SUBPART D – STAIRWAYS (1910.25)

This article covers the new Subpart D stairways (29 CFR 1910.25 a – c) standards and the exception. Subpart D 29 CFR 1910.25 d – f were covered in a previous Safety Spotlight article.

1910.25 (a) Application – This section covers all stairways (including standard, spiral (d), ship (e) and alternating tread-type stairs (f)). Except for stairs serving floating roof tanks, stairs on scaffolds, stairs designed into machines or equipment, and stairs on self-propelled motorized equipment.

1910.25 (b) General Requirements – The employer must ensure:

     (1) Handrails, stair rail systems and guardrail systems are provided in accordance with 1910.28.

     (2) Vertical clearance above any stair tread to any overhead obstruction is at least 6 feet, 8 inches, as measured from the leading edge of the tread.

     (3) Stairs have uniform riser heights and tread depths between landings;

     (4) Stairway landings and platforms are at least the width of the stair and at least 30 inches in depth, as measured in the direction of travel;

     (5) When a door or a gate opens directly on a stairway, a platform is provided, and the swing of the door or gate does not reduce the platform’s effective usable depth to:

                      (i) less than 20 inches for platforms installed before January 17, 2017; and

                      (ii) less than 22 inches for platforms installed on or after January 17, 2017