Floor Holes & Openings
Photo: Bart Everson, CC BY 2.0.
priority_high Why it matters
A hole is any gap 2 inches or more in the smallest dimension; an opening is 12 inches or more. Uncovered drains, removed grates, demolition gaps, and floor penetrations are easy to walk or step into. They're a fall-through and trip hazard at the same time, and they're routinely missed because the cover ‘was just moved for a minute.’
event_repeat How often it's checked
There is no fixed interval — the requirement to guard a hole is continuous, so it must be verified whenever a cover is removed and at every routine safety walk. OSHA cites it on complaint, accident, or NEP-driven inspection.
construction How La Gala fixes it
We install code-compliant covers (rated for at least twice the maximum load) or guardrails around the opening, and standardize cover hardware so a removed cover gets put back the same way every time.
Got this on a citation — or want to get ahead of it?
We certify it and we fix it, under one contract. Start with a free, no-obligation assessment, or build a custom compliance plan in two minutes.