OSHA guidelines for handrails and guardrails (though OSHA refers to both as “guardrails”) are critical in reducing the risk of falls and other injuries. The Importance of OSHA Guidelines in Preventing Injuries For fall protection from raised platforms or working surfaces, handrails must be a minimum of 42” above the finished floor height, have at least (1) intermediate rail, and a 4” kick plate is required where objects on the floor could create a hazard if they roll or are inadvertently kicked off the platform and cause injury from a falling object. If the top edge is serving as a handrail, the top edge’s height cannot be any more than 37 inches, nor can it be any less than 36 inches from the upper surface to the tread surface, in line with the riser face at the forward edge of the tread. Handrails on stairways cannot be any more than 37 inches high, nor can they be less than 30 inches from the upper surface to the tread surface, in line with the riser face at the tread’s forward edge. Providing people with an accessible handhold in areas where falls and slips are a risk, handrails are designed to improve users’ stability. Also referred to as safety railing, handrails’ must have a smooth surface to prevent worker injuries - from potential injuries such as lacerations and punctures - and also eliminates the risk of hair or clothing catching on the railing. These structures must be able to sustain an outward or downward point load force of at least 200 pounds horizontal force at any point along the top rail. Handrails, on the other hand, prevent people from falling off platforms, stairways, walkways, or landings. and are operating in close proximity to pedestrian traffic. Many times this heavy equipment weighs in at an excess of 10,000 lbs. In industrial plants, guardrails serve to protect workers, equipment, and structures from accidents caused by moving vehicles or machinery and are specifically designed to be able to absorb impact energy from a forklift, for instance, or a sweeper. In highway applications, for instance, guardrails are designed to absorb the energy of collisions from moving vehicles and are designed more for glancing blows and to keep a vehicle in its lane of traffic. OSHA and many building codes use the term “guardrail” to refer to fall protection for raised platforms and stairways, but the industrial safety industry uses the more specific term “handrail,” with “guardrail” used only to refer heavy-duty beams of formed steel. These two products (Guardrails and Handrails) are in fact very different, and companies should be sure to have a solid understanding of the unique properties and benefits of both guardrails and handrails before purchasing either product. These standards can often be confusing, however, as “handrails” and “guardrails” are used interchangeably in OSHA and other building codes. Both safety handrails and guardrails, for instance, must meet specific OSHA standards to be considered effective in protecting workers. Safety best practices vary depending on the specific scenario and facility risk. In particular, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration ( OSHA) helps ensure such workplace safety and health standards are met and workers are kept safe by providing training, outreach programs, educational resources, and general assistance for companies and organizations across the United States. To ensure efficient operations, the lowest possible costs, and, most importantly, employee health and wellbeing, manufacturing facilities across all types of industries must adhere to various safety standards.
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