Whenever guardrail systems are used, they must meet the definition of a "guardrail system" in §1926.450(b), as well as the requirements of §1926.451(g)(4). With respect to protecting employees on all other types of scaffolds, under §1926.451(g)(1)(vii), the employer can choose to use either personal fall arrest systems or guardrail systems.
The standard requires guardrails for some specific types of scaffolds (see, for example, §1926.451(g)(1)(iv), which requires them for self-contained adjustable scaffolds and §1926.451(g)(1)(v), which requires them for each employee on a walkway located within a scaffold). Question (2): Section 1926.451(g)(4)(iv) requires midrails to be "installed at a height approximately midway between the top edge of the guardrail system and the platform surface." Is there a provision in the standard that directs when midrails must be used?Īnswer: Under §1926.451, all employees on scaffolds more than 10 feet above the next lower level must be protected from falls. Alternatively, you could use personal fall protection equipment instead of guardrails (as long as there is an adequate anchorage point). Where that would interfere with the work surface, you would have to use a different kind of guardrail system then the one you are using so that you would not be limited by the rung spacing. Therefore, if you cannot comply with the 45-inch maximum height, you may raise the toprail to 48 inches. A guardrail that is too low would not prevent the worker from falling off the scaffold. The reason for this is that a guardrail lower than 36 inches would be below the center of gravity of the average worker. Is it permissible for to have a toprail height of 32 inches where the platform is small, the exposure time is limited, the same person who erects and dismantles the scaffold will be the one working on it, and a guardrail at 48 inches would interfere with the work surface in some instances?Īnswer: Section 1926.451(g)(4)(ii) provides that, "when conditions warrant, the height of the top edge may exceed the 45-inch height, provided the guardrail system meets all other criteria of paragraph (g)(4)." However, the standard does not allow for a height of less than 36 inches. Therefore, when the scaffold board is on the bottom rung of the extension, the toprail has to be 16, 32, or 48 inches high (depending on which rung is used for attaching the guardrail). You state that your scaffold extensions have rungs spaced 16 inches apart and that when using them, the only way of attaching guardrails is to the rungs. For all scaffolds, the maximum height is 45 inches. The minimum guardrail height for scaffolds manufactured or first placed in service after Januis 38 inches. Question (1): Under §1926.451(g)(4)(ii), the minimum height for scaffold guardrails manufactured and first placed in service before January 1, 2000, is 36 inches. We apologize for the extended delay in providing this response. Unfortunately, we misplaced your letter and failed to recognize our error in a timely manner. This is in response to your letter dated August 15, 1997, addressed to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) Denver Regional Office in which you asked several questions regarding 29 C.F.R.
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