Prevent falls in repair, service, and assembly pits

• Employees must be protected from falling into repair, service, and assembly pits.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) believes that most workplace pits are used for vehicle repair, service, and assembly. The use of a fall protection system is not required for a repair pit, service pit, or assembly pit that is less than 10 feet deep, if the employer complies with these requirements:

• Limits access within 6 feet of the edge of the pit to authorized employees who have been trained per 1910.30.
• Posts readily visible caution signs that meet the requirements of 1910.145 and state “Caution—Open Pit.”
• Does one of the following:
  • Applies floor markings at least six feet from the edge of the pit in colors that contrast with the surrounding area.
  • Places a warning line at least six feet from the edge of the pit as well as stanchions that are capable of resisting, without tipping over, a force of at least 16 pounds applied horizontally against the stanchion at a height of 30 inches.
  • Places a combination of floor markings and warning lines at least six feet from the edge of the pit.

When two or more pits in a common area are not more than 15 feet apart, the employer may comply by placing contrasting floor markings at least 6 feet from the pit edge around the entire area of the pits.