OSHA Office of Training and Education - Revised by TEEX 12/04/07 1 Walking-Working Surfaces

OSHA Office of Training and Education - Revised by TEEX 12/04/07 2 Introduction !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 3 General Requirements !Housekeeping !Aisles and Passageways !Covers and Guardrails !Floor Loading Protection

OSHA Office of Training and Education - Revised by TEEX 12/04/07 4 Housekeeping !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 5 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

OSHA Office of Training and Education - Revised by TEEX 12/04/07 6 Covers 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 7 Floor 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 8 Stairways 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 9 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 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 10 Types of Hazardous Openings and Holes !Floor Hole !Floor Opening ! Wall Hole ! Wall Opening

OSHA Office of Training and Education - Revised by TEEX 12/04/07 11 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

OSHA Office of Training and Education - Revised by TEEX 12/04/07 12 Guarding 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 13 Floor 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 14 Guarding 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 15 Guarding 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 16 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

OSHA Office of Training and Education - Revised by TEEX 12/04/07 17 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 Unguarded Platform

OSHA Office of Training and Education - Revised by TEEX 12/04/07 18 Open-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 19 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.

OSHA Office of Training and Education - Revised by TEEX 12/04/07 20 Wall 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 21 Wall 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 22 Portable 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 23 Portable 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 24 Portable 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 25 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 Angle Portable Rung and Cleat Ladders

OSHA Office of Training and Education - Revised by TEEX 12/04/07 26 Fixed 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 27 Fixed 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 28 Fixed 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 29Scaffolding !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 30 Scaffolding !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 for special requirements for different types of scaffolds

OSHA Office of Training and Education - Revised by TEEX 12/04/07 31 Mobile Ladder Stands and 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 32 Summary !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