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Basic Overview of Walking and Working Surfaces: Key Terms

This document provides an overview of OSHA standards for walking and working surfaces. It outlines requirements for floor openings, wall openings, holes, railings, toeboards, covers, and stairways to prevent falls and injuries. Floor openings must have railings with toeboards or sturdy covers. Platforms over 4 feet high require railings on open sides. Railings must be 42 inches high with intermediate rails, and stair railings between 30-34 inches. Toeboards must be 4 inches high. The document specifies load limits for covers, and minimum requirements for fixed industrial stairs.

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Praful E. Pawar
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40 views3 pages

Basic Overview of Walking and Working Surfaces: Key Terms

This document provides an overview of OSHA standards for walking and working surfaces. It outlines requirements for floor openings, wall openings, holes, railings, toeboards, covers, and stairways to prevent falls and injuries. Floor openings must have railings with toeboards or sturdy covers. Platforms over 4 feet high require railings on open sides. Railings must be 42 inches high with intermediate rails, and stair railings between 30-34 inches. Toeboards must be 4 inches high. The document specifies load limits for covers, and minimum requirements for fixed industrial stairs.

Uploaded by

Praful E. Pawar
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Basic Overview of Walking and

Working Surfaces
The following information is a general overview of major points and
standards developed from OSHA 29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart D.
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
 Toeboard: 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:
 Railingsto 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 toeboard 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 sidesexcept entrance to ramp,
stairway, or fixed ladder
Railing, Toeboard, 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
 Toeboard should be nominal 4 inches in vertical height and
have no more than 1/4 inch clearance above floor level
 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 hand rails
 Stairways less than 44 inches wide having both sides enclosed,
must have at least one handrail that is affixed, preferably of right
side descending
 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
o Minimum moving concentrated load of 1000 pounds
o Minimum width of 22 inches
o Angle to horizontal between 30 and 50 degrees
o Vertical clearance from tread to overhead a minimum of 7 feet

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