|
U.S. Department of Labor | |
||||
| Occupational Safety & Health Administration | ||||||
 |
|
Standard Interpretations
12/22/2003 - Fall protection requirements for stairwells and mechanical chase openings surrounded by interior stud walls in residential construction. |
Standard Interpretations - Table of Contents |
| • Standard Number: | 1926.501; 1926.500(b); 1926.501(b)(14); 1926.501(b)(4)(i); 1926.501(b)(4)(ii); 1926.502(i) |
December 22, 2003 Gerald M. Howard Executive Vice President Chief Executive Officer National Association of Home Builders 1201 15thSt., NW Washington, DC 20005 Dear Mr. Howard: Re: Fall protection requirements for stairwells and mechanical chase openings surrounded by interior stud walls in residential construction. This is in response to your letter dated October 6, 2003, to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). We have paraphrased your questions as follows: Question (1): Scenario: A 20-inch x 20-inch mechanical chase (chute) extends from the basement to the third floor within a residential structure. On each floor it is formed by wall studs that are 16 inches on center (14½-inch gap between studs). Do the spaces between the studs or the floor holes of the chase require fall protection (such as a guardrail system or cover) under §1926.501? Answer Title 29 CFR Part 1926 Subpart M - Fall Protection, §1926.501(b)(14) states that: "Wall openings" Each employee working on, at, above, or near wall openings (including those with chutes attached) where the outside bottom edge of the wall opening is 6 feet (1.8 m) or more above lower levels and the inside bottom edge of the wall opening is less than 39 inches (1.0 m) above the walking/working surface, shall be protected from falling by the use of a guardrail system, a safety net system, or a personal fall arrest system.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.A "hole" [in a walking/working surface] is defined in §1926.500(b) as: a gap or void 2 inches (5.1 cm) or more in its least dimension, in a floor, roof, or other walking/working surface.The floor holes within the chase would pose a fall hazard to workers on each floor unless exposure to the holes is eliminated or fall protection is provided.1 As you state in your letter, the 14½-inch gaps between the studs are smaller than those needed to meet the definition of an "opening." As these gaps in the stud walls are not considered wall openings, the stud walls prevent the workers from unintentionally falling into the holes in the chase. In most cases, therefore, the studs suffice to prevent exposure of the workers to these holes. However, there are situations where it is reasonably foreseeable that workers will intentionally step through the framed (but unsheathed) wall studs that surround the hole. For example, in some cases, because of the small size of the hole and its location, employees may step through a chase as a short cut to the opposite side. Another example would be where lighting conditions are so poor that employees may not realize that there is a hole there. In these types of situations, further action would be required -- either the floor hole must be covered in accordance with §1926.502(i) (requirements for covers), or a guardrail installed, or some means implemented of effectively communicating to the employees that they are not to step through the chase (such as through an effectively communicated and enforced rule prohibiting the practice coupled with warning signs or warning tape around the chase). Also, if employees have work that would involve their being within the chase, under §1926.501(b)(4), the holes must be covered (or personal fall protection used). Question (2): Scenario: An open stairwell 40 inches wide is surrounded on three sides by interior stud walls, within a residential structure (the fourth side has a guardrail across it). The walls are unsheathed and the studs are 16 inches on-center (14½-inch gap between studs). Do the spaces between the studs require fall protection (such as a guardrail system or cover over the stairwell) under §1926.501? Answer: The open stairwell is a hole that would pose a fall hazard to those on the floors around it unless exposure to it is eliminated or fall protection is provided. As discussed above, the 14½-inch gaps between the studs are smaller than those needed to meet the definition of an "opening." As these gaps in the stud walls are not considered wall openings, the stud walls prevent the workers from being intentionally exposed to the hazard of the open stairwell. Also, stairwells are normally large enough so that it is not reasonably foreseeable that an employee would purposefully step through the stud walls. Therefore, the employer normally is not required to provide a guardrail across the stud walls under §1926.501(b)(14).2 This letter supersedes the November 19, 2002, letter to Mr. Kris Bohling from Adam M. Finkel, [previously] Regional Administrator of OSHA Region VIII. If you need additional information, please contact us by fax (202-693-1689) at: U.S. Department of Labor, OSHA, Office of Construction Standards and Guidance. You can also contact us by mail at U.S. Department of Labor, OSHA, Office of Construction Standards and Guidance, Room N3468, 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20210, although there will be a delay in our receiving correspondence by mail. Sincerely, Russell B. Swanson, Director Directorate of Construction 1 §1926.501(b)(4)(i) states: Each employee on walking/working surfaces shall be protected from falling through holes (including skylights) more than 6 feet above lower levels, by personal fall arrest systems, covers, or guardrail systems erected around such holes.§1926.501(b)(4)(ii) states: Each employee on a walking/working surface shall be protected from tripping in or stepping into or through holes (including skylights) by covers. [back to text] 2 In addition, in this scenario, where there is a guardrail across the one open side of the stairwell and stud walls (16 inches on center) around the other three sides, there is normally no requirement to cover the stairwell. [back to text] |
|
Standard Interpretations - Table of Contents |
 Back to Top |
www.osha.gov | www.dol.gov |
Contact Us | Freedom of Information Act | Customer Survey Privacy and Security Statement | Disclaimers |
||
| Occupational Safety & Health Administration 200 Constitution Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20210 |
||
