1. Walking, Working Surfaces
Quiz: Name three walking, working surfaces.

2. Answer
Floors
Ladders
Stairways
Platforms
Walkways
Scaffolding

3. QUIZ
NAME THREE TYPES OF LADDERS.
FIXED
STEP
EXTENSION

4. Which of the following will you not find on an extension ladder?
STEP
RUNG
CLEAT
FEET

5. DEFINITIONS
Floor Hole- opening measuring less than 12 inches and more than 1 inch.
Floor Opening- opening measuring more than 12 inches.
Handrail- a pipe or single bar supported on brackets, as on a stairway or ramp, to furnish persons a handhold.

6. Platform- an elevated working surface above the
surrounding floor or ground.
Toeboard- a verticle barrier constructed at the
edge of a runway, floor opening, platform or
ramp to prevent falls of materials. (4 inches)
Riser- The upright member of a step situated at
the back of the lower tread and at the leading
edge of the next higher tread.
Tread- the horizontal member
of a step.

7. Ladders: an appliance consisting of two side
rails joined at regular intervals by cross pieces
called steps, rungs, or cleats, on which a person
may step either descending or ascending.
Types: Stepladder
Single Ladder
Extension Ladder
Sectional Ladder
Trestle Ladder
Trolley Ladder
Side Rolling Ladder

8. Railings- a barrier constructed along the edges of
a floor opening, ramp, platform or runway to
prevent falls of persons.
Top Rail inches high
Mid Rail- midway between floor and top rail
Vertical Member- every 8 feet.
Must be able to withstand 200 pounds of
pressure.
Pitch- the angle between the horizontal and the
ladder, measured on the opposite side of the
ladder from the climbing side.

9. Rungs- ladder cross pieces of circular or oval
cross-section on which a person steps ascending
or descending.
Cleats- ladder cross pieces of rectangular cross-
section placed on edge on which a person steps
ascending or descending.
Steps- flat cross pieces of a ladder on which a
person may step ascending or descending.
Cage- a guard or basket guard fastened to a fixed
ladder to encircle the climber to prevent falls- 7’.

10. Guardrail- a rail secured to uprights and erected
along the exposed sides and ends of platforms.
Scaffold- any temporary elevated platform and its
supporting structure used to support workmen or
materials or both.

11. General Requirements Housekeeping:
All places of employment, passageways, storerooms, and service rooms shall be kept clean, orderly and sanitary.
Floors must be kept clean and dry. Where wet processes are used drains shall be maintained and false floors, mats or other dry standing places should be provided.
Working surfaces shall be kept clear of protruding nails, splinters, holes or loose boards

12. Aisles and Passageways
Sufficient, safe clearances must be maintained for aisles, at loading docks, through doorways and wherever turns or passage must be made.
Aisles and passageways shall be kept clear and in good repairs, with no obstructions across or in aisles that could create hazards.
Permanent aisles and passageways must be marked.

13. Covers and Guardrails
Covers and/or guardrails must be provided to protect personnel from the hazards of open pits, tanks, vats, ditches, etc.

14. Guarding Floor and Wall Openings
Any floor opening must be protected as follows:
Stairway openings by guardrails.
Ladderway or platform openings by guardrails.
Hatches or chutes by one of the following:
Hinged floor opening cover.
Removable guard rail with toeboard.
Skylights by skylight screen or railing.
Pits, manholes, temporary openings, etc. by covers or railings.

15. Fixed Stairs
Fixed stairs shall be provided for access from one level to another where regular travel between levels is anticipated.
Stairs must:
Be able to carry a load five times expected load.

16. Have a minimum width of 22 inches.
Be installed at angles to the horizontal of between 30 and 50
degrees. For example:
Angle to Horizontal Rise ( inches) Tread Run (inches)
30 degrees ½
40 degrees ½
49 degrees ½
Treads and nosings shall be slip resistant.
Stairway platforms shall be no less the width of the stairs and
at least 30 inches in length.

17. Railings shall be applied on the open side.
Handrails shall be provided on at least one side of a closed
stairway, preferably the right side-descending. Sorry all
you left handers.
Vertical overhead clearance shall be at least seven feet.

18. Portable Wood Ladders
Stepladders more than 20 feet shall not be supplied.
Step spacing cannot be more than 12 inches.
Minimum width between side rails at the top shall not be less than 11 ½ inches. From top to bottom side rails shall spread at least 1 inch for every foot of length of the stepladder.

19. Single ladders longer than 30 feet shall not
be used.
Two section extension ladders shall not be
longer than 60 feet.
Ladders must be maintained in good shape
at all times, joints must be tight, all
hardware must be securely attached
and moveable parts operate freely
without binding.
Safety feet shall be used and kept in good
condition.

20. Never paint wood ladders.
Question: When using a portable extension
extension ladder, how does one figure
the pitch-or angle the ladder must be
placed on the wall?
ANSWER- The horizontal distance from the
top support to the foot of the ladder must be
one quarter of the working length of the
ladder or 1 foot from the wall for every 4 feet
of height.

21. Tops of stepladders shall not be used as steps.
No ladder can be used to access to a roof unless
the ladder extends at least 3 feet above the
roof or surface.
Portable stepladders fall into the following
categories:
Type I- Industrial Stepladder, 3 to 20 feet,
for heavy duty use such as contractors or
industrial use.
Type II- Commercial Stepladder, 3 to 12 feet,
medium duty use such as painters or offices.
Type III- Household stepladder, 3 to 6 feet,
for light duty, such as light household use.

22. SUMMARY
In one way or another, walking, working surfaces figure into many workplace injuries.
A good knowledge and understanding of these working surfaces will prevent injuries.