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Workplace Surfaces: Hazard Prevention and Safety

20 minutesEN / ES / MLCCSafety Training29 CFR 1910.22, 29 CFR 1910 Subpart D
Quick Answer

Workplace Surfaces: Hazard Prevention and Safety is a 20-minute online course that covers OSHA's walking-working surfaces requirements under 29 CFR 1910 Subpart D, including floor maintenance, hazard identification, slip and fall prevention, and safe access and egress. It is designed for employees and facility managers in general industry workplaces and includes a downloadable certificate of completion.

Course Overview

Slips, trips, and falls are among the most common and costly workplace injuries in every industry. The Bureau of Labor Statistics consistently ranks same-level falls among the top causes of lost-workday injuries, and falls on the same level account for approximately 68% of all fall-related injuries in general industry. OSHA's walking-working surfaces standards under 29 CFR 1910 Subpart D establish the employer's duty to maintain surfaces free from hazards, inspect regularly, and provide safe access and egress. These requirements apply to every general industry workplace.

This course trains your employees to identify and address surface hazards before they cause injuries. Your team will learn the OSHA requirements for maintaining walking-working surfaces, how to recognize common hazards including wet floors, damaged surfaces, obstructed pathways, and inadequate lighting, and what corrective actions to take when hazards are found. The course covers housekeeping standards, floor load requirements, inspection procedures, and the employer obligations that apply across all general industry facilities.

What You'll Learn

  • OSHA walking-working surfaces requirements under 29 CFR 1910.22
  • Employer obligations for surface condition maintenance and hazard prevention
  • Common surface hazards: wet floors, spills, damaged surfaces, and obstructions
  • Inspection requirements and procedures for walking-working surfaces
  • Safe access and egress requirements under 29 CFR 1910.22(c)
  • Housekeeping standards for passageways, storerooms, and work areas
  • Load capacity requirements for walking-working surfaces

Who Needs This Training

  • All employees working in general industry facilities with walking-working surfaces
  • Facility maintenance staff responsible for floor and surface conditions
  • Supervisors accountable for workplace housekeeping and hazard correction
  • Safety officers conducting workplace inspections under 29 CFR 1910.22
  • Warehouse and distribution center employees navigating high-traffic areas
  • Retail and hospitality workers in environments with frequent wet-floor conditions

Regulatory Background

OSHA's walking-working surfaces standard (29 CFR 1910.22) requires employers to keep all workplace surfaces clean, orderly, and free from hazards including sharp objects, loose boards, spills, and ice. Employers must ensure surfaces can support intended loads, provide safe access and egress, and conduct regular inspections with prompt correction of any hazardous conditions. The standard was significantly updated in 2017 as part of OSHA's final rule on walking-working surfaces and personal fall protection systems (29 CFR 1910, Subparts D and I), which modernized requirements for general industry to align more closely with construction standards. Slip, trip, and fall injuries consistently generate some of the highest workers' compensation costs across all industries. OSHA violations for walking-working surface deficiencies carry penalties of up to $16,550 per serious citation and up to $165,514 for willful or repeated violations. Training requirements under 29 CFR 1910.30 require employers to ensure employees understand fall and equipment hazards and are retrained as necessary.

Frequently Asked Questions

The standard requires employers to keep all walking-working surfaces clean, orderly, and in a sanitary condition. Surfaces must be free from hazards like sharp objects, loose boards, spills, and ice. Floors must be maintained in a dry condition where feasible, with drainage provided when wet processes are used. Employers must ensure surfaces support intended loads, provide safe access and egress, and conduct regular inspections.
The standard at 29 CFR 1910.22(d) requires that walking-working surfaces be inspected regularly and as needed to maintain safe conditions. OSHA does not specify a fixed frequency - the appropriate interval depends on the workplace conditions, traffic levels, and nature of operations. Hazardous conditions must be corrected or guarded against before employees use the surface.
OSHA's 2017 final rule updated the walking-working surfaces standard for the first time since 1971. Key changes included adding regular inspection requirements, consolidating and clarifying performance-based language, shifting specific guardrail and cover requirements to fall protection standards, and adding personal fall protection system requirements for general industry under Subpart I.
In most states, workers' compensation is a no-fault system, meaning employees are generally covered for work-related injuries regardless of who was at fault. However, employers have a legal obligation under OSHA to maintain safe walking-working surfaces. Frequent slip-and-fall injuries can trigger OSHA inspections, increase workers' compensation premiums, and indicate systemic maintenance or housekeeping failures.
OSHA penalties for walking-working surface violations reach up to $16,550 per serious citation and up to $165,514 for willful or repeated violations. Failure to abate a recognized hazard adds up to $16,550 per day. Because these inspections often occur after a reported injury, employers frequently face multiple citations when surface conditions contribute to an incident.
$24.95
per person
Volume Pricing
Team Size Price per Person
1 - 9$24.95
10 - 24$19.95
25 - 49$17.95
50 - 99$17.50
Subtotal $24.95
Language

This course is available in English, Spanish, and Multi-Language CC at no additional charge.

Certificate of completion included. Downloadable upon passing the final assessment.

$24.95
per person