Definition - What does Working Surface mean?
A working surface is an aisle, ladder, platform, ramp, walkway or any adjoining or connecting level, grade, and/or structure that permits employees to walk and work between access/entry points and exit spaces. These surfaces are subject to various regulations and general safety procedures. Employees conform to general rules of safety designed to keep all walking and working surfaces free of potential hazards including scattered debris/objects, wet floors, or any unsecured station. The application of effective health and safety procedures can deter many predictable accidents due to deficient policy standards that often result in serious injuries or fatalities.
SureHire explains Working Surface
All workplaces pose different risk factors based on layout design, security measures, appropriate protocol and training methods, and compliant behavior demonstrated by personnel. Common working surface preventatives exist such as mandatory guardrails running the length of a flat plane at or above a certain height level, toe board extensions, cleanup materials/equipment, protective covers, and restricted area placards. The Occupational Safety Health Administration (OSHA) has introduced more stringent regulations covering walking and working surface safety guidelines.
Several OSHA-based avenues consist of fall protection arrest systems, for instance, body harnesses for easy passage and/or descent purposes, ladder units, loading bay docks, scaffolding, and stairways with reinforced parts and/or contemporary modifications. The Walking-Working Surfaces Standard at 29 CFR 1910, Subpart 10 is a universal mandate where all employers recognize a dynamic model of reducing hazards, promoting worker safety training, and streamlining productivity.
Working surfaces unimpeded by conscious hazards give employees the ability to demonstrate basic mobility functions while executing optimal job performance results.
