floors and Platforms

A toeboard is required when, beneath the open sides: people can pass there is moving machinery there is equipment where falling materials

could create a hazard

OSHA Office of Training and Education - Revised by TEEX 12/04/07

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Open-Sided Floors, Walkways, Open-Sided Floors, Walkways, Platforms and RunwaysPlatforms and Runways

Regardless of height, a standard railing and toeboard must be used to guard:- open-sided floors- walkways- platforms, or- runwaysabove or adjacent to dangerous equipment, pickling or galvanizing tanks, degreasing units and similar hazards.

OSHA Office of Training and Education - Revised by TEEX 12/04/07

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Wall OpeningsWall Openings

Opening at least 30 in. high and 18 in. wide, in a wall or partition, through which persons may fall

Wall openings from which there is a drop of more than 4 feet must be guarded

OSHA Office of Training and Education - Revised by TEEX 12/04/07

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Wall HoleWall Hole

An opening less than 30 inches, but more than 1 inch high, or unrestricted width, in any wall or partition

OSHA Office of Training and Education - Revised by TEEX 12/04/07

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Portable LaddersPortable Ladders

Do not use portable stepladders longer than 20’

Stepladders shall have a spreader or locking device to securely hold the both sections in the open position

Do not use single ladders longer than 30’

Do not use extension ladders longer than 60’

OSHA Office of Training and Education - Revised by TEEX 12/04/07

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Portable LaddersPortable Ladders

Ladders used to gain access to a roof or other area must extend at least 3’ above the point of support

Withdraw defective ladders from service and tag or mark "Dangerous, Do Not Use“

Never use ladders in a horizontal position as scaffolds or work platforms

Never use metal ladders near electrical equipment

OSHA Office of Training and Education - Revised by TEEX 12/04/07

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Portable LaddersPortable Ladders

Always face the ladder when climbing Do not splice together short ladders to make a longer

ladder Use both hands when climbing ladders Do not use the top of a regular stepladder as a step

OSHA Office of Training and Education - Revised by TEEX 12/04/07

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Use at angle where the horizontal distance from the top support to the foot of the ladder is ¼ the working length of the ladder (length along ladder between the foot and top support)

Ladder AngleLadder AnglePortable Rung and Cleat LaddersPortable Rung and Cleat Ladders

OSHA Office of Training and Education - Revised by TEEX 12/04/07

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Fixed LaddersFixed Ladders

Permanently attached to a structure, building or equipment

Cages or wells required if longer than 20’ to a maximum unbroken length of 30’

Ladder safety devices may be used on tower, water tank and chimney ladders over 20’ in unbroken length instead of cage protection

OSHA Office of Training and Education - Revised by TEEX 12/04/07

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Fixed LaddersFixed Ladders

A ladder safety device (other than a cage) is designed to eliminate or reduce accidental falls

A feature of fixed ladders is the landing platform which is designed to interrupt a free fall and is a resting place during long climbs

OSHA Office of Training and Education - Revised by TEEX 12/04/07

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Fixed LaddersFixed Ladders

Cages – a guard that is fastened to the side rails of the fixed ladder or to the structure encircling the climbing space of the ladder for the safety of the person climbing cages extend a minimum of 42” above the top of a

landing unless other acceptable protection is provided

cages extend down the ladder to a point not less than 7’ and not more than 8’ above the base of the ladder

OSHA Office of Training and Education - Revised by TEEX 12/04/07

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ScaffoldingScaffolding

Must be capable of supporting four times the maximum load

Do not alter/move it while in use Protect workers on scaffolds from

overhead hazards If higher than 10’, use guardrails,

midrails and toeboards

OSHA Office of Training and Education - Revised by TEEX 12/04/07

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ScaffoldingScaffolding

Do not work on scaffolding during bad weather or high winds

Use wire mesh between the toeboard and guardrail if people work or pass underneath

Provide safe access to the working platform

Review 1910.28 for special requirements for different types of scaffolds

OSHA Office of Training and Education - Revised by TEEX 12/04/07

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Mobile Ladder Stands and Mobile Ladder Stands and Scaffolds (Towers)Scaffolds (Towers)

General Requirements

Keep exposed surfaces free from sharp edges, burrs or other safety hazards

Do not allow maximum height to exceed four times the minimum base dimension unless outriggers, guys or braces are added to provide stability

Work levels 10’ or more above the ground require guardrails and toeboards

OSHA Office of Training and Education - Revised by TEEX 12/04/07

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SummarySummary

Slips, trips and falls constitute the majority of general industry accidents

OSHA’s standards for walking and working surfaces include requirements for housekeeping, guarding floor and wall openings and holes, industrial stairs and ladders

Keeping working surfaces clean, dry and uncluttered can prevent many workplace accidents