OSHA
In 1976, ANSI and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) established a joint coordinating committee for private-public sector voluntary standards activities that affects safety and health in the workplace. Its success led to the 1982 formation of a similar joint coordinating committee with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) that focused on consumer products.
OSHA has a number of regulations that govern many aspects of the workplace. When there is not a specific regulation reference, they will often reference ANSI National Consensus Standards or cite the General Duty Clause.
OSHA Update:
OSHA has for the first time defined measurable levels of slip resistance.
Title 49
Title 49 was last amended 2/03/2023
Title 49 Subtitle A Part 38 Appendix to Part 38
Appendix to Part 38 - Guidance Material
This appendix contains materials of an advisory nature and provides additional information that should help the reader to understand the minimum requirements of the standards or to design vehicles for greater accessibility. Each entry is applicable to all subparts of this part except where noted. Nothing in this appendix shall in any way obviate any obligation to comply with the requirements of the standards themselves.
I. Slip Resistant Surface - Aisles, Steps, Floor Areas Where People Walk, Floor Areas in Securement Locations, Lift Platforms, Ramps
Slip resistance is based on the frictional force necessary to keep a shoe heel or crutch tip from slipping on a walking surface under conditions likely to be found on the surface. The static coefficient of friction, which can be measured in several ways, provides a close approximation of the slip resistance of a surface. Contrary to popular belief, some slippage is necessary to walking, especially for persons with restricted gaits; a truly “non-slip” surface could not be negotiated.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends that walking surfaces have a static coefficient of friction of 0.5. A research project sponsored by the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (Access Board) conducted tests with persons with disabilities and concluded that a higher coefficient of friction was needed by such persons. A static coefficient of friction of 0.6 is recommended for steps, floors, and lift platforms and 0.8 for ramps.
Source: https://www.ecfr.gov/
What is the General Duty Clause?
The General Duty Clause is found in Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act. The General Duty Clause requires an employer to furnish to its employees “employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to his employees.”
Employers can be cited for violation of the General Duty Clause if a recognized serious hazard exists in their workplace and the employer does not take reasonable steps to prevent or abate the hazard. The General Duty Clause is used only where there is no OSHA standard that applies to the particular hazard. The following elements are necessary to prove a violation of the General Duty Clause:
1. The employer failed to keep the workplace free of a hazard to which employees of that employer were exposed;
2. The hazard was recognized;
3. The hazard was causing or was likely to cause death or serious physical harm; and
4. There was a feasible and useful method to correct the hazard.
OSHA cannot just cite anything under the clause, but there is a lot of room for interpretation of the effects of the hazard. The hazard needs to be recognized by that industry, another industry or another entity as a hazard. It can be something that would be considered a common sense hazard or is something that could cause or likely cause serious harm or death. It must be correctable, and if injuries have been documented related to it, it can be cited.
Additional Codes:
1910
Part Number Title:
Occupational Safety and Health Standards
Subpart:
1910 Subpart D
Subpart Title:
Walking-Working Surfaces
Standard Number:
Title:
General requirements.
GPO Source:
Surface conditions. The employer must ensure:
All places of employment, passageways, storerooms, service rooms, and walking-working surfaces are kept in a clean, orderly, and sanitary condition.
The floor of each workroom is maintained in a clean and, to the extent feasible, in a dry condition. When wet processes are used, drainage must be maintained and, to the extent feasible, dry standing places, such as false floors, platforms, and mats must be provided.
1910.22(a)(3)
Walking-working surfaces are maintained free of hazards such as sharp or protruding objects, loose boards, corrosion, leaks, spills, snow, and ice.
Loads. The employer must ensure that each walking-working surface can support the maximum intended load for that surface.
Access and egress. The employer must provide, and ensure each employee uses, a safe means of access and egress to and from walking-working surfaces.
Inspection, maintenance, and repair. The employer must ensure:
Walking-working surfaces are inspected, regularly and as necessary, and maintained in a safe condition;
Hazardous conditions on walking-working surfaces are corrected or repaired before an employee uses the walking-working surface again. If the correction or repair cannot be made immediately, the hazard must be guarded to prevent employees from using the walking-working surface until the hazard is corrected or repaired; and
1910.22(d)(3)
When any correction or repair involves the structural integrity of the walking-working surface, a qualified person performs or supervises the correction or repair.