1. WALKING-WORKING SURFACES 29 CFR 1910 SUBPART D
Bureau of Workers’ Comp
PA Training for Health & Safety
(PATHS)
This presentation is designed to assist trainers conducting OSHA 10-hour General Industry outreach training for workers. Since workers are the target audience, this presentation emphasizes hazard identification, avoidance, and control – not standards. No attempt has been made to treat the topic exhaustively. It is essential that trainers tailor their presentations to the needs and understanding of their audience.
This presentation is not a substitute for any of the provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 or for any standards issued by the U.S. Department of Labor. Mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Department of Labor.
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2. Introduction Slips, trips and falls cause:
The majority of general industry accidents
15 percent of all accidental deaths
More fatalities than all other causes, except 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.
29 CFR Part 1910 Subpart D
Walking-Working Surfaces (§ to )
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3. General Requirements: Housekeeping
Workplaces must be kept clean, orderly and sanitary.
Workroom floors must be maintained as clean and dry as possible.
Some of the most frequently cited violations in Subpart D involve housekeeping [ (a)].
Drainage must be maintained and gratings, mats or raised platforms must be provided where wet processes are used.
Every floor, working place and passageway must be kept free from protruding nails, splinters, holes, or loose boards to facilitate cleaning.
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4. General Requirements: Aisles 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.
(b)
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5. General Requirements: Covers and Guardrails
Provide covers/guardrails to protect workers from the hazards of open pits, tanks, vats, ditches, etc.
(c)
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6. General Requirements: Skylight Floor Opening
Every skylight floor opening and hole shall be guarded by a standard skylight screen or a fixed standard railing on all exposed sides.
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7. General Requirements: Pit & Trapdoor Floor Opening
Every pit and trapdoor floor opening, infrequently used=guarded by a floor opening cover of standard strength and construction.
While the cover is not in place, the pit or trap opening must be constantly attended by someone or protected on all exposed sides by removable standard railings.
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8. General Requirements: Floor Loading Protection
Load ratings must be marked on plates and conspicuously posted.
Do not exceed the load rating limit.
(d)
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9. Floor Opening
An opening measuring 12 inches or more in its least dimension in a floor, platform, pavement or yard through which people may fall.
(a)(2)
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10. Guarding Floor Openings: Definitions
Standard railing:
Consists of top rail, mid rail and posts
Height from upper surface of top rail to floor level is 42 inches
Mid rail height is 21 inches
Standard toeboard:
- 4 inches high, with not more than ¼ inch clearance above the floor
(e)(1) and (4)
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11. Stairway Floor Openings
Must be guarded by a standard railing on all exposed sides (except at entrance)
(a)(1)
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12. Ladderway 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.
(a)(2)
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13. Floor 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.
Every floor hole that people can accidentally walk into must be guarded by either:
a standard railing with toeboard or
a cover
(a)(1)
(a)(8)
While the cover is not in place, the floor hole shall be constantly attended by someone or shall be protected by a standard railing with a standard toeboard.
Every floor hole into which persons cannot accidentally walk (because of fixed machinery, equipment, or walls) shall be protected by a cover that leaves no openings more than 1 inch wide. The cover shall be securely held in place to prevent tools or materials from falling through.
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14. Wall Openings
Opening at least 30” high and 18” 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.
(b)(1)
Guard using one of the following: rail, roller, picket fence, half door, or equivalent barrier.
Where there is exposure below to falling materials, a removable toe board or the equivalent must also be provided.
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15. Open-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.
A toeboard is required when beneath the open sides:
persons can pass,
there is moving machinery, or
there is equipment where falling materials could create a hazard.
(c)(1)
Unguarded Platform
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16. Open-sided Floors, Walkways, Platforms and Runways
Regardless of height, a standard railing and toeboard must be used to guard:
open-sided floors
- walkways
- platforms, or
- runways
Above or adjacent to dangerous equipment, pickling or galvanizing tanks, degreasing units and similar hazards
(c)(3)
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17. Stairways
Flights of stairs with four or more risers must have standard stair railings or handrails.
(d)(1)
(e)(2)
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18. Fixed 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 1,000 pounds
Minimum width of 22”
Applies to interior and exterior stairs around machinery, tanks and other equipment, and stairs leading to or from floors, platforms or pits.
Does not apply to stairs used for fire exit purposes, to construction operations, to private residences, or to articulated stairs, such as those on floating roof tanks.
Fixed industrial stairs are required for access to and from places of work where operations necessitate regular travel between levels.
Violation here: several steps bent and damaged, no railings/handrails, tools on stairs
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19. Portable Ladders
Ladders used to gain access to a roof or other area must extend at least 3’ above the point of support.
Remove 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.
Maximum length: Stepladders – 20 ft, single-rung ladders – 30 ft., two-section rung ladders – 60 ft.
Stepladders must be equipped with a metal spreader or locking device to securely hold the front and back sections in an open position.
All ladders must be inspected periodically, kept in good condition at all times, and must be free from sharp edges, splinters, oil grease, or other defects which would affect their use.
- Always place the ladder on secure footing and lock in place.
- Short ladders shall not be spliced together to make long ladders.
- The top of a regular stepladder shall not be used as a step.
- Always face the ladder when climbing or descending.
Notice step ladder in use; safer to use straight ladder
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20. Portable Wood Ladders Free from sharp edges, splinters, wear and decay
Step ladders
- Type I = 3’ to 20’ (heavy duty use)
- Type II = 3’ to 12’ (medium duty)
- Type III = 3’ to 6’ (light duty)
These have a metal spreader or locking device
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21. Portable Wood ladders - Inspection 29 CFR 1910.25 (d)(1)(x)
Regularly inspect ladders
Those with defects should be withdrawn from service for repair or destruction and tagged or marked as "Dangerous, Do Not Use"
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22. Single/Straight ladder
Portable Ladders
Single/Straight ladder
30 feet or less
Extension ladder
60 feet or less
Painter’s ladder
12 feet or less
The length of a stepladder is measured by the length of the front rail. To be classified as a standard length ladder, the measured length must be within plus or minus one-half inch of the specified length.
Stepladders must not exceed 20 feet.
The bottom four rails are to be supplied with an insulating non-slip material for the safety of the user.
Metal ladders conduct electricity.
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23. Care and Use of Ladders
Ladders must be maintained in good condition at all times:
Joints must be tight
Metal bearings of lock, wheels, pulleys, etc., must be lubricated
Frayed or badly worn rope must be replaced
Safety feet and other auxiliary equipment must be in good condition
Ladders must be inspected frequently
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24. Ladders and Electricity
Metal ladders conduct electricity – be careful where they are located when in use
Suggest metal ladders have a sign stating “not for use around electricity or electrical lines”
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25. Ladder Angle – Portable Rung and Cleat Ladders
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)
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26. Safe Use of Ladders Make sure the ladder is strong enough and long
enough for the job.
Carefully inspect the ladder before you use it.
Place the ladder on a firm, level surface with its
feet parallel to the wall it is resting against.
Face the ladder when ascending or descending.
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27. Safe Use of Ladders Ensure rungs are free from grease/oil.
Always maintain 3 points of contact when ascending or descending.
Never splice ladders together.
Employee is maintaining three points of contact while working
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28. Fixed Ladders
Permanently attached to a structure, building or equipment
Cages or wells are 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
All fixed ladders must be inspected regularly and be maintained in a safe condition.
Preferred pitch in range of 75 to 90 degrees with horizontal.
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29. Safe Use of Ladders – Any Safety Issues Here?
Rail Bent
Rail Bent
Bracket Bent & Shelf Missing
Bracket Bent & Shelf Missing
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30. Scaffolding General Requirements
Must be capable of supporting four times the maximum intended load.
Do not alter or move while in use.
Protect workers on scaffolds from overhead hazards.
If higher than 10’, use guardrails, midrails and toeboards.
Use wire mesh between the toeboard and guardrail if people work or pass underneath.
Must be equipped with access ladder or equivalent.
Damaged or weakened scaffolds must not be used.
A safe means must be provided to gain access to the working platform level through use of a ladder, ramp, etc.
Never work on scaffolds during storms, high winds, ice, or snow.
Always be aware of the hazards of overhead power lines when working on scaffolds.
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31. Scaffolding Designed by qualified person and built loaded to design
Footing or anchorage of scaffolds must be sound, rigid and capable of carrying the maximum intended load without displacement
Must be capable of supporting at least 4 times the maximum intended load
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32. Any Problems Here?
Scaffolding unsafe – no guardrails, not supported or anchored properly, etc.
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33. Summary
• Slips, trips and falls constitute the majority of general industry accidents.
• OSHA’s standards for walking and working surfaces include requirements for guarding floor/wall openings and holes, housekeeping,
industrial stairs and ladders.
• Maintaining proper clearance and aisle space helps to prevent accidents and injuries.
• Keeping working surfaces clean, dry and uncluttered can prevent many workplace accidents.
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34. Remember
A slip/trip/fall can occur in just one second, and that one second can change your life.
Be careful, be safe and use common sense when it comes to maintaining and using walking and working surfaces.
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35. Questions
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