what are safety railing requirements

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# Occupational Safety and Health Administration (cont.) ## 1910.28(b)(8)(ii) (cont.) - 1910.28(b)(14)(ii)(A) - The work operation for which fall protection is infeasible is in process; 1910.28(b)(14)(ii)(B) Access to the platform is limited to authorized employees; and - 1910.28(b)(14)(ii)(C) - The authorized employees are trained in accordance with $ 1910.30. - 1910.28(b)(15) Walking-working surfaces not otherwise addressed. Except as provided elsewhere in this section or by other subparts of this part, the employer must ensure each employee on a walking-working surface 4 feet (1.2 m) or more above a lower level is protected from falling by: - 1910.28(b)(15)(i) - Guardrail systems; - 1910.28(b)(15)(ii) - Safety net systems; or - 1910.28(b)(15)(iii) - Personal fall protection systems, such as personal fall arrest, travel restraint, or positioning systems. - 1910.28(c) Protection from falling objects. When an employee is exposed to falling objects, the employer must ensure that each employee wears head protection that meets the requirements of subpart I of this part. In addition, the employer must protect employees from falling objects by implementing one or more of the following: - 1910.28(c)(1) - Erecting toeboards, screens, or guardrail systems to prevent objects from falling to a lower level; - 1910.28(c)(2) - Erecting canopy structures and keeping potential falling objects far enough from an edge, hole, or opening to prevent them from falling to a lower level; or 1910.28(c)(3) Submit Feedback

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# GENERAL REQUIREMENTS (cont.) L # GENERAL REQUIREMENTS Oregon Administrative Rules Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division (vii) Each toprail or equivalent member of a guardrail system shall be capable of withstanding, without failure, a force applied in any downward or horizontal direction at any point along its top edge of at least 100 pounds (445 n) for guardrail systems installed on single-point adjustable suspension scaffolds or two-point adjustable suspension scaffolds, and at least 200 pounds (890 n) for guardrail systems installed on all other scaffolds. (viii) When the loads specified in paragraph (g)(4)(vii) of this section are applied in a downward direction, the top edge shall not drop below the height above the platform surface that is prescribed in paragraph (g)(4)(ii) of this section. (ix) Midrails, screens, mesh, intermediate vertical members, solid panels, and equivalent structural members of a guardrail system shall be capable of withstanding, without failure, a force applied in any downward or horizontal direction at any point along the midrail or other member of at least 75 pounds (333 n) for guardrail systems with a minimum 100 pound toprail capacity, and at least 150 pounds (666 n) for guardrail systems with a minimum 200 pound toprail capacity. (x) Suspension scaffold hoists and non-walkthrough stirrups may be used as end guardrails, if the space between the hoist or stirrup and the side guardrail or structure does not allow passage of an employee to the end of the scaffold. (xi) Guardrails shall be surfaced to prevent injury to an employee from punctures or lacerations, and to prevent snagging of clothing. (xii) The ends of all rails shall not overhang the terminal posts except when such overhang does not constitute a projection hazard to employees. (xiii) Steel or plastic banding shall not be used as a toprail or midrail. (xiv) Manila or plastic (or other synthetic) rope being used for toprails or midrails …

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# 1926.451 - GENERAL REQUIREMENTS (cont.) ## 1926.451(f) "Use." (cont.) - 1926.451(f)(15) Ladders shall not be used on scaffolds to increase the working level height of employees, except on large area scaffolds where employers have satisfied the following criteria: - 1926.451(f)(15)(i) When the ladder is placed against a structure which is not a part of the scaffold, the scaffold shall be secured against the sideways thrust exerted by the ladder; - 1926.451(f)(15)( The platform units shall be secured to the scaffold to prevent their movement; - 926.451(f)(15)(iii) The ladder legs shall be on the same platform or other means shall be provided to stabilize the ladder against unequal platform deflection, and 1926.451(f)(15)(iv) The ladder legs shall be secured to prevent them from slipping or being pushed off the platform. 1926.451(f)(16) Platforms shall not deflect more than 1/60 of the span when loaded. 1926.451(f)(17) To reduce the possibility of welding current arcing through the suspension wire rope when performing welding from suspended scaffolds, the following precautions shall be taken, as applicable: 1926.451(f)(17)(i) An insulated thimble shall be used to attach each suspension wire rope to its hanging support (such as cornice hook or outrigger). Excess suspension wire rope and any additional independent lines from grounding shall be insulated; - 1926.451(f)(17)(ii) The suspension wire rope shall be covered with insulating material extending at least 4 feet (1.2 m) above the hoist. If there is a tail line below the hoist, it shall be insulated to prevent contact with the platform. The portion of the tail line that hangs free below the scaffold shall be guided or retained, or both, so that it does not become grounded; - 1926.451(f)(17)(iii) Each hoist shall be covered with insulated protective covers; - 1926.451(f)(17)(iv) In addition to a work lead attachment required by the welding process, a grounding conductor shall be connected from the scaffo…

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# L GENERAL REQUIREMENTS Oregon Administrative Rules Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division (5) Ramps and walkways. (i) Ramps and walkways 6 feet (1.8 m) or more above lower levels shall have guardrail systems which comply with subpart M of this part - Fall Protection; (ii) No ramp or walkway shall be inclined more than a slope of one (1) vertical to three (3) horizontal (20 degrees above the horizontal). (iii) If the slope of a ramp or a walkway is steeper than one (1) vertical in eight (8) horizontal (Clarification note: 7 degrees above the horizontal), the ramp or walkway shall have cleats not more than fourteen (14) inches (35 cm) apart which are securely fastened to the planks to provide footing. (6) Integral prefabricated scaffold access frames shall: (i) Be specifically designed and constructed for use as ladder rungs; (ii) Have a rung length of at least 8 inches (20 cm); (iii) Not be used as work platforms when rungs are less than 11 1/2 inches in length, unless each affected employee uses fall protection, or a positioning device, which complies with $1926.502; (iv) Be uniformly spaced within each frame section; (v) Be provided with rest platforms at 35-foot (10.7 m) maximum vertical intervals on all supported scaffolds more than 35 feet (10.7 m) high; and (vi) Have a maximum spacing between rungs of 16 3/4 inches (43 cm). Non-uniform rung spacing caused by joining end frames together is allowed, provided the resulting spacing does not exceed 16 3/4 inches (43 cm). (7) Steps and rungs of ladder and stairway type access shall line up vertically with each other between rest platforms. (8) Direct access to or from another surface shall be used only when the scaffold is not more than 14 inches (36 cm) horizontally and not more than 24 inches (61 cm) vertically from the other surface. (9) Effective September 2, 1997, access for employees erecting or dismantling supported scaffolds shall be in accordance with the following: (i) Th…

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# Are guardrails and handrails the same thing? While guardrails often also have handrails, they are not the same thing. Handrails serve as a handhold people use to support themselves while using up or down stairs, ramps, or crossing flat surfaces. Guardrails are designed to prevent falls over an unprotected edge or into an opening. ## When do you use guardrails? Install a guardrail if the fall hazard or working at heights cannot be eliminated. Guardrails should be used when a worker could have access to the unprotected edge of any of the following work surfaces and is exposed to a fall from a height or between levels. If an employee can fall into or onto dangerous equipment such as a conveyor belt, it is also good practice to prevent such falls by installing guardrails and toe boards. Make sure the guardrail is installed around the edge or opening before work begins. Installing a guardrail is good practice: - around a balcony or mezzanine - at the edges of catwalks or overhead conveyor platforms - along the bridges - around scaffolds, raised platforms, or open platforms on aerial devices - at the edges of roofs where work may be performed - along the open edges of elevated working areas such as the upper floors of building under construction or being repaired - around work elevated work surfaces including platforms, scaffolds, runways, or ramps - around openings in floors, roofs, and in working surfaces where the openings are not covered or protected - open edges of slab formwork for floors and roofs - any where workers could fall into water, operating machinery, or hazardous substances. In most jurisdictions, use of a guardrail is specified for certain circumstances. Always check with your jurisdiction for exact requirements. What are the main types of guardrails? Fall Protection - Guardrails CCOHS

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# 1926.451 - GENERAL REQUIREMENTS (cont.) ## 1926.451(g) "Fall protection." (cont.) - 1926.451(g)(4)(xiv) Manila or plastic (or other synthetic) rope being used for toprails or midrails shall be inspected by a competent person as frequently as necessary to ensure that it continues to meet the strength requirements of paragraph (g) of this section. - 1926.451(g)(4)(xv) Crossbracing is acceptable in place of a midrail when the crossing point of two braces is between 20 inches (0.5 m) and 30 inches (0.8 m) above the work platform or as a toprail when the crossing point of two braces is between 38 inches (0.97 m) and 48 inches (1.3 m) above the work platform. The end points at each upright shall be no more than 48 inches (1.3 m) apart. - 1926.451(h) "Falling object protection." 1926.451(h)(1) In addition to wearing hardhats each employee on a scaffold shall be provided with additional protection from falling hand tools, debris, and other small objects through the installation of toeboards, screens, or guardrail systems, or through the erection of debris nets, catch platforms, or canopy structures that contain or deflect the falling objects. When the falling objects are too large, heavy or massive to be contained or deflected by any of the above-listed measures, the employer shall place such potential falling objects away from the edge of the surface from which they could fall and shall secure those materials as necessary to prevent their falling. - 1926.451(h)(2) Where there is a danger of tools, materials, or equipment falling from a scaffold and striking employees below, the following provisions apply: - 1926.451(h)(2)(i) The area below the scaffold to which objects can fall shall be barricaded, and employees shall not be permitted to enter the hazard area; or 1926.451(h)(2)(ii) A toeboard shall be erected along the edge of platforms more than 10 feet (3.1 m) above lower levels for a distance sufficient to protect employees below, except on float (ship) scaffol…

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72 (2) An employer, contractor or owner shall ensure that every area where a worker could be struck by a falling object is clearly marked by barriers, notices, warning lights or other warning devices. 31 Dec 2020 c S-15.1 Reg 10 s9-8. Protection from objects falling from scaffolds, etc. 9‑9(1) If a suspended scaffold, suspended powered scaffold or load-carrying unit is suspended from or attached to a structure, an employer, contractor or owner shall ensure that wire mesh, or other material equally effective to prevent objects from falling from the working surface, is installed from the working surface to a height of at least 900 millimetres on all sides except the side adjacent to the structure. (2) An employer, contractor or owner shall ensure that wire mesh is installed from the working surface of a platform to a height of 2 metres on all sides of: (a) a tower hoist as defined in section 13-1; (b) a building shaft hoist; and (c) a hoist cage in an excavated shaft. (3) If it is necessary to hoist or lower materials that are of such a nature that the sides of a cantilever hoist platform or skip cannot be equipped as required by subsection (1), an employer, contractor or owner shall provide another equally effective means for the protection of workers against falling materials. (4) If it is necessary for workers to pass through a safeguard required by this section, an employer, contractor or owner shall install a gate that is equally effective to prevent objects from falling from the working surface and shall ensure that the gate is kept closed except when the gate is in use. 31 Dec 2020 c S-15.1 Reg 10 s9-9. Handrails 9‑10(1) An employer, contractor or owner shall ensure that a stairway with 5 or more treads: (a) is equipped with a handrail that: (i) extends the entire length of the stairway; (ii) is adequately secured to the structure; is installed on the stairway at a height of between 80…

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# 1926.451 - GENERAL REQUIREMENTS (cont.) ## 1926.451(g) "Fall protection." (cont.) 1926.451(g)(3) In addition to meeting the requirements of 1926.502(d), personal fall arrest systems used on scaffolds shall be attached by lanyard to a vertical lifeline, horizontal lifeline, or scaffold structural member. Vertical lifelines shall not be used when overhead components, such as overhead protection or additional platform levels, are part of a single-point or two-point adjustable suspension scaffold. 1926.451(g)(3)(i) When vertical lifelines are used, they shall be fastened to a fixed safe point of anchorage, shall be independent of the scaffold, and shall be protected from sharp edges and abrasion. Safe points of anchorage include structural members of buildings, but do not include standpipes, vents, other piping systems, electrical conduit, outrigger beams, or counterweights. 1926.451(g)(3)(ii) When horizontal lifelines are used, they shall be secured to two or more structural members of the scaffold, or they may be looped around both suspension and independent suspension lines (on scaffolds so equipped) above the hoist and brake attached to the end of the scaffold. Horizontal lifelines shall not be attached only to the suspension ropes. 1926.451(g)(3)(iii) When lanyards are connected to horizontal lifelines or structural members on a single-point or two-point adjustable suspension scaffold, the scaffold shall be equipped with additional independent support lines and automatic locking devices capable of stopping the fall of the scaffold in the event one or both of the suspension ropes fail. The independent support lines shall be equal in number and strength to the suspension ropes. 1926.451(g)(3)(iv) Vertical lifelines, independent support lines, and suspension ropes shall not be attached to each other, nor shall they be attached to or use the same point of anchorage, nor shall they be attached to the same point on the scaffold or personal fall arrest system. 192…