Protect Against Falls by Installing Safety Rails and Mezzanine Safety Gates

Ensuring your employees’ safety while accessing and working in raised areas is your responsibility. Raised walk ways and storage areas in your plant need to be outfitted with the right types of fall protection. When there is a drop off to areas below, you need to have a barrier in place in order to prevent accidental falls. You might create this barrier by using approved safety rails. Entry ways into these areas also need to be properly secured by installing mezzanine safety gates.

Mezzanine Safety Gates Need to Be Installed Correctly to be Effective

 

Correctly installing mezzanine safety gates is important in order to prevent someone from walking through the gate and accidently falling. Gates are commonly installed where they open inwards into the mezzanine area rather than outwards. If they were installed so they swung outwards, the gates would not be effective in preventing accidental falls as they would open into empty space.

Use a Ladder Safety Gate with Fixed and Caged Ladders

Falls from high areas can be fatal so it is important to take the necessary precautions to lower the risks of accidents occurring. A ladder safety gate is a necessary component you should make sure is included anytime you are using fixed and caged ladders on the exterior of your building. The safety gate is designed to stop employees from accidently walking off of raised locations and falling to the ground.

Portable Guard Rails Could Include Using a Ladder Safety Gate

 

A ladder safety gate can be part of your portable guard rails when they are moved from one location to another. The rails and gate should be fully set up and in place prior to starting work on the ladder. By taking the time to ensure safety is followed, it helps to prevent avoidable accidents, such as employees accessing areas where maintenance work is being completed.

Review Current Guidelines for Safety Rail Requirements Prior to Starting New Building Projects

Certain types of buildings and structures require installing safety rail in order to create safe working environments. The size and overall design of the railing must meet and satisfy OSHA guidelines in order for it to be compliant. Whenever starting a new building construction project where railings are to be installed, it is worth your time to review the current requirements. This will help you avoid situations of having to replace them later when your building is inspected.

Some Organizations Use both Portable and Permanently Installed Safety Rail Products

 

It is possible you might require both portable and permanently installed safety rail at your facility. Portable railing is designed to be used to temporarily block off work areas and locations, such as during truck loading and unloading or maintenance projects. Permanent railing should be installed in areas where you require the railing to remain long term, like along elevated walk ways and mezzanines.

Use a Safety Gate to Prevent Access in Restricted Work Areas

A safety gate helps to prevent unauthorized access in restricted work spaces throughout your facility. For example, you may want to place a gate at entrances and exits to production floors where specific kinds of safety gear are required. You can display warning and caution signs on the exterior of the gates announcing what equipment are required in order to enter the work location. As a result, your employees are well aware that they should not enter the area unless wearing the proper equipment.
 

Install a Safety Gate along Openings in Railings Which Are Elevated Off of the Ground

 

The openings at the top of railings which are elevated above the floor frequently require a safety gate to be installed. The safety gate allows people to move and transition up and down stairs or a ladder, while at the same time works as a preventive measure against accidental falls. The gate should also never be propped open and needs to remain closed whenever it is not being used in order to be effective.

Skylight Guarding Helps to Prevent Accidental Falls

Some building designs may include the use of skylights to allow natural sunlight into the interior of the building. By using natural sunlight, it helps to illuminate work areas and help reduce the number of lights in operation during the day. Any building that has skylights also needs to have skylight guarding installed. The guarding acts as a barrier anytime someone is working or performing maintenance on the roof to prevent accidentally falling through the skylight.

Not Using Skylight Guarding over Skylights Is Just Like Having a Hole in Your Roof

 

Unprotected skylights on the roof your building is considered the equivalent of a hole in your roof according to OSHA guidelines and regulations. This is because skylights do not provide any protection in the event someone was to trip, fall and land on top of the skylight. The force of the impact from the fall could be strong enough where the person actually falls through the skylight and be seriously injured. It is your responsibility to ensure your employees, contractors and other people who access your roof are protected by making sure you have skylight guarding installed over all of your skylights.

Make Sure Permanent Guard Rails Are Correctly Anchored in Place

It is important to ensure permanent guard rails are properly anchored and secured in place. You could use mounting brackets to attach the railing to and bolt it down into the surface where the railing is being installed. You need to make sure railings are firmly in place and do not wobble or sway excessively after mounting processes are complete. In the event you notice the railings seem loose and not secure, you may need to use shorter sections of railings and increase the number of mounting brackets.

Permanent Guard Rails Can Be Installed Using Concrete

 

Another option for installing permanent guard rails commonly used during new building construction is to use concrete to firmly secure each leg support. The length of each leg does require it to be sunk to a specific depth in order to avoid the top of the railing from swaying and moving excessively. You also have to account for this added length so your railings are the recommended height once they have been fully installed.

Lower the Risks of Accidents and Injuries by Using Safety Guard Rails

Organizations are required by law to create and maintain safe working environments for their employees. The types of laws which influence the materials and items required for your facility depends upon industry. For instance, manufacturing firms often require safety guard rails to be placed around dangerous equipment and on elevated walk ways and storage areas. The guard rails are necessary because they help to lower the risks of accidental falls, accidents and injuries.

Safety Guard Rails Have to Satisfy Specific Regulatory Standards

 

There are specific guidelines used to determine whether your safety guard rails meet OSHA and other government regulatory compliances. In certain cases older buildings may have railings which do not meet current standards. Specific provisions were made in the past that has allowed these organizations to continue using their pre-existing safety equipment. However, any time the business removes and replaces their older railings and other equipment, they must replace it with the currently accepted standards.

Ladder Guards Are One Kind of Equipment Used at Construction Sites

Construction sites need to make sure they incorporate specific kinds of safety equipment during building processes. For instance, ladder guards should be used at the base and top of the ladders to prevent accidents. Guards placed around the base of the ladder help to prevent people from walking around and under the ladder when a worker is on the ladder. Base guards also aid in lowering the risks of accidently knocking the ladder over. Safety guards placed at the top of the ladder helps to lower the risks of workers falling from elevated work areas.

Portable and Permanently Installed Ladder Guards Are Available for Your Building

 

There are different styles of OSHA approved ladder guards available to meet the needs of your business. You are able to find guards that can be installed permanently in a fixed location. These styles are often installed after building construction has been completed, such as over hatch openings. Other styles provide portability in order to be used in multiple locations throughout your facility. Portable models are ideal anytime maintenance, repairs or construction is being performed in specific areas in and around your building.

Safety Railing Is Available in Two Basic Styles for Your Organization

There are two basic styles of safety railing available for use in and around your facility. One type of railing you can select is permanently installed in fixed locations around your building. For example, you may use this railing on elevated walk ways, loading docks and other areas which remain the same. The railing should meet the minimum OSHA requirements for height after installation, based upon the measurement from the ground to the top of railing. 

Portable Safety Railing Is another Type of Railing You Can Use

 

Another type of safety railing you can use in your building is portable railing. This kind of railing allows you to move it from one area to another, set it up, use it short term and then take it back down. Portable railing is well suited for temporary job tasks and functions, like maintenance duties and unloading and loading trucks. You are also able to use portable railing for construction projects and roofing projects.