When do you need guardrails

To prevent people from falling, guardrails must: be high enough to prevent a person from falling over the top of them. Consider also possible impacts from tools and other materials used nearby.

If using a manufactured guardrail system that does not use vertical posts, it must provide equal protection against similar gaps. Common materials used are wood and metal. When building guardrails on the job, Consider how long the guardrail will be required and factor in the local weather and other environment. If building the guardrail from wood, only use lumber that is construction grade quality or better.

Some jurisdictions require the lumber used be spruce, pine or fir S-P-F timber. Inspect the lumber for damage or rot. Lumber should have no visible defects that could affect its loadbearing capacity. Choose the appropriate fasteners for the materials being used. Make sure all nails and other fasteners used are strong enough to withstand the forces applied to them. Make sure the wooden surface is smooth and that the finished guardrail does not have protruding nails, screws, or rough edges.

Do not reuse old construction materials. Other items to consider include: The number of people in a work area The size of the work area The weight and type of tools or materials being used in the area Whether the guardrails are to be a permanent or temporary solution. Before removing a guardrail: Identify the work area that will be affected by the removal of the guardrail. Mark an area large enough to keep unprotected employees away from the fall hazard.

For example, in Ontario it is recommended that this distance be "at least 2 metres 6 feet, 6 inches from either side of the opening and at lest 2 metres back from the open edge of the work surface". Clear that area so it is free from slip or trip hazards such as ice and debris. Mark it off as a fall hazard area with caution tape or a warning barrier. Alert all those working nearby that a guardrail is being removed.

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If you have read this far, chances are good you need guardrail. This letter constitutes OSHA's interpretation of the requirements discussed.

Note that our enforcement guidance may be affected by changes to OSHA rules. Also, from time to time we update our guidance in response to new information. June 9, Mr. Unfortunately, we misplaced your letter and failed to recognize our error in a timely manner. We apologize for the extended delay in providing this response.

The minimum guardrail height for scaffolds manufactured or first placed in service after January 1, is 38 inches. For all scaffolds, the maximum height is 45 inches. You state that your scaffold extensions have rungs spaced 16 inches apart and that when using them, the only way of attaching guardrails is to the rungs. Therefore, when the scaffold board is on the bottom rung of the extension, the toprail has to be 16, 32, or 48 inches high depending on which rung is used for attaching the guardrail.

Is it permissible for to have a toprail height of 32 inches where the platform is small, the exposure time is limited, the same person who erects and dismantles the scaffold will be the one working on it, and a guardrail at 48 inches would interfere with the work surface in some instances? Answer: Section The reason for this is that a guardrail lower than 36 inches would be below the center of gravity of the average worker. A guardrail that is too low would not prevent the worker from falling off the scaffold.

Therefore, if you cannot comply with the inch maximum height, you may raise the toprail to 48 inches. Where that would interfere with the work surface, you would have to use a different kind of guardrail system then the one you are using so that you would not be limited by the rung spacing. Alternatively, you could use personal fall protection equipment instead of guardrails as long as there is an adequate anchorage point. Question 2 : Section The standard's definition of a guardrail system is: "a vertical barrier, consisting of, but not limited to, Toprails, midrails , and posts, erected to prevent employees from falling off a scaffold platform or walkway to lower levels [emphasis added].