EASTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
Doc. No. : EH&S-P24
Revision : 0
PROCEDURE
GUARDING FLOOR, WALL
OPENINGS AND PLATFORMS
Origin Date : 7/15/2011
Revision Date : None
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this program is to establish safe work procedures for employees and supervisors
working around floor/roof openings and holes, open-sided floors, platforms, and runways. Eastern
Washington University (EWU) employees and supervisors are expected to comply with the
requirements set forth in this document.
The procedures within this document provide guidance for complying with the requirements of
Washington Administrative Code (WAC) 296-800-26005 through WAC 296-800-26010. This
document does not supersede the WAC and the provisions of the WAC prevail when this document
contradicts, is inconsistent with, or omits information found within the WAC.
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
A. Floor openings and floor holes must be safely protected as required in WAC 296-800-26005,
WAC 296-155-505, and WAC 296-24-75011.
1. Definitions:
a. Floor openings - are an opening in any floor, platform, pavement, or yard that measures
at least 12 inches in its smallest dimension and through which a person can fall.
Examples may include, but are not limited to: hatchways; stair or ladder openings; and
pits. Openings occupied by elevators, dumbwaiters, conveyors, machinery and
containers are not floor openings for these purposes.
b. Floor holes - are an opening in any floor, platform, pavement, or yard that measures at
least one inch but less than 12 inches at its smallest dimension through which materials
and tools (but not people) can fall. Examples of floor holes may include, but are not
limited to, belt holes; pipe openings; and slot openings.
2. Requirements for Protection:
a. Stairway floor openings must be protected with a railing that protects all open sides
except the stairway entrance side. They can be protected with a hinged cover and a
removable railing where traffic across an infrequently used stairway floor opening
prevents installation of a fixed railing, and this removable railing must protect all open
sides except the stairway entrance side.
b. Temporary floor openings must be protected by either a railing or by a person who
constantly attends the opening.
c. Ladder way floor openings or platforms shall be guarded by standard railings with
standard toe boards on all exposed sides, except at the entrance to the opening, with the
passage through the railing either provided by a swinging gate or so offset that a person
cannot walk directly into the opening.
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EASTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
Doc. No. : EH&S-P24
Revision : 0
PROCEDURE
GUARDING FLOOR, WALL
OPENINGS AND PLATFORMS
Origin Date : 7/15/2011
Revision Date : None
d. Hatchways and chute floor openings shall be protected by: a hinged cover of standard
strength and construction and a standard railing with only one exposed side. When the
opening is not in use, the cover shall be closed or the exposed side shall be guarded at
both top and intermediate positions by removable standard railings; or a removable
standard railing with toe board on not more than two sides of the opening and fixed
standard railings with toe boards on all other exposed sides. The removable railing shall
be kept in place when the opening is not in use and shall be hinged or otherwise mounted
so as to be conveniently replaceable.
e. Skylight openings shall be protected whenever there is danger of falling through the
opening, and the skylight itself is not capable of sustaining the weight of a two hundred
pound person with a safety factor of four. Standard guardrails shall be provided on all
exposed sides or the skylight shall be properly covered.
f. Pits and trap door floor openings shall be protected by floor opening covers of standard
strength and construction. While the cover is not in place, the pit or trap openings shall
be protected on all exposed sides by removable standard railings.
g. Manhole floor openings shall be protected by standard covers which need not be hinged
in place. While the cover is not in place, the manhole opening shall be protected by
standard railings.
h. Exposed floor holes into which a person can accidentally walk must be protected by
either: a railing with a standard toe board on all open sides or a floor hole cover of
standard strength and construction that can be hinged in placed. If a “floor hole cover” is
not in place, the hole must be protected by a removable railing or constantly attended by
someone.
i. Tools and material must be prevented from falling through a floor hole with a cover that
leaves an opening no more than one inch wide and is securely held in place. This applies
only to floor holes that persons cannot accidentally walk into due to fixed machinery,
equipment, or walls.
j. Temporarily exposed floor openings or holes must be protected if a rail or cover is
temporarily removed. An individual must be assigned to monitor and constantly attend
the area and to warn others of the hazard; or the area must be protected by a moveable
barrier.
B. Open sided floors, platforms, and runways must be protected consistent with WAC 296-80026010, WAC 296-155-505, and WAC 296-24-75011.
1. Open-sided floors and platforms that are 4 feet or more above adjacent floor or ground level
must be protected by standard railings or the equivalent on all open sides, except where there
is an entrance to a ramp, stairway or fixed ladder. The standard railing shall be provided
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EASTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
Doc. No. : EH&S-P24
Revision : 0
PROCEDURE
GUARDING FLOOR, WALL
OPENINGS AND PLATFORMS
Origin Date : 7/15/2011
Revision Date : None
with a standard toe board, which is a minimum of nine inches in vertical height from its top
edge to the level of the floor, platform, runway, or ramp, wherever persons can pass, or there
is moving machinery, or there is equipment with which falling materials could create a
hazard. If material is piled to a height where a standard toe board does not provide
protection, paneling or screening from floor to immediate rail or to top rail shall be provided.
Tools and loose material must not be left on platforms.
2. Runways shall be protected by a standard railing, or the equivalent, on all open sides, four
feet or more above the floor or ground level. Wherever tools, machine parts, or materials are
likely to be used on the runway, a toe board shall also be provided on each exposed side.
Runways used exclusively for special purposes may have the railing on one side omitted
where operating conditions necessitate such omission, providing the falling hazard is
minimized by using a runway not less than 18 inches wide. Where employees entering upon
runways become thereby exposed to machinery, electrical equipment, or other danger which
is not a falling hazard, additional guarding shall be provided.
3.
Open sides of gardens, patios, recreation areas and similar areas located on roofs of
buildings or structures shall be guarded by permanent standard railings or the equivalent.
Where a planting area has been constructed adjacent to the open sides of the roof and the
planting area is raised above the normal walking surface of the roof area, the open side of
the planting area shall also be protected with standard railings or the equivalent.
4.
Guard open-sided floors, walkways, platforms, or runways above or adjacent to dangerous
equipment, pickling or galvanizing tanks, degreasing units, and similar hazards, regardless
of height, with a railing and toe board.
SUPERVISOR REQUIREMENTS
Supervisors of any employee(s) working on any projects involving floor openings, floor holes, opensided floors, platforms or runways must implement this document’s procedures and must read,
understand, and comply with WAC 296-800-26- through 26010 which addresses Floor Openings
Floor Holes, and Open Sided Floors.

Supervisors shall ensure that employees do not use personal fall arrest systems as a substitute for
the devices and procedures required under these procedures.

Supervisors shall be responsible for knowing the requirements for installing railings, toe boards,
guardrails, handrails, and covers as detailed in WAC 296-24-75011 and WAC 296-155-505 and
for ensuring that all such items are properly designed, constructed, maintained, and used
consistent with those requirements.

Supervisors shall ensure that employees exposed to the possibility of falling objects due to work
overhead, including work involving floor openings, floor holes, open-sided floors, platforms or
runways wear hard hats, even in circumstances where a barricade is constructed to prohibit
employees from entering the area below the working level from which objects could fall or
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EASTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
Doc. No. : EH&S-P24
Revision : 0
PROCEDURE
GUARDING FLOOR, WALL
OPENINGS AND PLATFORMS
Origin Date : 7/15/2011
Revision Date : None
where toe boards, screens, or guardrail systems are installed at the working level to prevent
objects from falling.

Supervisors shall ensure that the requirements for floor openings, floor holes, open-sided floors,
platforms or runways are reviewed during pre-job planning and safety meetings for projects
involving these components.
EMPLOYEE REQUIREMENTS

Each EWU employee assigned to work on projects involving floor openings, floor holes, opensided floors, platforms or runways is responsible for adhering to the procedures in this document
and the requirements of WAC 296-800-26- through 26010 which addresses Floor Openings
Floor Holes, and Open Sided Floors.

Each EWU employee assigned to work on projects involving floor openings, floor holes, opensided floors, platforms or runways is responsible knowing and adhering with the requirements
for installing railings, toe boards, guardrails, handrails, and covers as detailed in WAC 296-2475011 and WAC 296-155-505.

Each EWU employee exposed to the possibility of falling objects due to work overhead,
including work involving floor openings, floor holes, open-sided floors, platforms or runways
are required to wear a hard hat, even in circumstances where a barricade is constructed to
prohibit employees from entering the area below the working level from which objects could fall
or where toe boards, screens, or guardrail systems are installed at the working level to prevent
objects from falling.
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