Safety Railing and OSHA Guardrail Requirements

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.

Fall Protection Railing Requirements

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 Guardrail Requirements: Height and Strength

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.)

OSHA Handrail Requirements: Guardrail vs Handrail

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 and Handrail Height Requirements: Other Considerations

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.

Other Uses of Safety Railings and Guard Rail Systems

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.

Dealing with Railing Safety

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.

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?

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OSHA Handrail Requirements

.29(f) Handrails and stair rail systems. The employer must ensure:

.29(f)(1) Height criteria.

.29(f)(1)(i)
Handrails are not less than 30 inches (76 cm) and not more than 38 inches (97 cm), as measured from the leading edge of the stair tread to the top surface of the handrail (see Figure D-12 of this section).

.29(f)(1)(ii)
The height of stair rail systems meets the following:

.29(f)(1)(ii)(A)
The height of stair rail systems installed before January 17, is not less than 30 inches (76 cm) from the leading edge of the stair tread to the top surface of the top rail; and

.29(f)(1)(ii)(B)
The height of stair rail systems installed on or after January 17, is not less than 42 inches (107 cm) from the leading edge of the stair tread to the top surface of the top rail.

.29(f)(1)(iii)
The top rail of a stair rail system may serve as a handrail only when:

.29(f)(1)(iii)(A)
The height of the stair rail system is not less than 36 inches (91 cm) and not more than 38 inches (97 cm) as measured at the leading edge of the stair tread to the top surface of the top rail (see Figure D-13 of this section); and

.29(f)(1)(iii)(B)
The top rail of the stair rail system meets the other handrail requirements in paragraph (f) of this section.

The handrail height should be between 30 inches and 38 inches above the nose of the stair tread.

The stair rail height should be 42 inches from nose of the stair tread. If the stair rail system was installed before January 17, , then this height can be 30 inches or more.

The top rail of the stair rail system can be used as a handrail if the height is between 36 inches and 38 inches. However, for this to comply with the rest of the code, this handrail system would have had to be installed before January 17, . Otherwise, the 42-inch height requirement would need to be complied with.

.29(f)(2)
Finger clearance. The minimum clearance between handrails and any other object is 2.25 inches (5.7 cm).

.29(f)(3)
Surfaces. Handrails and stair rail systems are smooth-surfaced to protect employees from injury, such as punctures or lacerations, and to prevent catching or snagging of clothing.

.29(f)(4)
Openings in stair rails. No opening in a stair rail system exceeds 19 inches (48 cm) at its least dimension.

.29(f)(5)
Handhold. Handrails have the shape and dimension necessary so that employees can grasp the handrail firmly.

.29(f)(6)
Projection hazards. The ends of handrails and stair rail systems do not present any projection hazards.

.29(f)(7)
Strength criteria. Handrails and the top rails of stair rail systems are capable of withstanding, without failure, a force of at least 200 pounds (890 N) applied in any downward or outward direction within 2 inches (5 cm) of any point along the top edge of the rail.

The handrail should have a 2-¼ inch clearance from any other object. As with the standard guardrail, handrails and stair rails should also be smooth-surfaced.

The similarities with the guardrail requirements continue. No openings greater than 19 inches in one dimension. No projection hazards that could cause injury or impalement. The top rail needs to be able to withstand 200 pounds of force in the down and out direction.

Handrails also need to be designed to support a firm grasp by an employee.

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