OSHA states that guardrails shall be surfaced to prevent injury to an employee from punctures or lacerations and to prevent snagging of clothing.Īccording to the standard, steel or plastic banding shouldn’t be used as a toprail or midrail. Safety Program for Working at Heights Do’s and Don’ts For Guardrails When conditions warrant, the height of the top edge may exceed the 45” height, provided the guardrail system meets all other criteria of paragraph (g)(4).” The top edge height on supported scaffolds manufactured and placed in service before January 1, 2000, and on all suspended scaffolds where both a guardrail and a personal fall arrest system are required shall be between 36” (0.9 m) and 45” (1.2 m). “The top edge height of toprails or equivalent member on supported scaffolds manufactured or placed in service after January 1, 2000, shall be installed between 38” (0.97 m) and 45” (1.2 m) above the platform surface. Guardrail systems shall be installed before the scaffold is released for use by employees other than erection/dismantling crews. In this standard, OSHA says: “Guardrail systems shall be installed along all open sides and ends of platforms. Guardrail requirements are listed in the OSHA 1926.451(g)(4) standard. What Are the OSHA Specifications for Guardrails?

Toe boards shall be at least 3.5” (8.9 cm) in height from top edge to floor level, and be capable of withstanding a force of 50 lbs. Toe boards shall be provided when employees below could be exposed to falling objects such as tools. If wire-rope guardrail systems are utilized, highly visible tape or flags must be placed every 6’ to increase visibility. Midrails are halfway between the top rail and walking/working surface and must stand up against a downward and outward directional force of at least 150 lbs. Guardrails should be inspected per the manufacturer’s specifications or a qualified person’s requirements. in any direction per OSHA 1910.29(b)(3)(4)(5). A guardrail consists of a top rail 42” + or – 3” no less than 39”, mid-rail at 21” and toe board 3.5” high. Guardrails need to have a minimum breaking strength of 200 lbs. To add more layers of protection, screens, mesh, or balusters could be utilized in tandem with the guardrails. any workplace with an accessible rooftop.Īlso Read: What is the difference between fall protection and fall prevention.landscaping and work areas in natural settings, and.Guardrails are used in every industry and can be seen in: The standard guardrail system features a top rail, intermediate (or mid) rail, and support posts. Guardrails serve as passive fall protection in the Hierarchy of Fall Protection. Falls from as little as 4’ to 6’ can cause long-term time away from work, and in the most severe cases, death, which means all open-sided floors and platforms 6’ or more in height must be guarded. businesses over $125 billion annually.įalls are the leading cause of death in the construction industry, and most fatalities happen when employees fall from open-sided floors and through floor openings. Also, there are 5.7 million non-fatal workplace injuries, which cost U.S. Why Is It Necessary to Have Fall Prevention Measures?Īccording to OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) Publication 2056, there are nearly 6,000 workplace fatalities in the United States and 50,000 deaths due to workplace-related illnesses each year.

Osha guard rails