Floor Openings, Holes, and Covers
Construction and general industry · Ver en español
Talking points
- Any hole in a floor, roof, or walking surface large enough for a person to step into or fall through must be covered or guarded.
- Covers must be strong enough to support at least twice the maximum intended load, including workers, equipment, and materials.
- Covers must be secured so they cannot be accidentally displaced — nail them, screw them, or bolt them in place.
- Mark all covers clearly with the word 'HOLE' or 'COVER' in a contrasting color so no one mistakes them for part of the floor.
- If you see a cover that has been removed or displaced, do not walk past it. Secure the area, replace the cover, and report it.
Ask the crew
Why do you think displaced or unmarked hole covers are such a common cause of falls?
Standards this talk is built on
A toolbox talk is a short safety briefing. It supports the training a standard requires; it does not replace it.
Run this talk with your crew and keep the record
In Jobsite, workers sign in on their phones in English or Spanish, and you keep who attended, when, and where, with every other talk your crew has had.
Using an AI assistant? Jobsite's free MCP server serves this library, with OSHA rule text, no sign-in: https://jobsitecerts.com/api/mcp/public (/mcp)
Sign-in sheet
Print this page to collect signatures, or run the talk in Jobsite and workers sign in on their phones.
| Name | Signature | Date |
|---|---|---|
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