Walking and Working Surfaces for Healthcare

Ensure walking-working surfaces are kept in a clean, orderly, and sanitary condition.
Walking-working surfaces are to be maintained free of hazards such as sharp or protruding objects, loose boards, corrosion, leaks, spills, snow, and ice.
Each walking-working surface should be able to support the maximum intended load for that surface.
Each surface should provide a safe means of access and egress to and from each walking-working surface.
Walking-working surfaces are to be inspected regularly and maintained in a safe condition.

Provides additional resources for walking and working surfaces.

Provides a pre-recorded webinar on walking and working surfaces.

Handrails should be used when employees are going up and down the stairs.
All stairways need to be maintained in clean, dry and good condition.
Running up and down the stairs should not be permitted.
When on stairs, employees should not be distracted by phones, or other electronic devices.

Ladders are to be used only for the purposes for which they were designed.
Ladders should be Inspected before initial use in each work shift, and more frequently as necessary, to identify any visible defects that could cause employee injury.
Any ladder with structural or other defects should be removed from service and immediately tagged "Dangerous: Do Not Use" or with similar language until repair has been made.
Employees should face the ladder as they move up or down with at least one hand grasping the ladder.
Ladders are not to be loaded beyond the maximum intended load.
Ladders are to be used only on stable and level surfaces unless they are secured or stabilized to prevent accidental displacement.
No ladder should be moved, shifted, or extended while an employee is on it.
Ladders that are placed in locations such as passageways, doorways, or driveways where they can be displaced by other activities or traffic should be guarded or otherwise protected.
When on ladders, employees should be alert to their surroundings and not distracted by electronic devices.
Always maintain three points of contact when ascending and descending a ladder.

Provides the investigative process after a fatality involving a fall from a ladder.

Provides federal OSHA's vTool for using ladders around powerlines.

Each employee who uses a dockboard should be trained to properly place and secure it to prevent unintentional movement.
Ensure dockboards are capable of supporting the maximum intended load.
Portable dockboards should be secured by anchoring them in place or using equipment or devices that prevent the dockboard from moving out of a safe position.
Measures, such as wheel chocks or sand shoes, are to be used to prevent the transport vehicle (e.g. a truck, semi-trailer, trailer, or rail car) on which a dockboard is placed, from moving while employees are on the dockboard.
Portable dockboards are to be equipped with handholds or other means to permit safe handling of dockboards.