Roof & Floor - Holes & Openings

Holes and openings in the roof and floor must be decked over before work commences in the area. If the hole or opening is too large for decking (such as an elevator shaft or stairwell), proper fall protection must be in place. If a portion of the decking contains a framed opening, the opening must be positioned so that the deck installation can be continued unless it is structurally impossible to do so. If holes must be cut into the decking, the cutting must not be done until immediately before the opening is filled with the equipment or structure that the hole was cut to accommodate.

Covers for roof and floor openings must always be strong enough to hold at least twice the total weight of the workers, equipment, and materials that the covers must support. Smoke domes or skylight fixtures cannot be considered a covering unless they meet the same strength requirements. Covers should be secured during decking installation to prevent them from falling due to wind, equipment, or employees. Covers must be painted with high-visibility paint, or be marked "COVER" or "HOLE" as a hazard warning.

To learn more about Construction Steel Erection visit our Construction Steel Erection Safety Online Training web page.