5 Safety Railing and Guardrail Requirements You Must Know
Did you know that around 800,000 people have falling-related injuries each year?
Most of these accidents happen in work environments that involve heavy-duty equipment and machinery. That is why organizations like OSHA and ICC set standards for workers.
Inherent in both guidelines is the idea that the simplest way to increase workplace safety is to install safety guardrails. A guardrail is enough to prevent a lot of accidents and keep people from falling.
Adding them into the work environment isn't as easy as you may think, though. You need to consider many things for effective guardrail incorporation. Here are the five things you should know about the requirements for safety railings.
1. Guardrails Installation
There are many installation standards set by ICC when it comes to workers working in high places. They dictate that the guardrail system must be at least 41 inches off of the ground level. The ground level, in this case, starts at the surface where workers stand.
There must be a guardrail installed unless there's another kind of fall protection system in place. For OSHA, it's mandatory to have one installed as another layer of protection for the workers.
2. Fall Protection
Another requirement for the guardrail system is fall protection. It applies to workers who are working on scaffolding and other supports. They must have a way to anchor themselves to the safety rail to prevent them from falling.
It also applies to the guardrail system itself. You must install preventative measures to avoid having the guardrails fall on the other workers below them.
Items like safety nets and toeboards can help with this. These are crucial in construction site safety since the activity in these areas can knock guardrails loose.
3. Spaces Between Guardrail
Most people overlook the spaces between guardrails. Having wide enough spaces can still pose a threat to the safety of each worker.
Elements of the guardrail like the balusters and midrails should be no more than 19 inches apart. This makes a small enough space to prevent large objects from falling through.
4. Guardrail Strength
5. Guardrail Safety Standards
Follow These Guardrail Requirements Today
