Floor openings and skylights on NYC construction sites are among the most common fall hazards — and among the easiest to address. An uncovered or improperly secured floor opening can drop a worker multiple stories in an instant. The rule is simple: every opening gets a cover, every cover gets a marking, and no cover gets removed without SSM authorization.

• Any opening ≥ 2 inches in a walking/working surface — holes from pipe sleeves, core bores, rebar penetrations, and missing floor sections
• Skylights and roof openings — treated as floor openings; covers must support 250 lbs concentrated load
• Excavations and pits at grade — require either a cover or a guardrail system around the perimeter
• Sumps, valve pits, and utility trenches that workers could step into

• Covers must be capable of supporting twice the maximum intended load
• Covers must be secured against accidental displacement — nail down, bolt, or use a non-slip weight
• Every cover must be marked "HOLE — DO NOT REMOVE" in clearly legible letters
• Plywood is acceptable if it is ¾-inch minimum thickness and properly sized to span the opening with ≥ 6-inch bearing on all sides
• Color-coding (bright orange or yellow paint) is strongly recommended and standard on NYC sites

• No worker may remove a floor cover without explicit authorization from the SSM — even for "just a second"
• If you see an uncovered opening, do not walk past it — barricade the area immediately and report to the SSM
• If a cover has been moved or damaged, treat the area as an active hazard until a new cover is installed and inspected