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General Industry Fall Protection and Fall Arrest Solutions

Industrial settings and machine maintenance require fall protection when workers are exposed to fall hazards at heights of 48 inches (4 feet) or higher.  Although a fall of 4 feet may seem inconsequential to some, working at elevations of 4 feet or more is very common in industrial environments.  Significant injuries and deaths occur from heights of 4 feet or less every year.

Providing a safe production environment for workers and maintenance staff in the industrial sector requires the implementation of a comprehensive fall prevention strategy, which includes the proper mix of fall protection equipment, personnel training, and partnering with a fall protection company that appreciates the unique nature of your facilities access points and potential fall hazards.

Thanks to our engineering oriented approach, we can custom tailor an OSHA compliant fall arrest system that fits your application without hindering worker productivity.  If creating a safer working environment is a company priority, ask one of our fall protection specialists about an on-site hazard assessment.  When completed, the assessment will identify potential fall hazards, suggest solutions, and help establish a budget to remediate unsafe working conditions at your facility.

We are a complete turnkey provider of industrial fall protection systems and have years of design and installation experience in this broad based market sector.  Contact us for expert assistance with your fall arrest, fall restraint and fall protection requirements.

Fall Protection Solutions

Design Considerations

Industrial and Machine Maintenance Fall Protection Design Considerations
Fall protection and fall arrest systems for general industrial settings and machine maintenance must be specifically tailored to a particular operation and not impede production or worker mobility. Cumbersome fall arrest systems that are not easy to use are eventually bypassed or ignored by workers, creating dangerous working conditions. Height restrictions and traffic restrictions, as well as indoor or outdoor work environments must also be taken into consideration often. Care must also be taken to consider frequency of use as maintenance or repair of machinery in an industrial setting may require different solutions than routine production tasks that expose workers to fall hazards. Fall protection systems for machines requiring daily maintenance and service are often very different than fall arrest systems for plant areas that are seldom accessed. Due to the broad nature of the general industrial and machine maintenance sector, fall protection system designs can include horizontal lifeline systems, rigid track systems, rigid beam systems, articulating products or a combination of multiple systems. Understanding the unique nature of both your production facility’s access points and fall hazards combined with a turnkey approach to OSHA compliant fall protection system will keep your plant and personnel safe.

OSHA Regulations

  • Guardrail
    • 1926.502(b)(1)
      Top edge height of top rails, or equivalent guardrail system members, shall be 42 inches (1.1 m) plus or minus 3 inches (8 cm) above the walking/working level. When conditions warrant, the height of the top edge may exceed the 45-inch height, provided the guardrail system meets all other criteria of this paragraph.
    • 1926.502(b)(2)(i)
      Midrails, when used, shall be installed at a height midway between the top edge of the guardrail system and the walking/working level.
    • 1926.502(b)(3)
      Guardrail systems shall be capable of withstanding, without failure, a force of at least 200 pounds (890 N) applied within 2 inches (5.1 cm) of the top edge, in any outward or downward direction, at any point along the top edge.
    • 1926.502(b)(5)
      Midrails, screens, mesh, intermediate vertical members, solid panels, and equivalent structural members shall be capable of withstanding, without failure, a force of at least 150 pounds (666 N) applied in any downward or outward direction at any point along the midrail or other member.

Talk to a fall protection specialist

Tell us about your fall protection needs, and we’ll configure a system that rises to your challenges.