The Hidden Hazards You Walk Past Every Day

Skylights, hatches, mezzanine pits. Tops of silos, tanks, or HVAC units. These areas don’t always look dangerous — until someone falls.

When it comes to fall protection in general industry, the two most overlooked categories are:

• Openings that aren’t always open
• Machinery maintenance access points

Both are common. Both are deadly. And both are called out clearly in OSHA and ANSI standards.

1. Openings That Aren’t Always Open

Skylights, roof hatches, mezzanine drops, floor cutouts, and pit access points

These are deceptively dangerous areas. Whether they’re used once a month or once a day, any opening that a worker could fall through must be protected.

OSHA 29 CFR 1910.28(b)(3)(i)

“Each employee must be protected from falling through any hole (including skylights) that is 4 feet or more above a lower level by a cover or guardrail system.”

Even temporary cutouts or uncovered leveler pits during cleaning qualify under this standard.

Skylights Are NOT Safe to Stand On

They are considered holes in the walking-working surface per OSHA. If someone can fall through it, it must be protected.

Common Facility Risks:

• Roof hatches left open during inspections
• Floor holes cut during retrofits
• Dock leveler service openings
• Skylights mistaken for solid surfaces
• Mezzanine transfer zones with no guarding

2. Machinery Maintenance Areas

Elevated or awkward areas where technicians access equipment for inspection, service, or repair

When workers climb on top of equipment — like silos, presses, ovens, or production lines — they’re often exposed to fall risks without dedicated anchor points, guardrails, or designated access platforms.

OSHA 29 CFR 1910.23(c)

“Each employee on a walking-working surface with an unprotected side or edge that is 4 feet or more above a lower level must be protected by guardrail systems, safety nets, or personal fall protection systems.”

ANSI Z359.2 & Z359.18

• Z359.2: Requires hazard assessments and formal procedures for elevated service tasks
• Z359.18: Specifies structural anchorage design and use requirements for fall arrest systems around equipment and machinery

Common Maintenance Hazards:

• Standing on top of industrial ovens, chillers, or presses
• Climbing above ducting or piping for access
• Walking on narrow steel beams or catwalks
• Reaching across conveyor belts or hoppers

How FallProof Fixes the Blind Spots

Our team specializes in designing and installing turnkey fall protection systems for the areas most often missed:

For Openings:

• Skylight safety screens (non-penetrating options available)
• Hatch rail systems with self-closing gates
• Custom floor hole covers that meet load rating standards

For Maintenance Access:

• Overhead rigid tracks for SRL systems
• Custom platforms with guardrails for safe access
• Permanent or portable anchor points for fall arrest
• Field assessments to pinpoint blind spots before they become incidents

📅 Schedule a facility walkthrough »

📞 Or speak directly with our safety engineering team at (609)-325-5555

Final Word

Openings and elevated maintenance zones don’t always get flagged as fall hazards — but they should.

They’re the places where workers take shortcuts, and where one slip can become a catastrophe.

Let’s make sure your facility isn’t one hazard away from a headline.

The Most Overlooked Fall Hazards in Industrial Facilities

Don’t let what you don’t see become your next safety incident.

When people think of fall hazards, they often picture ladders, rooftops, or scaffolding. But in our experience at FallProof Systems, the most dangerous hazards are usually the ones that blend into the background.

Below are five of the most overlooked fall risks we encounter in industrial facilities — and why they matter.

1. Openings That Aren’t Always Open

Think roof hatches, skylights, floor cutouts, or mezzanine drop zones. These areas are often left uncovered or unguarded “just for a minute,” but that minute can change everything. Skylights in particular are notorious for being mistaken as solid surfaces — until someone falls through.

2. Machinery Maintenance Areas

Industrial equipment like silos, tanks, and conveyor systems require routine inspection and servicing — often from the top. Without anchor points, portable rails, or engineered lifelines, these become some of the most dangerous areas in a facility.

3. Catwalks and Elevated Platforms

Partial or gapped guardrails are a silent threat. Whether due to outdated design or equipment access needs, these “mostly protected” areas invite risk. One missed step or unguarded edge is all it takes.

4. Temporary Access Structures

Mobile stairs, rented scaffolds, or short-term work platforms may not meet the same safety standards as permanent structures. But OSHA doesn’t care how long something is there — if there’s a risk, protection is required.

5. Loading Docks and Truck Bays

Loading docks are usually just under 4 feet high — but don’t let that fool you. Dozens of injuries occur each year from falls at these edge zones. Workers guiding materials, distracted by forklifts, or navigating poor lighting are particularly vulnerable.

Why These Hazards Get Missed

They don’t look like traditional fall risks. They’re often in spaces no one assumes are hazardous — until someone gets hurt. These “in-between zones” are where safety plans fall short.

FallProof Sees What Others Miss

At FallProof Systems, we take a comprehensive approach to every walkthrough, identifying hidden hazards and designing solutions tailored to your space — from custom guardrails and overhead anchor tracks to mobile anchor units like The Grabber.

✅ Ready to Uncover the Hidden Risks?

Let us help you turn blind spots into protected zones.
📅 Schedule a Safety Assessment Today »

📞 Or call us at (609)-325-5555

This blog is brought to you by FallProof Systems to educate our clients and colleagues on the fall risks associated with different workplaces and jobs.

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