Floor openings are a broad OSHA standard covering stairwells, ladderways, hatches, skylights, pits, manholes, and other walking or working surfaces that workers can fall into. In industrial workplaces, floor openings commonly provide multi-level access or access to storage or materials, and are often found when labor or construction is underway. Consider the Top 10 citations for OSHA safety standard 1910.23 in 2012.
- Manufacturing (302 Citations in 2012)
- Wholesale Trade (71 Citations)
- Transportation, Communications, Electric, Gas, and Sanitary Services (61 Citations)
- Services (49 Citations)
- Mining (38 Citations)
- Retail Trade (30 Citations)
- Construction (12 Citations)
- Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishing (5 Citations)
- Public Administration (3 Citations)
- Finance, Insurance, and Real Estate (2 Citations)
Source: OSHA 2012 Statistics and Data
Safety managers and operations personnel must keep in mind OSHA guidelines including proper railings, floor opening covers, toe boards, manhole guards, and platforms. Industries with the most frequent violations include manufacturing, transportation/energy, and mining. The common thread among these industries? Material storage, operational setting variations, and multi-level access.
If your work area provides access to multiple levels for which standard equipment will not safely facilitate, custom solutions may be necessary. Proper equipment will protect your employees, manage worker’s comp safety risk, and prevent OSHA citations.
Innovative Access Solutions, LLC
For custom access design, Innovative Access Solutions is an experienced and knowledgeable producer of OSHA safe solutions, across industries. For more information about IAS, visit IAScustom.com or call (800) 388-6884.