Osha Floor Opening Cover
Floor openings are hazardous because workers may fall through them and or may be struck by objects that fall through openings.
Osha floor opening cover. Opening means a gap or open space in a wall partition vertical walkingworking surface or similar surface that is at least 30 inches 76 cm high and at least 18 inches 46 cm wide through which an employee can fall to a lower level. However where appropriate osha tries to give employers some guidance to help them assess whether products are appropriate to use in light of osha requirements. Used must be guarded by a floor opening cover of standard strength and construction. The following are specific federal osha requirements pertaining to floor opening covers.
Our floor opening covers are made in the usa out of durable pvc plastic materials they are recyclable and economical and they are certified astm standard d1790 and d638. At 29 cfr 1926 500 b defines a hole as a gap or void 2 inches or more in its least dimension in a. If these open sections are in a walkway at least two 10 inch planks placed side by side or equivalent shall be laid across the opening to provide a safe walking surface. We help make your job easier more efficient and more cost effective while ensuring safety based on osha requirements.
Personal fall arrest system means a system used to arrest an employee in a fall from a walking working. Floor openings on a job site can occur during construction renovations or repairs. If you have a choice make a round opening and cover. Covers shall be capable of supporting without failure at least twice the weight of employees equipment and materials that may be imposed on the cover at any one time.
You asked for clarification of the fall protection requirements when working in the vicinity of an open concrete elevator pit which measures 6 by 8 and 4 feet deep. While the cover is not in place the pit or trap opening must be. Strength requirement floor hole covers must meet the applicable parts of 1926 502 i. The cover must be capable of supporting at least a 200 pound load be larger than the opening secured against displacement and labeled floor opening do not remove.
There may be floor openings as each new floor in a building is added for personnel and material access and for stairwells elevators or skylights. Guarding floor and wall openings and holes osha standard 1910 23 2 overview this is a condensation of standard 1910 23 of the occupational safety and health act. Sections of bilges from which floor plates or gratings have been removed shall be guarded by guardrails except where they would interfere with work in progress. Never cover a hole with any type of non substantial.
1910 29 k 3 the employer must ensure canopies used for falling object protection are strong enough to prevent collapse and to prevent penetration by falling objects.