Since our presentation at ASSP Safety2019! I have been getting the strangest request for clarification on how OSHA views “limited means of egress” and for the life of me, I just can’t understand why. Yes, the GI standard for PRCS’s (1910.146) does not define the phrase; however, since 2015 OSHA’s Construction Standard for PRCS has actually defined the phrase quite clearly in the definitions section of the standard (1926.1202). And for those who wish to claim… “I am in General Industry so that definition does not apply to me”… well, then I can not help you. OSHA has made it clear that the newer Confined Spaces in Construction (1926.1201-.1213) is their standard of choice and it most certainly can apply to General Industry workplaces – it ALL depends on the type of work taking place inside the space as to which standard they will enforce. So what did OSHA say was “Limited or restricted means for entry or exit”… (and yes a ladder is without a doubt a restriction for entry and exit)
