The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) provided new fall protection standards back in Fall of 2016. These updates became effective in January 2017 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 1910.29:
OSHA 1910.29(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 1910.29(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 1910.29(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 1910.28 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 1910.23 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 1910.28(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 1926.501(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 2017 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.
Still Have Questions?
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.
Contact us for help!
For more information about our products, reach out to the EDGE Fall Protection team.
Reach us at at 844-314-1374.
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How high must a platform be to require a handrail?
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(Mechanical)
(OP)
For more information, please visit w-beam guardrail installation.
11 Jan 12 14:36I have been searching for the maximum clearance above the finished floor which a platform may be before it requires handrails. I have found several references to a 30" maximum height, on various websites. Most of them purport to be reporting OSHA regulations. But I have been entirely unsuccessful in finding the actual code citation to justify the 30". Does anyone know where, in OSHA Code, that 30" appears?
(Structural)
11 Jan 12 14:55IBC Section 1013.1 -
30 inches
6 feet
(1.8 m) or more above a lower level shall be protected from falling by the use of guardrail systems, safety net systems, or personal fall arrest systems.(Structural)
11 Jan 12 14:56thats odd, I thought OSHA required fall protection for anything over 4 ft???
(Mechanical)
11 Jan 12 14:59The diference in 4' and the 6' is between construction and industrial. Industrial is 6'.
(Structural)
11 Jan 12 15:02Having fallen off a 4 foot high unrailed platform a few years ago and fetting a couple of broken ribs, I would think lower would be good here.
Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
http://mmcengineering.tripod.com
(Mechanical)
11 Jan 12 16:23Sonoma County, CA rules for _stair_ handrails, in part:Stairways shall have handrails on each side unless specifically exempted by one or more of the following exceptions.EXCEPTIONS:...4.Changes in room elevations of only one riser within dwelling units and sleeping units in group R-2 occupancies do not require handrails.I read "changes in room elevation" as not substantially different from "platform", so two steps up would require a handrail, at least next to the steps.I have seen people fall off stage risers, only one step up, and not be real happy about the results. I have fallen off "changes in room elevation" and into "conversation pits" in fashionable homes and not been real happy about it. Even if the only injury is spilled beer (horrors!) and a soiled carpet, somebody will curse the architect/engineer.So it depends on where you are, and what type of building you're in, and how the local AHJ rules, but I'd want a written dispensation from the cognizant insurance carrier before doing without handrails anywhere, even for just one step up.
Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA
(Structural)
11 Jan 12 16:47my information is that 30" is the maximum height without a handrail. I don't have a reference off the top of my head, but I'm sure it's in the building codes.
(Structural)
11 Jan 12 18:35spats - see my post - second from the top with the IBC reference.
(Structural)
12 Jan 12 10:04JAE - Oops, missed your reference. I recently dealt with this issue, but relied on the architect for my information... sometimes they're right!
(Geotechnical)
12 Jan 12 12:45It's also 30" maximum without handrail for a drop off from an exterior sidewalk.
I can't find my references, but it might derive from ADA. Not sure about that, though. I don't think it's OSHA.
(Structural)
12 Jan 12 13:08While I don't really disagree with all said above - our company policy is that once you step off good old mother Earth you will be protected - either tied off or hand railed.
My question and I have NEVER seen a good answer to this - what about stages???
We have all read about famous stars or seen YouTube videos of people falling off of stages.
What about those?????
(Structural)
12 Jan 12 13:11Most of them are drunk at the time and don't feel a thing.
(Structural)
12 Jan 12 13:12Yep!!!
(Structural)
12 Jan 12 13:26What about stages? Thankfully common sense has prevailed so far. Who wants to watch a performance through a guard rail? Surely the danger of falling off the stage fits in the category of a fan getting hit by a foul ball at a baseball game: there is some inherent risk that you've accepted just by being there.
In case you're wondering about the permissibility of it, stages are specifically excluded from the requirement in the same IBC section JAE referred to.
(Structural)
12 Jan 12 13:58It still scares me to think that Eddie Vedder wasn't tied off when he did some of those famous stages dive from lighting racks back in the early 90's!
(Mechanical)
(OP)
12 Jan 12 14:25JAE Thanks for the OSHA citation. That is just what I needed. We got cited last year, by a compassionate OSHA audiologist, for have an unprotected platform 42" above the floor. (Apparently there would appear to be no competency test for OSHA inspectors) Unfortunately I had just come onboard at that time and did not get involved until the mechanic tried to put up new platforms spanning the entire floor with 1 x 1 angle. Seemed like a bad idea. :)
Having an actual code citation makes the discussions far more fruitful. Thanks again.
If anyone has a citation for the 4' height, could you shoot that long as well? That would be mostly for interest rather than need, as my application is industrial. Thanks
Vernon
(Civil/Environmental)
12 Jan 12 15:46I think some cities have their own requirements. Call the bldg. inspector.
Richard A. Cornelius, P.E.
WWW.amlinereast.com
(Structural)
12 Jan 12 16:29Yes - I know you don't want to see a performance thru guardrails and sometimes I don't like pumping gas in a thunderstorm or lighting B-B-Q fires. But we all do it.
Life does have some risk and we acknowledge it and live with it.
I think if you read OSHA 1926.452 Part L - I think it is 10' - might be 8'
(Mechanical)
(OP)
12 Jan 12 18:28Thanks, guys. This is an OSHA issue, not building code, not NFPA et cetera. Platforms not scaffold. And in general, I have the necessary answer from JAE (Thanks again, JAE). I was just curious about the construction rules citation at 48". Thanks everyone for all the help. VWillet Out.
(Structural)
12 Jan 12 20:37Sounds like the issue is going thru a stage of development.
Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
http://mmcengineering.tripod.com
(Structural)
12 Jan 12 22:15Mr. McCann.....you never stop. heh.
(Structural)
13 Jan 12 00:59NO. The OSHA requirement is more stringent that this. First, the General Duty clause requires that employers protect employees from hazards. Any condition which can be dangerous must be avoided through proper controls. A few specifics are below, but they are out of context. And just because there is no specific rule does not mean an unsafe condition can persist. Consider that the reason the 4 foot rule is adopted was for wall openings like dock doors.
-- (General Duty Clause)
OSH Act of 1970, SEC. 5. Duties
(a) Each employer --
(1) shall furnish to each of his employees employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to his employees;
(2) shall comply with occupational safety and health standards promulgated under this Act.
--
1910.22(c)
"Covers and guardrails." Covers and/or guardrails shall be provided to protect personnel from the hazards of open pits, tanks, vats, ditches, etc.
--
1910.23(c)(1)
Every open-sided floor or platform 4 feet or more above adjacent floor or ground level shall be guarded by a standard railing (or the equivalent as specified in paragraph (e)(3) of this section) on all open sides except where there is entrance to a ramp, stairway, or fixed ladder. The railing shall be provided with a toeboard wherever, beneath the open sides,
(i) Persons can pass,
(ii)There is moving machinery, or
(iii)There is equipment with which falling materials could create a hazard.
--
But the rule for stairs and along exit ways is more restrictive, and there is not minimum height before they are required:
1910.24(h)
"Railings and handrails." Standard railings shall be provided on the open sides of all exposed stairways and stair platforms. Handrails shall be provided on at least one side of closed stairways preferably on the right side descending. Stair railings and handrails shall be installed in accordance with the provisions of 1910.23.
(Structural)
13 Jan 12 19:51JAE:Someone here has to be crazy...
Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
http://mmcengineering.tripod.com
(Structural)
16 Jan 12 10:46Just pick one of us - we are all nuts/crazy
BTW OSHA 1926.501(2) Subpart M says 6 feet. So why do roofers NEVER use fall protection??
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