- -
- Flexible Timings
- Open Enrollments
- Online Zoom Sessions or LMS
- +1 689 286 3561
- info@amiosp.com
Course Overview
The Walking and Working Surfaces and Fall Protection course from the American Institute of Safety Professionals provides comprehensive training on OSHA 29 CFR 1910 Subpart D, the general industry standard governing the surfaces workers walk and work on and the fall protection required when those surfaces are elevated. Subpart D was significantly updated in 2017 to modernise fall protection requirements for general industry, bringing general industry closer to construction fall protection while maintaining the 4-foot trigger height (compared to 6 feet in construction). Slips, trips, and falls are the leading cause of injuries in general industry and the second leading cause of workplace fatalities after motor vehicle incidents.
The standard covers every surface workers use: floors, platforms, runways, ramps, stairways, ladders, dockboards, scaffolds (general industry), rope descent systems, and walking-working surfaces with unprotected sides and edges. It establishes requirements for surface condition (housekeeping, load limits, drainage), hole and opening protection (covers, guardrails), stairway design and use, ladder selection and use (portable and fixed), dockboard safety, and the fall protection systems (guardrails, safety nets, PFAS, positioning, travel restraint) required at 4 feet or more above a lower level.
The curriculum covers Subpart D requirements section by section, the 4-foot general industry fall protection trigger, floor and wall opening protection (covers, guardrails, gates), stairway requirements (design, handrails, condition), portable ladder safety (selection, setup angle, three-point contact, inspection), fixed ladder safety (cage/well versus ladder safety systems), dockboard safety, housekeeping for slip/trip/fall prevention, fall protection system selection and use, and the training and certification requirements. All training is delivered 100 percent online through Microsoft Teams and the American Institute of Safety Professionals LMS. Upon completion, graduates receive an American Institute of Safety Professionals certificate, wallet card, and transcript, employer-verifiable at amiosp.com/student-verifications.
Learning Outcomes
Upon completing this program, participants will be able to:
- Apply the 4-foot general industry fall protection trigger: understanding when Subpart D requires fall protection, selecting appropriate systems (guardrails, safety nets, PFAS, positioning, travel restraint), and how the general industry trigger differs from construction (6 feet) and other specific standards.
- Protect floor and wall openings: covers for floor holes (secured, marked, load-rated), guardrails for open-sided floors and platforms (42-inch top rail, mid-rail, toe board), and the opening protection that prevents falls through holes and off unprotected edges.
- Apply stairway safety requirements: stairway design (riser height, tread depth, uniformity), handrail requirements, stair condition maintenance, and the housekeeping that prevents stairway slips and falls.
- Apply portable ladder safety: selection for the task (Type I/IA/IAA duty ratings), setup at correct angle (4:1 ratio), securing, three-point contact, inspection before use, and the common ladder misuses that cause falls.
- Apply fixed ladder safety: the transition from cages/wells to ladder safety systems for new fixed ladders over 24 feet, personal fall arrest on fixed ladders, and the inspection requirements.
- Manage dockboard safety: proper placement, securing, load capacity, forklift transition, and the dockboard hazards that cause falls and vehicle incidents at loading docks.
- Implement housekeeping for slip/trip/fall prevention: clean and dry walking surfaces, drainage, spill cleanup, cord management, adequate lighting, and the housekeeping programme that prevents the most common workplace injury.
- Select and implement fall protection systems: guardrail systems, safety net systems, PFAS (harness, lanyard, anchorage), positioning systems, travel restraint systems, and the system selection criteria based on the work situation.
Core Curriculum Topics
- Subpart D Overview: scope, 2017 update, 4-foot trigger, general industry versus construction
- Floor and Wall Openings: covers, guardrails, gates, marking, load rating
- Stairways: design requirements, handrails, condition, housekeeping
- Portable Ladders: selection (duty ratings), setup angle, securing, three-point contact, inspection
- Fixed Ladders: cages/wells vs ladder safety systems, PFAS, 24-foot threshold, inspection
- Dockboards: placement, securing, capacity, forklift transitions
- Housekeeping: clean/dry surfaces, spill cleanup, cord management, lighting
- Fall Protection Systems: guardrails, nets, PFAS, positioning, travel restraint
- Rope Descent Systems: requirements for window cleaning and similar operations
- Training Requirements: Subpart D training and certification provisions
Mode of Delivery
Course Content
- Introduction to Walking and Working Surface Hazards: Slips, Trips, and Falls
- Regulatory Requirements and OSHA Standards
- Identifying Hazardous Conditions on Floors, Stairs, Ladders, and Platforms
- Fall Protection Systems: Guardrails, Safety Nets, and Personal Fall Arrest Systems
- Proper Use, Inspection, and Maintenance of Fall Protection Equipment
- Safe Work Practices for Elevated Work Areas
- Emergency Response Procedures for Fall Incidents
- Promoting a Culture of Fall Prevention and Safety Awareness
- Advanced Risk Assessment for High-Risk Elevated Work
- Case Studies on Fall Incidents and Lessons Learned
- Supervisory Strategies for Enforcing Fall Protection Compliance
- Integrating Walking and Working Surface Safety into Overall Safety Management Systems
Entry Requirements
- No prior training required
- No academic degree required
- All instruction in English; working proficiency required
Upon completion, graduates receive an American Institute of Safety Professionals certificate, wallet card, and transcript. Employer-verifiable at amiosp.com/student-verifications.
Program Duration
Examination
Additional Information
Who Should Enroll
- Safety officers managing slip/trip/fall prevention programmes in general industry
- Facility managers responsible for floor, stairway, and ladder safety
- Maintenance workers who use ladders and work on elevated surfaces
- Warehouse workers exposed to dockboard, ladder, and elevated platform hazards
- Housekeeping managers responsible for walking surface condition
- Anyone working at 4 feet or more above a lower level in general industry
How This Relates To Other Qualifications
- Walking and Working Surfaces — YOU ARE HERE (general industry Subpart D)
- OSHA Focus Four — Fall Hazards (construction Subpart M, 6-foot trigger)
- Safe Scaffold Erection and Inspection (scaffold-specific fall protection)
- CHSO / CSSP (certifications where fall prevention is one compliance area)
- International Diploma in Industrial Safety Management (fall protection at diploma depth)
/Course Certificates/Walking and Working Surfaces including Fall Protection Certificate - American Institute of Safety Professionals.webp)
/Course Wallet Front/Courses Student Wallet Card Front - American Institute of Safety Professionals USA.webp)
/Course Wallet Back/Courses Student Wallet Card Back - American Institute of Safety Professionals USA.webp)
