An offset passage may be used in lieu of a self-closing gate. While OSHA does not provide a definition of “offset passage,” the Agency says that the protective barrier must prevent a person from walking directly into the opening of a hole. In other words, there cannot be a direct entrance/passage to the opening at the top of the fixed ladder. Essentially, the worker would not be able to directly access the ladder opening without walking around the inside railing that is offset from the outside railing, thus affording the worker an adequate protective barrier.