1. Walking-Working Surfaces
OSHA Office of Training and Education

2. OSHA Office of Training and Education
Introduction
Slips, trips and falls constitute the majority of general industry accidents
This discussion covers some of the most frequently-occurring serious hazards involving OSHA’s walking-working surfaces standards
OSHA Office of Training and Education

3. General Requirements Housekeeping
All workplaces must be kept clean and orderly and in a sanitary condition
Every workroom floor must be maintained as clean and dry as possible
OSHA Office of Training and Education

4. General Requirements Aisles and Passageways
Keep clear and in good repair with no obstruction across or in aisles that could create a hazard
Permanent aisles and passageways must be appropriately marked
Aisles must be sufficiently wide where mechanical handling equipment is used
OSHA Office of Training and Education

5. General Requirements Covers and Guardrails
Covers and/or guardrails must be provided to protect employees from the hazards of open pits, tanks, vats, ditches, and the like.
OSHA Office of Training and Education

6. General Requirements Floor Loading Protection
Load rating plates must be marked on plates and conspicuously posted
No load must be placed on any floor or roof that is greater than its load rating limit
OSHA Office of Training and Education

7. Guarding Floor and Wall Openings and Holes Definitions
Floor opening. An opening measuring 12 inches or more in its least dimension, in any floor, platform, pavement, or yard, through which persons may fall.
Floor hole. An opening measuring less than 12 inches but more than 1 inch in its least dimension, in any floor, platform, pavement or yard, through which materials but not persons may fall.
OSHA Office of Training and Education

8. Guarding Floor and Wall Openings and Holes Definitions (cont’d)
Wall opening. An opening at least 30 inches high and 18 inches wide, in any wall or partition, through which persons may fall.
Wall hole. An opening less than 30 inches but more than 1 inch high, of unrestricted width, in any wall or partition.
OSHA Office of Training and Education

9. Guarding Floor and Wall Openings and Holes Definitions (cont’d)
Standard railing. Consists of top rail, mid rail, and posts, a vertical height of 42 inches nominal from the upper surface of top rail to floor level. Nominal height of mid rail is 21 inches.
Standard toeboard. 4 inches nominal in vertical height, with not more than ¼-inch clearance above floor level.
OSHA Office of Training and Education

10. Guarding Stairway Floor Openings
Must be guarded by a standard railing on all exposed sides (except at stairway entrance).
OSHA Office of Training and Education

11. Guarding Ladderway Floor Openings
Must be guarded by a standard railing with toeboard on all exposed sides (except at entrance)
Swinging gate or offset required so that a person cannot walk directly into the opening
OSHA Office of Training and Education

12. Guarding Wall Openings
Every wall opening from which there is a drop of more than 4 feet must be guarded.
OSHA Office of Training and Education

13. Guarding Temporary Floor Openings
Must have standard railings or be constantly attended by someone.
OSHA Office of Training and Education

14. Guarding Open-Sided Floors and Platforms
Every open-sided floor or platform 4 feet 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 wherever, beneath the open sides:
Persons can pass,
There is moving machinery, or
There is equipment with which falling materials could create a hazard.
OSHA Office of Training and Education

15. OSHA Office of Training and Education
Guarding Platforms
OSHA Office of Training and Education

16. Guarding Open-Sided Floors, Walkways, Platforms, and Runways
Regardless of height, open-sided floors, walkways, platforms, or runways above or adjacent to dangerous equipment, pickling or galvanizing tanks, degreasing units, and similar hazards must be guarded with a standard railing and toeboard.
OSHA Office of Training and Education

17. OSHA Office of Training and Education
Guarding Stairways
Every flight of stairs with four or more risers must have standard stair railings or standard handrails.
OSHA Office of Training and Education

18. OSHA Office of Training and Education
Portable Ladders
Must withdraw defective ladders from service and tag or mark "Dangerous, Do Not Use"
Ladders used to gain access to a roof or other area must extend at least 3 feet above the point of support
Ladders must never be used in a horizontal position as scaffolds or work platforms
Metal ladders must never be used near electrical equipment
OSHA Office of Training and Education

19. OSHA Office of Training and Education
Summary
Slips, trips, and falls constitute the majority of general industry accidents
They cause 15% of all accidental deaths, and are second only to motor vehicles as a cause of fatalities
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