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Giuardrail heights

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Guardrail height requirements vary depending on the specific regulations and application. Here's a summary:

  • General Height: Guardrails should typically have a horizontal top member between 920 mm and 1070 mm above the working surface [1]. Some regulations allow for a height between 36 inches (0.9 m) and 45 inches (1.2 m) 4, 7.
  • Older Guardrails: Guardrails installed on or before October 30, 1988, can be between 900 mm and 1 meter above the working surface [1].
  • Scaffolds: For supported scaffolds manufactured or placed in service after January 1, 2000, the top edge of the guardrail should be between 38 inches (0.97 m) and 45 inches (1.2 m) above the platform surface 4, 7.
  • Underground Mines: Handrails in underground mines should have a top rail between 900 mm and 1.07 m above the floor level [2].

It's important to consult the specific regulations applicable to your location and type of work to ensure compliance.

2 source record(s)

Sources used for this answer

[1] General Regulation (N.B. Reg. 91-191)

Page 113

Open source document

Source excerpt

## Walking surfaces - general 102 (2) Subject to subsection (6), an employer and a contractor shall each ensure that a guardrail which meets the requirements of section 97 is provided at the open sides and open ends of - (a) a floor, mezzanine, balcony, walkway or plat -form, - (b) the surface of a bridge or overpass, and - (c) a concrete roof while the formwork remains in place, to which an employee has access and from which the employee may fall a vertical distance of 1.2 m or more. ## Walking surfaces - underground mine 102 (3) Notwithstanding subsection (2), where a walk -way or platform in an underground mine was con -structed before the commencement of this section and is more than 1.5 m above the ground or floor level, an em -ployer shall ensure that the walkway or platform is pro -vided with handrails and toeboards in accordance with subsections (4) and (5). ## Walking surfaces - underground mine 102 (4) The top rail of a handrail for a walkway or plat -form referred to in subsection (3) shall not be less than 900 mm and not more than 1.07 m above the floor level of the walkway or platform and a second rail shall be placed at the midpoint between the top rail and the floor level of the walkway or platform, unless the intervening space is closed by a screen or other suitable means, and the handrail shall be capable of withstanding a load ap -plied to the rail of at least 90 kg applied in any direction. ## Walking surfaces - underground mine 102 (5) A toeboard for a walkway or platform referred to in subsection (3) shall extend from the floor of the walkway or platform to not less than 120 mm in height. ## Walking surfaces - underground mine 102 (6) Subsection (2) does not apply to a walkway or platform in an underground mine that was constructed before the commencement of this section and that is not more than 1.5 m above the ground or floor level. ## Planchers - génér

[2] Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, 2020 (Sask. Reg. 10/2020)

Page 73

Open source document

Source excerpt

## Guardrails - 9-11 (1) Subject to subsections (2) to (4), if the installation of a guardrail is required by these regulations, an employer, contractor or owner shall ensure that the guardrail: - (a) has a horizontal top member that is not less than 920 millimetres and not more than 1070 millimetres above the working surface; - (b) has a horizontal intermediate member that is spaced midway between the horizontal top member and the working surface; - (c) is supported for the entire length of the guardrail by vertical members that are: - (i) not more than 3 metres apart, in the case of a guardrail installed before the coming into force of this section; and - (ii) if reasonably practicable, not more than 2.4 metres apart, in the case of a guardrail installed on or after the coming into force of this section; - (d) is capable of supporting a worker who may fall against the guardrail; and - (e) is constructed of 38 by 89 millimetre construction grade lumber or other materials that are of equal or greater strength. - (2) Clause (1) (a) does not apply to a guardrail that: - (a) was installed on or before October 30, 1988; and - (b) is not less than 900 millimetres nor more than 1 metre above the working surface. - (3) A horizontal intermediate member is not required in the case of a temporary guardrail that is manufactured with a substantial barrier completely filling the area enclosed by the horizontal top member, a horizontal bottom member and the vertical members. - (4) A wire rope guardrail may be used at the external perimeter of a building under construction. - (5) If a wire rope guardrail is used pursuant to subsection (4), an employer, contractor or owner shall ensure that: - (a) the guardrail consists of a horizontal top member and a horizontal intermediate member made of wire rope that is not less than 9.5 millimetres in diameter, with vertical separators not less than 50 millimetres wide that are spaced at intervals not excee

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