Search results
Learn the criteria and practices for guardrail systems to protect employees from falls and falling objects. Find out the height, strength, spacing, and installation rules for top rails, midrails, screens, mesh, and other components.
This standard requires employers to provide protection for employees exposed to fall and falling object hazards on walking-working surfaces. It covers guardrail systems, safety net systems, personal fall protection systems, and other requirements for different work situations.
Where workers on a construction site are exposed to vertical drops of 6 feet or more, OSHA requires that employers provide fall protection in one of three ways before work begins: Placing guardrails around the hazard area. Deploying safety nets.
The employer must ensure guardrail systems meet the following requirements: (1) The top edge height of top rails, or equivalent guardrail system members, are 42 inches (107 cm), plus or minus 3 inches (8 cm), above the walking-working surface.
18 kwi 2017 · OSHA requirements for guardrails are quite stringent. Whether you’re in the construction industry (1926.501) or your line of work falls more within the “general industry” category (1910.28), it is the employer’s responsibility to provide some sort of protection to workers against falls.
8 gru 2023 · OSHA has specific requirements for construction that include the installation of guardrails at heights of 6 feet or more, and 4 feet or more for general industries. If an employee is reaching 10 inches below the walking or working surface, then fall protection is required, like a guardrail.
The employer must ensure: (i) Each employee less than 4 feet (1.2 m) above dangerous equipment is protected from falling into or onto the dangerous equipment by a guardrail system or a travel restraint system, unless the equipment is covered or guarded to eliminate the hazard.
