Hole hazards on construction sites include worker falls, trips, being struck by falling objects, equipment accidents, and exposure to hazardous substances. Common examples of these hazards are penetration holes in floors, unfilled or incomplete floors or decking, leading edge protection, elevator shafts, manholes, skylights, and unprotected excavations. Prevention requires securing or covering holes with materials that can support twice the anticipated load, installing guardrails, providing adequate lighting, and clearly marking all excavations
ISSUES:
Falls into holes on construction sites can cause serious injuries or death. OSHA considers falls the #1 hazard in construction and defines a hole as a gap or void at least 2 inches in its smallest dimension on a walking or working surface. Falls into smaller holes or entry into larger holes can result in broken bones, brain injuries, nerve damage, disfigurement, paralysis, or death.
Holes stem from severe fall risks, including falls into deep holes, tripping over smaller holes, and equipment or materials falling through openings. They can also cause collapse of surrounding structures or excavation walls and hide dangers like utility lines or obstacles for machinery. Serious injuries necessitate strict adherence to safety regulations, including guarding, covering, fall protection systems, barricades, and marking for all holes.
THE FACTS
Available sources present varying data on accidents and fatalities from uncovered or unprotected holes. The most common exposures are:
Small holes on walking and working surfaces where workers can trip over or into them.
Larger holes on working surfaces, decks, and roofs create the greatest potential for injury or fatality.
Struck-by hazards: Falling tools, materials, or other objects can fall through open holes and injure workers below.
Equipment and vehicle accidents: Mobile equipment can drive or steer into unprotected holes, causing accidents and injuries.
Collapse and cave-ins: Unprotected excavations and trenches can collapse, burying workers under soil and debris.
Exposure to hazardous atmospheres: Open holes, especially in confined spaces or excavations, can expose workers to toxic gases, lack of oxygen, or other hazardous substances.
Falls into smaller holes or wrongful entry into larger holes can result in injuries including broken bones, brain injuries, nerve damage, disfigurement, paralysis, and death.
COMMON CAUSES OF HOLE ACCIDENTS
- Openings in flooring or decks not covered, marked, or barricaded.
- Openings in walls at leading edges not marked or barricaded.
- Elevator shafts, ventilation shafts, and other building shafts not marked or barricaded.
- Manholes not covered, marked, or barricaded.
- Skylights not rated to support a person, or not identified, covered, marked, or barricaded.
- Unfinished stairs, missing steps, and unsupported walkways.
- Roof drains, floor drains, and chutes not covered, marked, or protected with barricades.
- Drilled holes in decks and open holes in precast concrete not covered, marked, or barricaded.
CONSEQUENCES OF CONSTRUCTION HOLE HAZARDS
- Injuries and fatalities
- Project delays
- Legal and financial repercussions
SOURCES OF HOLE HAZARDS
- Unguarded, unmarked, or improperly secured openings like floor holes, roof openings, wall openings, and excavations.
- Unfinished stairs, elevator shafts, skylights, drains, and un-shored trenches. These hazards are often created by poor site management, lack of appropriate safety protocols, inadequate lighting, insufficient barriers, and environmental factors.
- Soil collapse (cave-ins).
- Falling objects or equipment.
- Underground utilities not located, with water accumulation causing erosion.
- Heavy machinery falling into holes.
SOURCES OF HOLE HAZARDS
OSHA Standard 1926 Subpart B – 1926.501(b)(4)(ii): Employees on a walking/working surface shall be protected from tripping in or stepping into holes (including skylights) by covers.
OSHA Standard 1926.501(b)(1) “Unprotected sides and edges”: Employees on surfaces 6 feet or more above a lower level must be protected by guardrails, safety nets, or personal fall arrest systems.
OSHA Standard 1926.502(i)(3–4): Covers must be secured to prevent accidental displacement and marked with “HOLE” or “COVER.”
OSHA Standard 1926.501(b)(14): Employees near wall openings must be protected from falls by guardrails, safety nets, or personal fall arrest systems.
OSHA Standard 1926.856(a–b): Mechanical equipment shall not be used on floors or surfaces unless strong enough; floor openings must have curbs or stop-logs.
OSHA Standard 1926.651(f): Mobile equipment near excavations requires warning systems.
OSHA Standard 1926.1203(e)(2)(ii): Confined space entrance covers must be immediately guarded when removed.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: PREVENTION STRATEGIES
- Covers: Cover all holes with durable materials that can support at least twice the weight of workers, equipment, or materials.
- Guardrails: Install around all unprotected sides of holes and openings.
- Lighting: Ensure adequate illumination in and around work areas.
- Barricades and Warning Signs: Alert workers to potential hazards.
- Worker Vigilance: Report and cover any uncovered holes.
- Proper Excavation Safety: Implement trenching and excavation safety protocols, including shoring or sloping.
YOUR RESPONSIBILITY
To prevent accidents, ensure employees or materials do not trip on or fall through openings in floors, roofs, walls, or excavations.
DO’S – ACTION STEPS
- Install permanent barriers around all holes.
- Communicate any hole hazards with workers immediately.
- Notify supervisors of new holes or unprotected openings.
- Cover floor holes through which materials or tools may fall.
- Cover all holes 2 inches wide or greater.
- Ensure covers support at least twice the maximum load.
- Secure all covers to prevent displacement.
- Mark all covers with “HOLE” or “COVER.”
- Recognize that many holes may constitute a “Confined Space.”
DO’S – ACTION STEPS
- Don’t cover holes with non-weight-bearing materials (e.g., paper, cardboard, plastic).
- Don’t ignore manholes, drains, or vault entrances as confined spaces.
- Don’t leave demolition openings unbarricaded or uncovered.
- Don’t allow accidental or deliberate entrance into any hole.
- Don’t remove barricades or hole covers.
- Don’t walk on uncertain surfaces covering holes.
- Don’t operate equipment without a clear view of excavation edges.
- Don’t operate equipment on unsafe working surfaces.
