OSHA 1910.22 General Requirements – Important Things To Know

This section serves to revise and update the existing requirements that apply to surfaces in general industry.  Included are considerations for:

1. Surface conditions and housekeeping- employers to ensure surfaces are kept clean, orderly, and in sanitary conditions.  This includes in all places of employment, passageways, storerooms, service rooms, and walking-working surfaces.

2. Employer’s walking-working surfaces are regularly inspected and maintained as needed, then corrected, repaired, or guarded against hazardous conditions.  The surfaces must be kept free from hazards, such as loose boards, sharp or protruding objects corrosion, leaks, spills, snow or ice.

3. Employers are required to ensure each walking-working surface can support the maximum intended load for that surface.  This includes all employees, machines and equipment, vehicles, tools and materials, and any loads the employer reasonably anticipate may be applied to the surface.  This does not require engineers, but by making “a visual examination of the condition of the roof and the rest of the structure.”

4. Access and Egress: Employers provide and ensure each worker uses a safe means of access to and egress from walking-working surfaces.  The means of access and egress areas must remain in clear and good repair to allow for safe movement.

5. Workplace Assessments- Inspection, Maintenance, and Repair: Employers must inspect and maintain walking-working surfaces in a safe condition, by inspection regularly and as necessary. A regular inspection means by some type of schedule, formal or informal, for inspecting surfaces adequate enough to identify hazards and address them in a timely manner.  “As necessary” means the employer must conduct inspections due to a change in normal conditions, such as a spill, or major storm event, to ensure the surface is still free from hazards.

6. Employers must ensure to correct or repair hazardous conditions, before allowing workers to use those surfaces. If repairs cannot be made immediately, the area must be guarded to prevent workers from entering.

Update — 2026 Workplace Safety & Surface Compliance:
OSHA 1910.22 forms the backbone of general safety rules for walking and working surfaces, from floors to rooftops. In 2026, OSHA continues to prioritize clarity and enforceability of these standards — especially as they relate to fall prevention, clean work zones, and fall protection integration with anchor systems and rope access operations. Building owners and property managers should think of OSHA 1910.22 as the foundation requirement that supports more specific fall protection standards such as OSHA 1910.27, 1910.28, and 1910.29.

What OSHA 1910.22 Covers

OSHA 1910.22 is about general workplace safety for all walking-working surfaces — including roofs, floors, platforms, stairs, and outdoor areas used for maintenance or passage.

Key areas include:

• Safe passage and clear access
  
• Clean and dry work surfaces
  
• Hazard controls for debris, spills, or obstructions
  
• Guardrails or fall protection where appropriate

This standard is foundational — it underpins more specific fall protection standards.

OSHA 1910.22 requires:

1. Surface Conditions

• Floors and surfaces must be clean, stable, and free of hazards
  
• Debris, spills, and obstructions must be removed promptly

2. Safe Access

• Walkways must be planned and unblocked
  
• Rooftop access routes must be identified and hazard-free

3. Lighting

• Adequate lighting for all walking/working surfaces
  
• Natural or installed lighting to reduce trip hazards

4. Trailing Cables and Materials

• Tools, wires, and hoses should be supported or barricaded
  
• Prevents trips and injuries around equipment

5. Stairways and Handrails

• Stairways with four or more risers require handrails
• Stair surface conditions must be safe and non-slippery

How OSHA 1910.22 Ties Into Fall Protection

While OSHA 1910.22 does not itself dictate specific fall protection gear, it establishes the baseline for safe surfaces. Once a surface is designated “walking or working,” then specific fall protection rules kick in:

• OSHA 1910.27 — Rope Descent Systems
  
• OSHA 1910.28 — Duty to Have Fall Protection
  
• OSHA 1910.29 — Fall Protection System Criteria

In practice, this means:

• Roof access paths must meet 1910.22 corridor safety
  
• Anchor systems for work at height must be installed where appropriate
• Housekeeping on roof surfaces affects overall fall risk

Common OSHA 1910.22 Violations We See

Building owners often overlook:

• Cluttered or blocked rooftop exits
  
• Poor lighting to access roof hatches
  
• Debris on roof work zones
  
• Temporary storage that creates trip hazards
  
• Uncovered elevator pits or stair floor openings

Proactive housekeeping and hazard controls minimize these violations.

Best Practices for Compliance

• Regular roof and floor surface audits
  
• Defined access routes for technicians
  
• Training for maintenance crews on hazard recognition
  
• Integration of housekeeping with anchor access planning
  
• Documentation of hazard elimination steps

📌 Think of 1910.22 as the surface foundation rule — everything else you build requires it to be safe first.

Important things to know, review more articles OSHAs

OSHA’s – 1910.22 General Requirements

OSHA Recognized 3-Levels of Skill- Work at Height

Important Definitions per OSHA

OSHA’s – 1910.140 Personal Fall Protection Systems

OSHA’s – 1910.29 Fall Protection Systems & Falling Object Protection- Criteria and Practices

OSHA’s – 1910.28 Duty to have Fall Protection & Protection from Falling Objects

OSHA’s – 1910.30 Training Requirements

OSHA’s – 1910.23 Ladders- Fixed and Portable

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