Walking and Working Surfaces, Fire Protection and Exit Routes
How to prevent slips, trips and falls on the floor and at openings, how stairs, ladders and scaffolds are made safe, and how exit routes, emergency action plans and fire prevention plans protect people.
Pages in this chapter (1 of 2)
2.1 Walking and Working Surfaces
OSHA's rules on walking and working surfaces aim to prevent slips, trips and falls, which are among the most common causes of workplace injury. They cover housekeeping, aisles and passageways, covers and guardrails, and floor loading.
Housekeeping
- Keep workplaces, passageways, store rooms and service areas clean, orderly and sanitary.
- Keep the floor of every work area clean and, as far as possible, dry.
- Where work is wet, provide drainage, gratings, mats, raised platforms or other engineering controls to avoid slips.
- Keep floors, working surfaces and passageways free of protruding nails, splinters, holes and loose boards.
Aisles and passageways
- Keep aisles and passageways clear of anything that creates a hazard, and mark permanent aisles.
- Make aisles wide enough where mechanical handling equipment is used.
- Do not block routes that are needed in an emergency.
Covers and guardrails
Open pits, tanks, vats and ditches need covers or guardrails.
Floor loading
Load ratings must be marked on plates that are posted where they can be seen, and the rating must never be exceeded.
Holes and openings
Holes and openings are extreme hazards that must be dealt with at once. Workers may fall through them or over a leading edge to a lower level, and tools or materials may fall through and strike people or damage equipment below. The definitions are:
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Floor hole | An opening in a floor, platform or pavement that measures between 1 inch and 12 inches, through which materials but not people may fall. |
| Floor opening | An opening of 12 inches or more through which a person could fall. |
| Wall opening | An opening in a wall at least 30 inches high and 18 inches wide through which a person could fall. |
| Standard railing | A top rail, a mid rail and posts. The top rail is 42 inches above the floor and the mid rail is halfway, at 21 inches. |
| Standard toe board | A board 4 inches high with no more than a quarter inch of clearance above the floor, which stops materials and body parts from slipping through. |
Stairs, ladders and scaffolds
Inspect stairways for the condition of handrails, stair rails and treads. Ladders may be fixed or portable. The main hazard is falling, and a ladder that is poorly designed, maintained or used can collapse under load. The footing or anchorage for a scaffold must be sound, rigid and able to carry the maximum intended load without settling, and scaffolds and their parts must support at least four times the maximum intended load.
A study aid, not published or endorsed by IOSH or OSHA. Laws and limits differ between countries.