Key Terms

Cleat: A ladder crosspiece of rectangular cross section placed on edge upon which a person may step while ascending or descending a ladder.

Fixed ladder: A ladder that cannot be readily moved or carried because it is an integral part of a building or structure.

Floor hole: An opening measuring less than 12 inches but more than 1 inch in its least dimension, in any floor, platform, pavement, or yard, through which materials but not people may fall. Examples include a belt hole, pipe opening, or slot opening.

Floor opening: An opening measuring 12 inches or more in its least dimension, in any floor, platform, pavement, or yard through which people may fall. Examples include a hatchway, stair or ladder opening, pit, or large manhole. (Floor openings occupied by elevators, dumb waiters, conveyors, machinery, or containers are not covered in this course).

Handrail: A single bar or pipe supported on brackets from a wall or partition, as on a stairway or ramp, to furnish people with a handhold in case of tripping.

Midrail: A rail approximately midway between the guardrail and platform, used when required and secured to the uprights erected along the exposed sides and ends of platforms.

Nosing: A rounded edge of a step or molding.

Platform: A working space for people, elevated above the surrounding floor or ground. Examples include a balcony or platform for the operation of machinery and equipment.

Portable ladder: A portable ladder is a ladder that can readily be moved or carried, usually consisting of side rails joined at intervals by step, rungs, or rear braces.

Rungs, steps, or cleats: Ladder crosspieces that are intended for use by the person ascending or descending the ladder.

Runway: A passageway for persons, elevated above the surrounding floor or ground level, such as a footwalk along shafting or a walkway between buildings.

Standard railing: A vertical barrier erected along the exposed edges of a floor opening, wall opening, ramp, platform, or runway to prevent people from falling.

Standard strength and construction: Any construction of railings, covers, or other guards that meets the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.23.

Stair railing: A vertical barrier erected along exposed sides of a stairway to prevent people from falling.

Toeboard: A vertical barrier at floor level erected along exposed edges of a floor opening, wall opening, platform, runway, or ramp to prevent materials from falling.

Wall hole: An opening less than 30 inches but more than 1 inch high, of unrestricted width, in any wall or partition, such as a ventilation hole or drainage scupper.

Wall opening: An opening at least 30 inches high and 18 inches wide, in any wall or partition, through which a person may fall, such as a yard-arm doorway or chute opening.

To learn more about Walking Working Surfaces visit our Walking Working Surfaces & Personal Fall Protection Systems Online Training web page.