scope:

This standard sets forth provisions for reducing the risk of slip missteps in workplace situations. These incidents may occur as a result of surface characteristics or conditions. This standard is intended for use by safety, design, and facility professionals, and related practitioners, who seek guidance on reducing risk for same-level missteps and misstep-related falls, and prioritizing solutions for prevention.

NOTE: The provisions set forth do not address the effect of pedestrian intrinsic factors on slip missteps.

Excluded from this standard are active construction worksites (see 29 CFR 1926 or other state OSHA regulations as applicable), floating roof tanks, marine dock facilities, ladders, and mobile elevating work platforms.

NOTE: The scope of this document has application to more than just industrial and commercial settings. It also applies to workplace settings used and occupied mainly by workers e.g., certain healthcare, retail and hospitality environments. Some provisions may be helpful in creating survey forms targeting misstep risk in work-at-home environments (see Robertson MM, Maynard WS. (2017) Managing the Safety and the Performance of Home-Based Teleworkers; A Macroergonomics Perspective. Alan Hedge ed., Ergonomic Workplace Design for Health, Wellness, and Productivity, CRC Press, Chapter 15, 299-320).

Purpose

The purpose of this standard is to establish minimum provisions for reasonably safe underfoot surfaces for persons pursuing foreseeable activities.