An open hole that is 12 inches or larger in diameter must have what protective measure?

An open hole that is 12 inches or larger in diameter must have what protective measure?

• A. A warning label
• B. A guardrail or cover
• C. A safety net
• D. A floor plate

Answer: (B)

Open floor holes create a fall hazard, especially when they are large enough for a person to fall through. When the opening is 12 inches in diameter or larger, you must provide a protective measure to prevent falls. A guardrail or a cover is the required protection because a guardrail creates a physical barrier at the edge, stopping someone from stepping into the hole, while a cover provides a solid, load‑bearing surface over the opening so people can walk across it without dropping through. Other options like warning labels don’t prevent a fall, and safety nets are used in different fall-protection situations, not specifically for floor openings. A floor plate can serve as a cover, but the standard requires the more robust guardrail or cover approach for holes of this size.

Open floor holes create a fall hazard, especially when they are large enough for a person to fall through. When the opening is 12 inches in diameter or larger, you must provide a protective measure to prevent falls. A guardrail or a cover is the required protection because a guardrail creates a physical barrier at the edge, stopping someone from stepping into the hole, while a cover provides a solid, load‑bearing surface over the opening so people can walk across it without dropping through. Other options like warning labels don’t prevent a fall, and safety nets are used in different fall-protection situations, not specifically for floor openings. A floor plate can serve as a cover, but the standard requires the more robust guardrail or cover approach for holes of this size.