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