SUMMARY OF OSHA REQUIREMENTS
REGARDING SAFETY GATES

OSHA 1910.23(a)  Protection for floor openings.  (2) Every ladderway floor opening or platform shall be guarded by a standard railing with standard toeboard on all exposed sides (except at entrance to opening), with the passage through the railing either provided with a swinging gate or so offset that a person cannot walk directly into the opening.

OSHA 1910.23(c)  Protection of open-sided floors, platforms, and runways.
(1) Every open-sided floor or platform 4 feet or more above adjacent floor or ground level shall be guarded by a standard railing (or the equivalent as specified in paragraph (e)(3) of this section) on all open side except where there is entrance to a ramp, stairway, or fixed ladder.  The railing shall be provided with a toeboard wherever, beneath the open sides,

The problem is that the configuration of a "swinging gate" is not defined or specified.  There have been many interpretations over the years.

OSHA has attempted to clarify and eliminate any differences in interpreting the regulations as part of their overall revision of 29 CFR 1910 Subpart D.   This Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPR) for revision of the Walking and Working Surfaces standard was published in the Federal Register, Vol. 55, No. 69, on Tuesday, April 10, 1990. -- In regards to access openings, the proposal basically states that the protection be equivalent to that of the guardrail system with the exception of the toeboard.

• Gates should have both a top rail and a midrail.
• Top rail height of 42" above the walking or working surface.
• Maximum opening size of 19" in the least dimension.
• Able to withstand 200 lb. load (top rail) and 150 lb. load (midrail).
• There is some distinction allowed in the protection requirements between "working" platforms and "pass-through" platforms.

Features of Intrepid Industries Double Bar Gate

Exceeds OSHA's current regulations
Exceeds OSHA's proposed requirements
Simple, gravity-closing operation
Non-corrosive, solid polyurethane construction
Four sizes, covering openings up to 37" wide
Economical
Easy Installation
 

[Corrected 4/4/2005.

Note: On April 10, 1990 OSHA published proposed revisions to Walking and Working Surfaces; Personal Protective Equipment (Fall Protection Systems); Notices of Proposed Rulemaking; Slips; Falls; Trips in Federal Register 55:13360-13441. It is available electronically only as an abstract. On May 2, 2003 OSHA reopened the rulemaking record on the proposed revisions to Walking and Working Surfaces and Personal Protective Equipment (Fall Protection Systems). It was re-published in its entirety in Federal Register 68:23527-23568 and is available electronically.]

Quoted below is a pertinent section from this re-publication of the proposed revisions.  Please click here is you wish to read it in full.

Also the interested reader may want to do a Search for "safety gate" on the www.osha.gov web site and then look in detail at the letters contained in the Standard Interpretations section.  For your convenience, you can do that here or in a separate tab or window within your browser.