What does OSHA consider a wall opening?

An “opening” [in a wall/partition] is defined in §1926.500(b) as: a gap or void 30 inches (76 cm) or more high and 18 inches (48 cm) or more wide, in a wall or partition, through which employees can fall to a lower level.

What size floor opening is considered by OSHA to be a hole?

2 inches
OSHA’s construction fall protection rule, 29 CFR Subpart M §1926.500, defines these terms as follows: “Hole means a gap or void 2 inches (5.1 cm) or more in its least dimension, in a floor, roof, or other walking/working surface.”

What OSHA standard cites the regulations for guarding wall opening from which there is a drop of more than 4 feet?

standard 29 CFR 1910.23
The current OSHA standard 29 CFR 1910.23(b) relating to Protection for Wall Openings and Holes states that every wall opening from which there is a drop of more than 4 feet shall be guarded by an actual fall protection barrier.

What does OSHA consider a safe distance from an open floor edge?

Keith Harkins, OSHA stated that a warning line system set 15 feet from an unprotected edge is permitted to be used instead of conventional fall protection to protect employees engaged in non-roofing activities.

What is the size of a wall opening that must be guarded?

An opening at least 30 inches high and 18 inches wide, in any wall or partition, through which persons may fall, such as a yard-arm doorway or chute opening. Every stairway floor opening must be guarded by a standard railing (see the section Railing, Toeboard and Cover Specifications).

When Must wall openings be guarded?

Every wall opening from which there is a drop of more than four feet must be guarded by a rail, roller, picket fence or half door. In addition, if there is exposure below to falling materials, a removable toe board also must be used.

How does OSHA define a floor opening?

Floor opening: an opening measuring 12 inches or more in its least dimension, in any floor, platform, pavement, or yard through which persons may fall; such as a hatchway, stair or ladder opening, pit or large manhole.

What is considered an open hole?

You further describe its location as “an open area of a construction site.” The fall protection standard, at 29 CFR §1926.500(b), defines a hole as “a gap or void 2 inches…or more in its least dimension, in a floor, roof, or other walking/working surface.” The standard has two requirements with respect to holes.

Is fall protection required at 4 feet?

OSHA requires that fall protection be provided at elevations of four feet in general industry workplaces, five feet in shipyards, six feet in the construction industry and eight feet in longshoring operations.

What does OSHA consider a leading edge?

In the Safety and Health Regulations for Construction, CFR 1926 Subpart R, OSHA defines a leading edge as “the unprotected side and edge of a floor, roof, or formwork for a floor or other walking/working surface (such as deck) which changes location as additional floor, roof, decking or formwork sections are placed.

What distance from any edge do you require fall protection?

A common rule of thumb in the construction industry is “the 6-foot rule,” i.e., that a worker on a flat surface more than 6 feet from an unprotected edge does not require fall protection.

In what situation must wall openings and holes be protected wall openings and holes must be protected when they are?

In what situation must wall openings and holes be protected? Wall openings and holes must be protected when they are: Next to a drop of four feet or more.