Guardrails are all around us
Guardrail systems could be the most unappreciated form of fall protection — once they’re installed we don’t notice them. However, consider the hazards employees would be exposed to if guardrails weren’t in place.
Guardrails are one form of fall protection (along with personal fall protection systems or safety net systems) that are needed on a walking-working surface with an unprotected side or edge that is four feet or more above a lower level.
But not just any guardrail will do. OSHA has very specific requirements for guardrail design. These include:
- The height of top rails must be 42 inches, plus or minus three inches, above the walking-working surface. The top edge height may exceed 45 inches, provided the guardrail system meets all other criteria.
- That midrails, screens, mesh, intermediate vertical members, solid panels, or equivalent intermediate members are installed between the walking-working surface and the top edge of the guardrail system:
- Midrails are installed at a height midway between the top edge of the guardrail system and the walking-working surface,
- Screens and mesh extend from the walking-working surface to the top rail and along the entire opening between top rail supports,
- Intermediate vertical members are installed no more than 19 inches apart, and
- Other equivalent intermediate members (like midrails and architectural panels) are installed so that the openings are not more than 19 inches wide.
- Top rails and midrails must be at least 0.25 inches in diameter or in thickness.
These requirements are meant to keep employees falling from an elevated surface and from falling between the top of the guardrail and walking-working surface.
On top of all that, guardrail systems must be capable of withstanding, without failure, a force of at least 200 pounds applied in a downward or outward direction at any point along the top rail. To pass the test, when the 200-pound test load is applied in a downward direction, the top rail must not deflect to a height of less than 39 inches above the walking-working surface. This deflection can occur when using some type of nonrigid material like rope or chain.
Keep in mind that steel or plastic banding can’t be used for top rails or midrails and whatever material you use must have a smooth surface to prevent injury. Think of a wood railing that could potentially have splinters.
Finally, midrails, screens, mesh, intermediate vertical members, solid panels, and other equivalent intermediate members must be capable of withstanding, without failure, a force of at least 150 pounds applied in any downward or outward direction at any point.
With all this said, maybe we’ll have a better appreciation for the guardrails that are all around us.