Walking Working Surfaces Tailgate Safety Topic

A walking-working surface is any surface where we walk or work: floors, aisles, stairs, ramps, roofs, scaffolds, and loading docks. Injuries on these surfaces are common, and most of them come from hazards that are easy to spot once you know what to look for. Today we will talk about what makes a walking surface safe and what each of us should check.

What OSHA Requires

Under OSHA walking-working surfaces rules, employers must keep walking and work surfaces clean, orderly, and sanitary, and free of hazards such as spills, loose materials, and protruding objects. Floors must be maintained, aisles must be kept clear, and floor openings must be covered or guarded. Employers must also inspect these surfaces regularly and fix problems promptly.

Common Hazards

Clutter and materials in aisles, spills and wet floors, damaged or uneven flooring, unmarked edges and floor openings, blocked exits, and poor lighting all cause injuries. Dockboards and ramps deserve special attention, because a damaged board or an unsecured ramp can fail under load.

What Workers Can Do

• Keep aisles and walkways clear, and store materials in designated areas.
• Clean up spills right away, or report them and mark the area until they are cleaned.
• Report damaged flooring, loose boards, missing covers, and broken lights.
• Watch for changes in floor height, curbs, and edges, especially when carrying a load.
• Use handrails on stairs and ramps.

Questions to Discuss

• Where are the walking surface hazards on this site today?
• What do we do when we find a spill or a damaged board?
• Are our aisles and exits clear right now?

Conclusion

Safe walking surfaces come down to housekeeping, inspection, and speaking up. For a closer look at one of the most common results of bad surfaces, see our talk on slips, trips, and falls. This talk covers general awareness and does not replace your site-specific safety plan or training.