FOX Corporation requires that the following procedures be followed for protection of floor and wall openings and where changes in work surface elevations in excess of thirty (30) inches occur.
1.0 SCOPE
FOX Corporation (FOX) is committed to protecting its workers from the hazards associated with floor and wall openings, and with changes in work surface
elevation. This Procedure addresses requirements for protection from all such conditions. This procedure may not apply to construction related activity.
2.0 Definitions
Toeboard:
a low protective barrier that will prevent the fall of materials and equipment to lower levels and will provide protection from falls for personnel.
3.0 Responsibilities
In addition to required Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) Program responsibilities discussed in EHS001, EHS Policy, the responsibilities
described below are necessary to ensure the effectiveness of the procedure.
3.1 Department Heads
Department Heads will ensure that their personnel are aware of these requirements.
3.2 Employees
All FOX employees will observe the requirements specified in this Procedure for protection from hazards of floor/wall openings and changes in work surface
elevation
3.3 Environmental, Health and Safety Department
The EHS Department will:
- Develop appropriate standards for worker protection from hazards of floor/wall openings and changes in work surface elevations during all FOX
activities - Review and update this Procedure annually, or as necessary, to comply with regulatory changes.
4.0 Procedure
4.1 Protective Railings and Covers
If guardrails or protective covers are required to prevent tripping and falling hazards, these devices must be installed in accordance with the
specifications below.
4.1.1 Protective Railings
- A standard railing must consist of top rail, intermediate rail, toeboard, and posts, and must be constructed to the vertical height of approximately
forty-two (42) inches to forty-five (45) inches from upper surface of top rail to floor, platform runway, or ramp level.
a. The top rail must be smooth-surfaced throughout the length of the railing.
b. The intermediate rail must be halfway between the top rail and the floor, platform, runway, or ramp.
c. The ends of the rail must not overhang the terminal posts except where such overhang does not constitute a projection hazard.
d. Minimum requirements for standard railing, under various types of construction, are specified in the following:
- Wood railings
o The posts must be constructed with at least two (2)-inch by four (4)-inch stock spaced not to exceed eight (8) feet.
o The top rail must be constructed with at least 2-inch by 4-inch stock.
e. The intermediate rail must be constructed with at least 1-inch by 6-inch stock.
- Pipe railings
o Posts and top intermediate railings must be constructed with at least one and a half (1-1/2) inches nominal diameter stock.
o Posts must not be spaced not more than eight (8) feet on centers.
- Structural steel railings
o Posts and intermediate railings must be constructed with at least one and a half (1-1/2) inches nominal diameter stock.
o Posts must not be spaced not more than eight (8) feet on centers.
- The anchoring of posts, and framing of members for railings of all types, must be of such construction that the completed structure will be capable of
withstanding a load of at least two hundred (200) pounds applied in any direction at any point on the top rail, with a minimum of deflection. - Railings, receiving heavy stresses from employees who are trucking or handling materials, must be constructed to provide additional strength by the use
of heavier stock, closer spacing of posts, bracing, or by other means. - Other types, sizes, and arrangements of railing construction are acceptable, provided they meet the following conditions:
a. A smooth-surfaced top rail at a height above floor, platform, runway, or ramp level of forty-two (42) inches to forty-five (45) inches
b. Strength to withstand at least the minimum requirements of two hundred (200) pounds top rail pressure with a minimum of deflection
c. Protection between top rail and floor, platform, runway, ramp, or stair treads, equivalent to at least that afforded by a standard intermediate rail.
d. Half-inch (1/2) wire rope will be considered to meet requirements when installed to protect against the hazards of open-sided floors with the following
additional requirements:
Note: Wire rope railing must not be used as part of a fall-arrest system, unless so designed.
i. Cable must be maintained with a minimum deflection [three (3) inches or less] through the use of turnbuckles or other equally effective devices.
ii. Cable must be supported on eight (8)-foot centers where maintenance of the minimum deflection requirements is not possible. Cable must still have
three (3) inches or less deflection.
iii. Cable must be on five (5)-foot high centers. Highly visible flagging, such as surveyor’s tape, must be used to increase visibility of the cable.
iv. The cable will be one-half (1/2)-inch nominally but may be reduced to the minimum of three-eighths (3/8)-inch diameter, when necessary. Half-inch
(1/2) cable should be the standard, due to the larger diameter affording a larger gripping surface for the hand.
v. Three (3) clamps will be used at all connections.
4.1.2 Stair Railings
A stair railing must be of construction similar to a standard railing, but the vertical height must be not more than thirty-four (34) inches nor less than
thirty (30) inches from upper surface of top rail to surface of tread in line, with face of riser at forward edge of tread.
4.1.3 Toeboards
- A standard toeboard must be four (4) inches minimum in vertical height from its top edge to the level of the floor, platform, runway, or ramp.
- A toeboard must be securely fastened in place and have not more than one-fourth (1/4)-inch clearance above floor level.
- Toeboards may be made of any substantial material, either solid or with openings not over one (1) inch in greatest dimension.
4. Where material is piled to such height that a standard toeboard does not provide protection, paneling or screening from the edge of the standard
toeboard to the intermediate rail or to the top rail must be provided.
4.1.4 Handrails
- A handrail must be of construction similar to a standard railing, except that it is mounted on a wall or partition, and does not include an
intermediate rail. - A handrail must have a smooth surface along the top and both sides of the handrail.
- The handrail must have an adequate handhold for anyone grasping it to avoid falling.
- Ends of the handrail must be constructed so as not to constitute a projection hazard.
- The height of handrails must not be more than thirty-four (34) inches or less than thirty (30) inches from upper surface of handrail to surface of
tread, in line with face of riser or to surface of ramp. - All handrails and railings must be constructed to provide a clearance of approximately three (3) inches between the handrail or railing and any other
object.
4.2 Flooring
Openings in floors must be protected, using either covers or railings.
4.2.1 Floor Opening Covers
Floor opening covers may be constructed of any material that meets the following strength requirements:
1. Conduits, trenches, and manhole covers and their supports, when located in roadways and vehicular aisles, must be designed to carry a truck rear-axle
load of at least two (2) times the maximum intended load.
- The floor opening cover must be capable of supporting the maximum intended load and installed properly in order to prevent accidental displacement.
- All floor-opening covers must be properly marked and secured.
4.2.2 Guarding of Floor Openings and Floor Holes
- Standard railings with standard toeboards or cover must guard floor openings.
- In general, a railing must be provided on all exposed sides, except at entrances to stairways.
3. Standard railings must guard ladderway floor openings or platforms with standard toeboards on all exposed sides, except at entrance to 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.
- Hatchways and chute floor openings must be guarded by one of the following:
· Hinged covers of standard strength and construction, and a standard railing with only one exposed side.
When the opening is not in use, the cover must be closed or the exposed side must be guarded at both top and intermediate positions by removable standard
railings.
· A removable standard railing, with toeboard on not more than two (2) sides of the opening; and fixed standard railings, with toeboards, on all other
exposed sides. The removable railing must be kept in place when the opening is not in use, and should preferably be hinged or otherwise mounted to
facilitate convenient replacement.
- Skylight openings that create a falling hazard must be either guarded with a standard railing or covered. Wherever danger of an employee(s) falling
through a skylight opening exists, a fixed standard railing must guard the skylight opening on all exposed sides, or a cover capable of sustaining a
load of at least two hundred (200) pounds applied in any direction, with a minimum of deflection, must be secured over it - Floor opening covers of standard strength and construction will guard pits and trap-door floor openings. While the covers of pits and trap-door floor
openings are not in place, removable standard railings must protect all exposed sides. - Manhole floor openings must be guarded by standard covers, which need not be hinged in place.
While a covers is not in place, standard railings must protect a manhole opening.
- Temporary floor openings must have standard railings or covers installed.
- Floor holes, into which persons can accidentally walk, must be guarded by either standard railings with standard toeboards on all exposed sides, or
floor hole covers of standard strength and construction that are secured against accidental displacement. While a cover is not in place, a standard
railing must protect a floor hole. - Where doors or gates open directly onto stairways, platforms must be provided, and the swing of the doors must not reduce the effective width of entry
to the platforms to less than twenty (20) inches.
4.2.3 Guarding of Open-sided Floors, Platforms, and Runways
- A standard railing, or the equivalent, must guard every open-sided floor or platform, six (6) feet or more above adjacent floor or ground level, on all
open sides, except where an entrance to a ramp, stairway, or fixed ladder exists. The railing must be constructed with a standard toeboard to
facilitate the passage of persons beneath the open sides or wherever there is moving machinery, or equipment producing hazardous falling materials. - Standard railings, or the equivalent, must guard all runways, 30 inches or more above floor or ground level, on all unprotected sides. Wherever tools, machine
parts, or materials are likely to be used on runways, toeboards must also be constructed on all exposed sides.
3. Where any person entering runways is exposed to machinery, electrical equipment, or other danger from a falling hazard, additional guarding must be
provided. Employees are asked to notify their field supervision of the need for the additional guards.
- Regardless of height, open-sided floors, walkways, platforms, or runways above or adjacent to dangerous equipment (e.g., lighting systems, compressors)
must be guarded with standard railings and toeboards.
4.3 Wall Opening Protection
Wall openings, from which there is a drop of more than four (4) feet, and whose bottom is less than three (3) feet above the working surface, will be
guarded as follows:
- When the height and placement of the opening, in relation to the working surface, is such that either a standard rail or intermediate rail will
effectively reduce the danger of falling, one or both must be provided. - The bottom of a wall opening, which is less than four (4) inches above the working surface, regardless of width, must be protected by a standard
toeboard or an enclosing screen solid construction. - Barriers must be of such construction and mounting that, when in place at the opening, the barrier is capable of withstanding a load of at least two
hundred (200) pounds applied in any direction (except upward), with a minimum of deflection, at any point on the top rail or corresponding member. - Screens will be of such construction and mounting that they are capable of withstanding a load of at least two hundred (200) pounds applied
horizontally at any point on the near side of the screen.
They may be of solid construction, of grillwork with openings not more than eight (8) inches long, or of slat work with openings not more than four (4)
inches wide, with length unrestricted.
- An extension platform outside a wall opening, onto which materials can be hoisted, must have side rails or equivalent guards of standard
specifications.
One side of an extension platform may have removable railings in order to facilitate handling materials.
4.4 Barrier Identification Tape
Color-coded barrier identification tape is strictly prohibited from being used for any form of guarding or personal fall protection.
The use of color-coded identification tape is acceptable as a warning device only.
- Yellow barricade tape
– Indicates “Caution/Warning” - Red barricade tape
– Indicates “Danger – Do Not Enter.”
Once the barricaded area is free of the hazard(s), the tape must be removed and properly discarded.
5.0 REFERENCES
EHS 001, EHS Policy
6.0 ATTACHMENTS
None.