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OSHA regulation 1910.23 for Guarding Floor and Wall Openings and Holes requires that on platforms four feet (4’) or higher a barrier be in place to guard every open sided floor and that the barrier be in place when the opening is not in use for handling materials.
A toe board (or equivalent) should be provided when there is exposure below to falling materials.
A standard railing consists of a top rail 42” off of the deck and an intermediate rail and must withstand a 200 pound force applied in any direction except upward.
Only a dual-gate system ensures compliance with OSHA because a dual-gate system will always have a barrier in place. A dual-gate system does not depend on an operator to remember and make an effort to close the barrier.
Single-barrier systems that meet OSHA specifications only meet OSHA when the barriers are closed. Barriers held open by a staged pallet (as is the case with a swinging gate) are in violation of OSHA.
ANSI MH 28.3-2009 in section 6.4.3 requires a barrier to be in place to secure pallet drop areas at all times - even while the area is in use for handling materials. Single barrier systems such as swing, sliding or lift-out gates DO NOT meet the standard.
Only a dual-gate system meets ANSI because a barrier is in place even during the active loading/unloading of material.
Swinging gates, sliding gates, chains, removable railing and netting do not meet ANSI standard.
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In-depth |
Four Questions
To Ask When Choosing a Mezzanine Safety
Device
There are several important questions to consider when differentiating
among types and determining the degree of protection these safety devices actually
provide.
1. Will it actually do more good than harm?
Safety chains offer a visual perception of safety, but offer little in the way of real
protection from falls from the mezzanine ledge. The chain can actually increase potential danger by flipping an employee.
2. Is it easy to operate?
If a safety device is too complicated to operate, chances are it will not be used
correctly, if at all. Lift gates offer a barrier, but require effort and a degree of
dexterity in order to remove the gate with a lifting motion. Many workers rightfully
resist making this motion on the ledge of a high mezzanine. As a result, the ledge is
often left unprotected because the safety device is not used correctly.
3. Will it really protect workers when they need it most?
The goal is to protect workers from exposing themselves to an unprotected ledge during
their entire work operations. Swing gates are easy to operate, but are often left
open while workers receive, break down, and remove palletized materials. This creates a
hazardous situation where workers are exposed to an unprotected ledge for periods of time when
protection is needed most.
4. Will it be utilized consistently?
Many safety devices rely on the workers to be effective. Workers are required to
physically remove parts and must remember to replace them. The best safety devices work
automatically. If the gate requires less effort, it will be used more often. To ensure
consistency of use, workers should not be able to circumvent the system.
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