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Walkway width for equipment maintenance access

Summary A steel company asked what minimum width would be acceptable for a walkway used to maintain and reach equipment. OSHA said an 18-inch walkway would comply with the intent of its then-current general industry provision. OSHA archives this brief letter.
Document
Federal opinion letter
Agency
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Document number
1982-03-09
Date issued
March 9, 1982
Status
Archived by the agency
OSHA labels this an archive document and warns that it may no longer represent OSHA policy.
Status last verified October 10, 2026
Topics
Workplace Safety OSHA 1910 Access Walking Working Surfaces Maintenance
Source
View the official document

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OSHA labels this an archive document and warns that it may no longer represent OSHA policy. It may no longer reflect the agency's current position. Treat this page as historical context, not current guidance, and verify current law before relying on anything here.
About this page: The full text below is the official document from Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Ezel adds the plain-English summary and tracks the document's status. The official source linked on this page is authoritative for any reliance.

NOTICE: This is an OSHA Archive Document, and may no longer represent OSHA Policy. It is presented here as historical content, for research and review purposes only.

March 9, 1982

Mr. T. S. McKosky
Consulting Engineer
Bethlehem Steel Corporation
[Recipient address omitted]

Dear Mr. McKosky:

This is in response to your letter of March 3, 1982, concerning the minimum width of access to equipment.

A minimum width of 18 inches is acceptable for a walkway used for maintenance and gaining access to equipment and would comply with the intent of Section 1910.37, OSHA General Industry Standards.

If I may be of further assistance, please call or write.

Sincerely,
John K. Barto
Chief,
Division of Occupational Safety Programming

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