California Code of Regulations › Title 8 - Industrial Relations › Division 1 - Department of Industrial Relations › Chapter 4 - Division of Industrial Safety › Subchapter 7 - General Industry Safety Orders › Group 1 - General Physical Conditions and Structures › Article 2 - Standard Specifications › Section 3212 - Floor Openings, Floor Holes, Skylights and Roofs

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 28, July 12, 2024
(a)
(1)
						Every floor and roof opening shall be guarded by a cover, a guardrail, or
						equivalent on all open sides. While the cover is not in place, the openings
						shall be constantly attended by someone or shall be protected by guardrails.
						Toeboards shall be installed around the edges at openings where persons may
						pass below the opening.
EXCEPTION: Stairway entrances.
(2)
(A)
						Every ladderway floor opening or platform with access provided by ladderway,
						including ship stairs (ship ladders), shall be protected by guardrails with
						toeboards meeting the requirements of General Industry Safety Orders, Section
						3209, on all exposed sides except
						at entrance to the opening. The opening through the railing shall have either a
						swinging gate or equivalent protection, or the passageway to the opening shall
						be so offset that a person cannot walk directly into the opening.
EXCEPTION: Ladder openings for entrance/access at
						  perimeter roof edges where guardrail protection is not required by subsection
						  (d) of this section.
(B)
1. The uppermost surface or railing member of
						the swinging gate or other equivalent protection required by subsection
						(a)(2)(A) shall have a vertical height from the platform or floor level of
						between 42 to 45 inches plus or minus one inch and;
2. The swinging gate or other equivalent
						protection shall be capable of withstanding a force of at least 200 pounds
						applied vertically downward to the uppermost surface or railing member and
						horizontally outward at any point on the exit side of the ladder
						opening.
(3)
						Hatchways and chute floor openings shall be guarded by guardrails or by hinged
						or removable covers or by removable railings provided such covers or railings
						will afford protection equivalent to that provided by a guardrail.
This does not apply to chute openings which are
						  effectively covered or protected by machine or equipment during operation.
						  However, such chute shall be covered during repair or maintenance or when
						  otherwise exposing employees to the hazards of unguarded floor
						  openings.
(4) Foundry pits
						and similar sunken locations in which employees are required to work may be
						left unprotected during such times as the necessary handling of materials or
						other work prohibits the use of guardrails or equivalent; but when such pits
						are not in use they shall be either covered, filled in, or protected with
						guardrails or equivalent.
(5) Floor
						holes through which materials or tools may fall and create a hazard or through
						which parts of a person's body may contact dangerous moving parts, shall be
						completely covered except when in use unless these floor holes are used to feed
						machines or receptacles containing hot, toxic or corrosive materials, then
						these openings shall be guarded by hoppers, guardrails, or grates having
						openings not exceeding 1-inch by 5 inches. Floor holes through which
						transmission equipment passes may be guarded by toeboards.