Guardrails: Getting a Grip on Fall Protection

We’ve all heard Occam’s razor: all other factors being equal, the simplest solution is most often the best. When it comes to fall protection, many workplace fall hazards can be eliminated or minimized using a rather obvious solution—the guardrail. Although hardly glamorous and rarely high-tech, guardrails are often the difference between a potentially lethal fall hazard and a fall-proof work area.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires that employees be protected from industrial workplace falls occurring from a height of 4 feet or greater. Protection must be provided during edge work, around hazardous machinery, and around holes or other openings where a fall of more than 4 feet may occur. In all such environments, a passive fall protection system such as a guardrail provides a reliable, cost-effective, long-term solution. It is important to note that OSHA 1926.502 Subpart M (http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_id=10758&p_table=STANDARDS) includes the following specific regulations for guardrail systems:

1926.502(b)1
“Top edge height of top rails, or equivalent guardrail system members, shall be 42 inches (1.1 m) plus or minus 3 inches (8 cm) above the walking/working level. When conditions warrant, the height of the top edge may exceed the 45-inch height, provided the guardrail system meets all other criteria of this paragraph.”

1926.502(b)3
“Guardrail systems shall be capable of withstanding, without failure, a force of at least 200 pounds (890 N) applied within 2 inches (5.1 cm) of the top edge, in any outward or downward direction, at any point along the top edge.”

These regulations highlight the two key benefits of guardrail systems:

1. Guardrails must be high enough to prevent “overboard” falls; and
2. Guardrails must be able to withstand substantial lateral or vertical force without compromise or collapse.

These benefits may seem obvious, but you’d be surprised how easily they can be overlooked. To identify the areas in your workplace that may benefit from a guardrail system, many opt to commission an independent risk assessment, during which professionals trained in the science of risk would evaluate each area of your facility for potential fall hazards.

Once you’ve identified the fall risk areas, your manufacturer representative can help you select the guardrail system that is best for you. So be sure to find a manufacturer who can provide both standardized and customized guardrail systems to meet the specific needs and dimensions of your facility.