OSHA Overhead Door Safety

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has developed regulatory standards intended to keep workers safe on the job. Overhead doors are one area that can cause injury, regardless of the type of workplace.

General Duty Clause

• Employers are responsible for the safety of workers in every area of the job, even if a specific set of regulations is not written in OSHA's Standards. The General Duty Clause covers all hazardous situations and makes the employer responsible for workers' safety. The Clause states that the employer must keep all workers safe from recognized hazards that could cause death or serious illness or injury to employees. Overhead door safety would fall under the General Duty Clause.

Safety Signs

• OSHA does require that safety signs be posted where hazards potentially exist. Signs stating that an overhead door could cause crushing or pinning should be posted on the inside and outside of every overhead door in the workplace.

Lockout Tagout

• OSHA's Lockout/Tagout Standards are also ones that would apply to overhead doors.

  If a door is not working correctly or is having maintenance or inspections performed, the power to the door should be locked in the off position and tagged with the initials of the person responsible for the safety of persons working on the door or in the area.