Avoid A Fatality- Floor Openings/Covers Alert

OSHA 1926.502 (i) requires covers for holes in floors, roofs and other walking/working surfaces for fall protection. These covers must be able to withstand twice the maximum load intended, to included people, equipment, and material. The covers must be secured to prevent accidental removal or displacement leaving the hole exposed causing a fall exposure more than 6'.

Recently, an Iron Worker Apprentice was assigned the task of gathering loose material on a decking job as part of a housekeeping assignment. He had gathered several loose sheets of plywood marked "HOLE" that were intended to be used as floor opening covers. He was making his last trip to pick up, what he thought was the last sheet of plywood, when he fell 25' to his death. It so happened, the last sheet of plywood was covering a 3ft.x 3ft. hole in the decking cut for an HVAC duct access. He assumbed it was just another cover that was set aside during the decking process and was not covering a hole. He was very wrong!

In talking with Henry Mykich, American Bridge Company Director of Safety and Health/NEA Safety Committee Co-chair, a possible alternative method of covering holes was discussed. Henry covers floor openings on his projects with regular planking and expanded metal. The planks are spaced to allow a visual of the floor opening through the expanded metal to eliminate someone removing the cover accidently thinking it was not covering a hole. The expanded metal is secured to the planking to the decking to prevent accidental displacement from the hole or opening.