Walking/Working Surfaces Standard PDF

Walking/Working Surfaces Standard On November 18, 2016, the Occupational Safety and Health Admuin- istration (OSHA) issued a final rule revising its walking- working surfaces and personal protection equipment (PPE) regulations. OSHA did not exempt motor vehicles from the fall protection re- quireme...

Walking/Working Surfaces Standard On November 18, 2016, the Occupational Safety and Health Admuin- istration (OSHA) issued a final rule revising its walking- working surfaces and personal protection equipment (PPE) regulations. OSHA did not exempt motor vehicles from the fall protection re- quirements but did not propose any specific fall protection require- ments for motor vehicles. OSHA made revisions to the following areas: Dockboards: The final rule defines a dockboard as a portable or fixed device used to span a gap or compensate for a difference in height between a loading platform and a transport vehicle. Dockboards may be powered or manual, and include, but are not limited to, bridge plates, dock levelers, and dock plates. Run-off protection is not required when there is insufficient space for equipment to run off. Additionally, securing dockboards is not necessary when there is sufficient contact between the dockboard and the surface to prevent the dockboard from moving out of a safe position. Wheel chocks or other means to prevent vehicle movement are required when employ- ees are on a dockboard. Repair/ Assembly Pits: In situations where there are two or more pits (not more than 10 feet deep) in a common area and the pits are not more than 15 feet apart, OSHA requires contrasting floor markings at least six feet from the pit edge around the entire area of the pits. Wheel Chocking: The final rule made clear that OSHA has authority to enforce wheel chocking requirements in two instances: (1) Trans- port vehicles that do not meet the definition of commercial motor vehicle (CMV); and (2) CMs not operated in interstate commerce, which includes CMs that transport materials on private roads or within a work establishment. Loading-Dock Guardrails & Fall Protection: The final rule does not exempt loading docks from having guardrails or fall protection. Employers that can demonstrate that the use of fall protection systems is not feasible on the working side of a platform used at a loading rack, loading dock, or teeming platform, then the work may be done without a fall protection system, provided: “(1) The work operation for which fall protection is infeasible is in process; (2) 38