Slotted metal panels on crane personnel platforms

August 10, 2004

Dear Mr. Johnson:

This is in response to your e-mail inquiry of May 28, 2004. We have paraphrased your question as follows:

Question: Does our personnel platform design, which incorporates a panel that has 1" x ¼" slots, meet the OSHA personnel platform design requirements in §1926.1431(e)(6)?

Answer

The relevant provision, §1926.1431(e)(6), states:

[E]ach personnel platform... shall be enclosed at least from the toeboard to mid-rail with either solid construction or expanded metal having openings no greater than ½-inch.

The design in question is a panel that is solid metal with slots cut out in some places to form a logo (see picture below):

[Solid metal panel with slots cut out in some places to form a logo]

The largest of the slots are 1" x ¼", which is .25 square inch. That is the same in square inches as ½" expanded metal.

This panel design meets the requirement. First, it is mostly solid metal, which provides more protection than a panel made entirely of ½-inch mesh. Also, the largest slot opening in the panel has the same amount of open area as ½-inch expanded metal openings.

If you need any additional information, please contact us by fax at: U.S. Department of Labor, OSHA, Directorate of Construction, Office of Construction Standards and Guidance, fax # 202-693-1689. You can also contact us by mail at the above office, Room N3468, 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20210, although there will be a delay in our receiving correspondence by mail.

Sincerely,

Russell B. Swanson, Director

Directorate of Construction

[Corrected 12/15/2013]