Henry Ford once said “You can buy a Model T in any color as long as it is black.” If you have spent time searching online or consulting catalogs, you may assume Ford’s rule applies to guardrail too because most of the guardrail you’ll see is safety yellow. Don’t get us wrong–yellow guardrail is highly visible and a good way to remind folks that a leading edge is near. That said, there are times when a perimeter railing system needs to blend with a building. Whether you prefer guardrail that matches company colors or the goal is concealing the fall protection system from the ground level, we can help.
Rooftop Guardrail Versus Horizontal Lifelines—Selecting the Proper Fall Protection System
When it comes to rooftop fall protection, a wide range of options ranging from guardrail to horizontal lifelines can ensure worker safety and OSHA compliance. Choosing from multiple strategies means we can tailor a system to meet your specific needs and budget, but this range of choice can cause client confusion too. This post discusses two of the more common approaches to rooftop fall protection–guardrail and horizontal lifeline systems.
Comparing Portable Guardrail Systems
Other than price, what is the main difference between the portable guardrail offered by competing manufacturers? After all, most non-penetrating rooftop guardrail consists of yellow, metal railing sections that are secured by a heavy bases resting on the roof surface. Although portable guardrail systems may look very similar, the main differentiating factor comes where one might least expect it—base plate design.
Non-Penetrating Rooftop Guardrail Installation
When it comes to rooftop fall protection installations, we hear common concerns. Clients want reassurances that the proposed solution is in alignment with available budgets and meets or exceeds OSHA requirements. We also field questions and concerns over roof modifications. Drilling holes or cutting to expose structural members beneath the roof’s surface is an especially sensitive subject because many of our clients have hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars invested in their roofs. Fortunately, we have a wide variety of rooftop fall protection solutions to address these pains.
Rooftop Fall Protection Options
The rooftop maintenance season is now in full swing. In the eyes of OSHA, your building’s roof is a raised work platform of four feet or more, and as such, all of the unprotected leading edges pose fall hazards. That said, every rooftop is unique. The “ideal” rooftop fall protection system installed next door may not suit your specific needs due to differing maintenance requirements. This post offers a brief introduction to common rooftop fall protection solutions and their many uses.
Rooftop Safety Railing Perimeter Planning Guide
Freestanding safety railing is one of the simplest forms of rooftop fall protection. Unlike horizontal lifelines or single point anchors, which require worker tie-off, a rooftop guardrail system requires very little of its user. Employees don’t need to wear a harness, connect to an anchor point, or receive training in the safe use of the system. That said, you’ll need to do some planning prior to installing freestanding rooftop safety railing systems to ensure worker safety and OSHA compliance. This post serves as a guide to determining baseplate and railing section requirements when installing our LORGUARD safety railing.
