Television commercials would lead you to believe that all you need to tackle every task with confidence is a certain mouthwash or deodorant. It may help, but I think most of you will agree that you can work more confidently if you know that you’re protected from serious falls. Good guardrails around exposed openings can give you this assurance.
All of us want to be as safe as possible and there are several logical steps we can take to accomplish this.
First of all, floor and wall openings shall be covered or guarded by enclosures. Guardrails, barricades and floor covers must be kept in place and handrails shall be installed on stairways.
In addition, guardrails shall be installed on landings and temporary stairs using wood treads until concrete is poured. Perimeter guardrails or cables shall be installed on all floors until the wall closures are made.
A perimeter cable shall be located not less than 18” horizontally from the edge of a floor or platform opening or open side and not less than 30” or more than 42” vertically from the floor or platform.
Let’s consider barricades specifically for a moment. Barricades providing complete enclosure are recommended. They shall be substantially built, with top rail, intermediate rail and toe boards. They guard rails prevent falls through openings and toe boards keep material and scrap from falling on workmen below.
The height of the top guardrails shall be 42” maximum and no less than 36” from the floor. The distance between upright supports shall not exceed 8’. Uprights and railings should be 2 x 4s or larger, the toe boards at least 1 x 4s and shall withstand a 300 pound side thrust.
Removable guardrails are recommended when materials and equipment are being installed. However, it’s your responsibility to make sure that guardrails are replaced when the work is finished or if the opening is to be left unattended. When replaced, they shall be as close to original strength as possible.
Now a word about floor covers. Covers should be securely anchored so as not to be accidentally knocked out of place, or removed for some other use. Covers shall have a 300-pound capability. No single method of securing covers can be singled out as the best. The method used will depend upon the type of construction at each opening.
Wood railers can be installed on steel or concrete construction.
In wood floor construction, covers can be nailed down. In concrete construction, form work for the opening is sometimes left in place and used as a nailing strip.
When planking is used for temporary floors and for covering floor openings, they should be strong enough to safely carry the anticipated loads. Planks should be clean, free of nails and splinters and generally met the strength requirements of scaffold planks as specified in construction safety rules. They should be laid close together and project not less than six” beyond the inside face of the bearing.
Before removing planks, it’s a good idea to clean all loose material from them so that it will not fall on workmen below.
Stairway openings and landings shall be guarded with standard railings. Stairways shall be equipped with handrails.
Maintenance of guardrails is a very important part of the overall safety picture. If a rail has been hit hard enough to possibly have weakened it, check it and tighten it up. Replace any broken sections.
Develop a sense of safety awareness and be on the lookout for faulty rails. If defective guardrails are spotted and they can’t be repaired or replaced, notify your supervisor immediately.
Always keep in mind that YOU are the key to accident prevention. Any contribution you make toward protecting floor openings will be a contribution to you own safety and to your family’s security.