Guardrails

Guardrail and safety net systems are two ways to protect workers from falls on the job. If you are more than 6 feet above a lower surface, some type of fall protection must be provided by your employer.

If your employer uses guardrails they must adhere to the following guidelines:

• Toprails must be at least ¼ inch thick to prevent cuts and lacerations, and they must be between 39 and 45 inches from the working surface.
• If wire rope is used, it must be flagged at least every 6 feet with highly visible materials.
• Midrails, screens, or mesh must be installed when there are no walls at least 21 inches high. Screens and mesh must extend from the toprail to the working level.
• There can be no openings larger than 19 inches.
• The toprail must withstand at least 200 pounds of force; the midrail must withstand 150 pounds of force.
• The system must be smooth enough to protect workers from cuts and getting their clothes snagged by the rail.
• If guardrails are used around holes at points of access, like a ladderway, a gate must be used to prevent someone from falling through the hole or be offset so that a person cannot walk directly into the hole.

To learn more about Fall Protection visit our Construction Fall Protection Online Training web page.