The following information is a general overview of major points and standards according to OSHA 29 CFR Part 1910, Walking and Working Surfaces for General Industry.
Key Terms:
- Floor Hole: opening less than 12 inches but more than 1 inch
- Floor Opening: an opening greater than 12 inches where a person may fall
- Toe board: barrier to prevent the falling of materials
- Standard Railing: barrier to prevent persons from falling
- Wall Hole: an opening less than 30 inches but more than 1 inch high of unrestricted width, in any wall or partition
- Wall Opening: an opening greater than 30 inches high and 18 inches wide
General Requirements:
- All places of employment, passageways, storerooms, and service rooms shall be kept clean and orderly and in a sanitary condition
- Aisles and passageways shall be kept clear and in good repairs, with no obstruction across or in aisles that could create a hazard
- Covers and/or guardrails provided to protect personnel from the hazards of open pits, tanks, vats, ditches, etc.
- Load rating limits shall be posted on all cover plates
Floor Openings, Wall Openings, and Holes:
- Railings to be provided on all exposed sides of a stairway except entrance
- Guardrails to be in place or attendant posted at all temporary floor openings
- Floor holes to have standard railing with toe board or hole cover of standard strength and construction
- Every hatchway or chute opening to be guarded
- Platforms 4 feet or more above ground shall be guarded by standard railing on all open sides except entrance to ramp, stairway, or fixed ladder
Railing, Toe board, and Cover Specifications:
- Top rails shall have a vertical height of 42 inches nominal from upper surface of top rail to floor
- Protection between top rail and floor, platform, runway, ramp, or stair treads, equivalent at least to that afforded by a standard intermediate rail
- Height of handrails shall be not more than 34 inches nor less than 30 inches from upper surface of handrail to surface of tread
- Toe board should be nominal 4 inches in vertical height
- Roadway manhole covers to handle at least 20,000 pounds
- Skylight screens must be able to carry at least 200 pounds
- 200 pounds for wall opening covers
Stairways:
- Every flight of stairs with 4 or more risers shall have standard railings or handrails
- Stairways less than 44 inches wide having both sides enclosed, must have at least one fixed handrail
- Less than 44 inches wide with open side, one affixed handrail on open side
- Less than 44 inches wide with two open sides, two handrails to be provided on each side
- Fixed industrial stairs are to carry 5 times anticipated load
- Minimum moving concentrated load of 1000 pounds
- Minimum width of 22 inches
- Angle to horizontal between 30 and 50 degrees
- Vertical clearance from tread to overhead a minimum of 7 feet
Scaffold and ladder:
- Mostly use scaffold of appropriate size platform and load capacity
- Must extend at least 3 feet above point of support
- Never to be placed near electrical hazards
- Secure positions/footing, or lashed or held in position
- Never splice ladders to elongate
- Never use ladder as platforms
