Safety Net Systems

Safety net systems must meet the following criteria to be considered safe:

• They must be installed as closely beneath the walking surface as possible, and no more than 30 feet.
• If the vertical distance between the walking surface and the nets is less than 5 feet, they must project horizontally outward from the surface at least 8 feet.
  • If the distance is between 5 and 10 feet, they must project outward by 10 feet.
  • If the distance is over 10 feet, they must project outward by 13 feet.
• The employer must certify the safety of the nets by dropping a 400 pound bag of sand from the highest walking surface.
  • The nets must not break or hit the surface below.
  • This test must be conducted at installation and repeated every six months.
  • The employer must keep a record of these tests including the date and the signature of the person who conducted the test.

Safety net systems must also adhere to the following:

• Nets must be inspected once per week, and any time something happens that could affect their safety (such as sustaining a heavy fall or having a sharp object drop on them).
• Any objects that fall on the safety nets must be removed as soon as possible.
• The openings in the net or mesh must be no larger than 6 inches on any side.
• Safety nets must be surrounded by a strong rope or webbing.
• The connections between panels must be at least as strong as the net or webbing itself.

To learn more about Construction Steel Erection visit our Construction Steel Erection Safety Online Training web page.