The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) provided new fall protection standards back in Fall of . These updates became effective in January and many of them align general industry regulations for OSHA guardrail height, ladders, and stairways with construction standards.
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Organizations continue to work toward understanding and implementing the required changes and complying with OSHA regulations. Although the updated standards have been in place, many employers remain confused or have questions about the changes required of their fall protection and guard rail system.
Areas of confusion often arise with fall protection railing requirements, OSHA guardrail height, handrail requirements, and safety railings / temporary guardrails. This is especially true when differences arise in Cal-OSHA guardrail regulations.
There are many places in a facility or on a rooftop that pose a hazard for workplace injuries and fatalities. Many rooftops include elevated pipes, ducts, HVAC equipment. Technicians need to access these structures from an elevated position and may need safety railings. A roof handrail can also provide a physical barrier and help prevent falls from the edge, and is an important measure to be taken along with standard roof hatch guardrails.
A safety handrail helps to provide stability for a handhold whether on a walkway, steps, or platform. Fall protection guardrails are a system of railings to prevent workers from falling off a landing, platform, or walkway.
Common applications include standing seam or metal roof fall protection installations and the popular Accufit system for flat roof railings. Including guardrails and safety rail systems is an important consideration in fall prevention systems. Further, complying with OSHA&#;s safety railing and requirements can reduce falls and citations.
Are you curious about OSHA handrail requirements or what OSHA railing height is appropriate for your facility? First of all, here are some applicable requirements for guardrails and safety railings included in OSHA&#;s Walking-Working Surfaces standard for general industry to help prevent fall hazard, 29 CFR .29:
OSHA .29(b)(1):
To meet OSHA&#;s guardrail height requirements, the top rail needs to be 42 inches plus or minus 3 inches above the walking-working surface. This is the first OSHA requirement to be aware of. We will now cover some additional areas.
OSHA .29(b)(2)(i-iv):
If the vertical opening in the rail is more than 19 inches, then there must be a mid rail / intermediate rail. Install the mid rail halfway between the top rail and the walking surface. The distance between intermediate vertical members (such as balusters) is no more than 19 inches. Openings are no more than 19 inches wide for other intermediate members (such as additional mid rails and architectural panels). (This is where the measurement of an equivalent intermediate member comes into play.)
OSHA .29(b)(3),(5):
This fall protection requirement deals with the strength of the railing. They are to withstand a force of at least 200 pounds applied in a downward or outward direction within 2 inches of the top edge at any point along the top rail. Mid rails (and each intermediate member) are to withstand a force of at least 150 pounds applied in any downward or outward direction.
Also, OSHA standard 29 CFR .28 includes information that employers need to ensure that a fall protection plan is incorporated when employees are exposed to a fall of 4 feet or more to a lower level. Keep in mind that even temporary work situations such as scaffolds should be addressed. (Solutions such as a personal fall arrest system can aid these arrangements.)
As you can see, there are various OSHA provisions detailing when guardrails and railings should be used and how they should be constructed. And yet there are more provisions depending upon the application. It gets confusing for many people charged with locating and installing the right solution.
OSHA 29 CFR .23 includes requirements for ladders, where OSHA defines handrail requirements on platforms and how high safety railings must be. Handrails are required when there is a top step height of 4 feet or more and a railing needs to be 29.5 inches for stands with a top height of 4 feet or more, 36 inches for stands with a top step of 10 feet or more.
There&#;s also confusion about the need for gates around ladders. There&#;s a misconception that a safety chain can be used to protect a ladder entrance. According to OSHA, a gate is required at the top of all ladders. In fact, OSHA requires a guardrail system and toe boards on all exposed sides (except at the entrance) of a ladder way floor hole or ladder way platform hole (29 CFR .28(b)(3)(iv)).
To meet OSHA requirements in the construction industry, if workers are six feet or more above a lower level, there must be protection from falling by the use of guard rail systems, safety net systems, or personal fall arrest systems (29 CFR .501(b)(1)).
OSHA guardrail requirements also include that safety railing systems be required even when occasional or temporary work is performed on the roof, whether for repair or for maintenance. In addition, a roof handrail must be able to withstand 200 pounds of force without falling.
Safety railings can also be used commercially to protect workers and pedestrians from falls off steps, walkways, platforms or other raised areas. These guard rail systems provide safety for various applications including protection over a stair rail system, culverts, ramps, service platforms, loading bays, mezzanines, and pedestrian pathways.
In addition to creating a barrier to prevent falls off a raised area, they also provide a handhold when ascending or descending. And in situations where a more temporary or less penetrating solution is required, parapet railings (wall clamps) are worth exploring.
Bottom line: railings provide a needed barrier and help protect people from falls. Yes, it may seem like there are so many rules (OSHA and more) to understand and follow, but the whole point of these rules is workplace safety. It is important to keep workers safe, to prevent falls, and maintain a culture of safety. The number of workplace fatal falls is growing. In fact, in the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that fatal falls reached their highest levels, 887 worker deaths. This is one reason why installing both passive and active fall protection solutions is so critical.
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Beyond common OSHA regulations, we can also advise on nearly every OSHA requirement. This ranges from roof edge, stair tread, installing a safety net system, safety harness requirements, falling object protection, and more.
Don&#;t hesitate to tap into our experience as you plan your project compliance with the right products to help meet your specific OSHA requirement.
There are many OSHA requirements and updates to keep up with, and some exceptions that haven&#;t been included in this short post focused on OSHA guardrail height requirements.
After reading the information provided here, perhaps you have questions about OSHA railing height requirements for your specific needs.
Still wondering about equivalent guard rail system members, or when OSHA requires a handrail in your facility?
Whether you are looking for a 360 mobile roof safety rail, industrial and removable safety railing, handrail, stair rail, or a customized safety system, every product we manufacture meets or exceeds OSHA requirements.
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For more information about our products, reach out to the EDGE Fall Protection team.
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OSHA's guardrail height requirements include a variance of plus or minus 3 inches. Guardrail systems that are not at least 42 inches high can be cited as a technical violation.
Must Withstand 200 Pounds
All guardrail systems must be able to hold at least 200 pounds of pressure pushing out and down on the railing. Downward pressure should not bend railing past 39 inches above its walking-working surface. To test this, apply an appropriate force within 2 inches of the railing's top edge.
Must Be Smooth
Guardrail system surfaces must be smooth. Smooth surfaces help protect personnel from injuries and prevent job-site hazards.
Must Be 1/4 Inch
The minimum thickness for guardrails, midrails and vertical members is 1/4 inch in diameter.
No Overhanging Rails
The ends of top rails and midrails of a guardrail system must not extend past the final post. The only exception to this rule is where the overhang does not present a projection hazard.
Midrails, Panels & Equivalents
OSHA regulations permit midrails, screens, meshes and vertical members in guardrail systems. These members must be able to hold at least 150 pounds of outward and downward pressure, and openings between members must not exceed 19 inches.
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