If an employee is working on a scaffold, the height requirement for fall protection is 10 feet, and this protection usually is provided by a guardrail. The OSHA standard requires employers to protect each employee on a scaffold more than 10 feet (3.1 m) above a lower level from falling to that lower level.

Table of Contents

What are the OSHA requirements for handrails?

The top rail must be at least 42 inches in height (§1910.29(f)(1)(ii)(B)) and the handrail must be 30 to 38 inches in height (§1910.29(f)(1)(i)) (as measured at the leading edge of the stair tread to the top surface of the rail).

When mid rails are used they must be installed at a height midway between the top edge of the guardrail system and the walking or working level?

Midrails, screens, mesh, intermediate vertical members, or equivalent intermediate structural members shall be installed between the top edge of the guardrail system and the walking/working surface when there is no wall or parapet wall at least 21 inches (53 cm) high.

When working in a single or two point suspended scaffold in addition to railing Each worker shall be tied off to?

With suspended scaffolding, you are required to be tied-off at all times. For one or two-point suspension scaffolding, you must be tied-off to an anchor point or a fall protection system, completely independent of the scaffold you’re working on.

What is guardrail in scaffolding?

The standard’s definition of a guardrail system is: “a vertical barrier, consisting of, but not limited to, Toprails, midrails, and posts, erected to prevent employees from falling off a scaffold platform or walkway to lower levels [emphasis added].” Therefore, guardrail systems must have midrails.

What is the difference between balusters and spindles?

A baluster and spindle is actually almost the same thing, but the word spindle is more commonly used because it is easier to remember and say. Balusters usually rest on a footing; this could be a step, floor or deck, whereas, spindles are supported by a horizontal rail at the bottom that is attached to the posts.

At what height do open sided floors in construction require guardrails?

Specifically, all platforms 4 feet or more above the adjacent floor or ground must be protected by a standard guardrail on all open sides.

Where are guardrails required?

Generally, guardrails are required when the building has steps, landings, platforms or accessible roof spaces. According to the code, guardrails are required when there is a difference of 30 in. or greater between two upper and lower surfaces. OSHA requirements for guardrails are quite stringent.

What are guardrails used for?

Guardrails are a stationary (or “fixed”) system used to protect workers from falls when working at heights. Guardrails are a preferred means of protecting workers because the system does not rely on the worker to be trained to use, inspect, and wear a fall protection system.

When working on a suspended scaffold 10 feet or higher above the working surface or in a bucket truck or aerial lift what safety device should you wear?

OSHA requires workers to wear a full-body harness, (one part of a Personal Fall Arrest System) when they are working on a suspended scaffold more than 10 feet above the working surface, or when they are working in bucket truck or aerial lift.

Article first time published on

Who trains employees that work on scaffolds?

Trainer Requirements for Scaffold Erection, Maintenance, Repair, or Inspection. Any employees who are involved in erection, removal, moving, operating, repairing, maintaining or inspecting must be trained by a competent person, according to 1926.454(b).

What is suspended scaffold?

Suspended scaffolds are platforms suspended by ropes, or other non-rigid means, from an overhead structure. Because two-point scaffolds are the most common type of suspended scaffold, this eTool uses the Two-Point module to describe requirements that apply to all suspended scaffolds.

What is the proper height of a handrail?

The top surface of the handrail should be between 34 and 38 inches above the floor, or above the Nosing Line. Some installation guides suggest marking the height by measuring from the nosings of the steps.

What is the height of mid rail?

Mid rail height of 21 inches. Top rails capable of withstanding 200 pounds of pressure from any direction. Mid rails capable of withstanding 150 pounds of pressure from any direction.

What height do you need a handrail?

Handrails are required to: – be between 900mm and 1100mm above the floor or the nosing of a stair tread – shaped for people to easily grasp their hand and fingers (like a ‘power grip’) around the handrail (circular or rectangular in shape) – have a minimum hand clearance of 50mm between the handrail and adjacent …

What are the rules for scaffolding guardrails?

Guardrail height—The height of the toprail for scaffolds manufactured and placed in service after January 1, 2000 must be between 38 inches (0.9 meters) and 45 inches (1.2 meters).

What are the scaffolding parts?

What are the 4 steps to moving rolling scaffolding?

Ensure that each wheel or castor is equipped with brakes to prevent rolling and swivelling. Lock the caster brakes before climbing onto the scaffold. Secure or remove all material, equipment and personnel from the platform before moving it. Push towards the base when moving.

At what height are guardrails required OSHA?

However, in OSHA applications, the elements are most likely horizontal rails. So, the term is appropriate. A guardrail is required once there is a 48-inch drop. As opposed to the requirements of handrail system, a guardrail must be 42 inches in height – plus or minus 3 inches above the walking surface.

Can chain be used as a guardrail?

The employer may use chains or gates instead of a removable guardrail section at hoist areas if the employer demonstrates the chains or gates provide a level of safety equivalent to guardrails. When guardrail systems are used around holes, they are installed on all unprotected sides or edges of the hole.

What is the difference between balusters and balustrade?

Balusters can be made of wood, iron, stone and other materials. The term baluster is interchangeable with the word spindle. A balustrade is comprised of an assembled top rail, balusters or spindles and often a bottom rail, posts, post caps, and decorative finials.

Is balustrade a railing?

You might not know what exactly are balustrades, but you have come across them more often than you think. Commonly found in stairs, balconies or terraces, a balustrade is a railing supported by a row of small columns called balusters.

What is a baluster of a railing?

Balusters are those vertical, vase-like posts or legs on railings that can be made of wood, iron, stone, or other materials. The balustrade consists of several balusters spaced evenly and connected to form a decorative railing supported by baluster posts.

What is the importance of installing the guardrails in all kinds of scaffolding?

The Purpose of Scaffolding Handrails If the worker is on the move, the scaffold rails support and bolster that movement. If an employee loses balance, the handrail is ideally located so that his off-balance body does not slip under the chest-high barrier. Importantly, this edge protection system exists as a safety aid.

What are guardrails called?

Traffic barriers (sometimes called Armco barriers, also known in North America as guardrails or guard rails and in Britain as crash barriers) keep vehicles within their roadway and prevent them from colliding with dangerous obstacles such as boulders, sign supports, trees, bridge abutments, buildings, walls, and large …

Where workers Cannot be protected from falls by guardrails or travel restraint they must be protected by?

Remind your workers that before guardrails are removed, they must all be protected by another form of fall protection (e.g., a fall-arrest system).

When should guardrails be used?

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.

What are guardrail requirements?

OSHA states that guardrail must reach a height of 42 inches, plus or minus 3 inches, above the walking-working surface and withstand a force of 200 pounds at any point in a downward or outward direction. If the railing dips below 39 inches, due to the force, the railing is not OSHA compliant.

What is the spacing for balusters?

Balusters are the vertical guards that support the handrail. They must be installed close enough that the space between them is less than 4 inches. Most city inspectors carry a 4-inch ball with them to test the spacing. Installed balusters should withstand 50 pounds of pressure exerted over a 1-sq.

How high must a guardrail be above the working surface?

Guard Rails: Top edge height of top rails must be 42 inches + 3 inches above the walking/working surface. Guardrail systems must be able to withstand a force of at least 200 pounds (applied within 2 inches of the top edge) in any outward or downward direction.

At what height do you need a safety harness?

OSHA requires that fall protection be provided at elevations of four feet in general industry workplaces, five feet in shipyards, six feet in the construction industry and eight feet in longshoring operations.