Fall Protection - Guardrails

Falls in the workplace continue to be the leading cause of fatal accidents accounting for nearly 900 deaths each year. That’s why fall protection for exposed heights 6ft or greater is an important aspect to any safety plan. One of the simplest yet effective fall protection systems that are frequently used are guardrails. Let’s discuss how these systems are designed and why they are effective among leading edges.
 
Guardrail Design
Guardrails are designed with four different components:

• Top Rail – installed between 39-45 inches above working surface
• Midrail – installed between the Top Rail and working surface. Only required when there is no other structure that is at least 21 inches in height
• Toeboard – installed directly above the working surface to prevent any objects from falling to the floor below
• Intermediate Members – connection points for railings and toeboard. These assist in the structure of the guardrail and help make sure there are no openings larger than 19 inches along the guardrail

Along with these components, sometimes screens or mesh can be added to help prevent objects from falling to the floor below. All guardrail systems must be built to withstand a force of at least 200lbs in all directions and be free of rough surfaces. Now let’s look into why a guardrail system can be beneficial over other types of fall protection systems.
 
Benefits of a Guardrail
Some benefits of a guardrail system include:

• Protect multiple workers from leading edges and fall hazards
• Prevent debris and objects from falling to lower levels
• Inexpensive due to design and capabilities
• Do not require specialty components or lines
• Easily moveable/removable as the hazards change

 
While there are many ways to protect yourself from falls, guardrails are one of the most economical and effective when faced with leading edges and open hazards. To keep the conversation going, download the Guardrails Toolbox Talk (TBT) or comment below.

Guardrails TBT