Fall protection systems play a key role in preventing the risks related to falling for employees who work on job sites at heights. There are many types of systems for preventing the risks of falling from heights: guardrails, movement limitation systems, fall arrest systems, and the use of warning lines.
The reasons to choose to use a guardrail as a fall protection system
Falls can happen from a ladder, a permanent structure such as a roof, a temporary structure such as scaffolding, or any other type of working platform at height. Fall protection systems are necessary and mandatory when employees are working at a height of 3 m or more and when they are working above any surface that could injure them in the event of a potential fall.
1 – A guardrail lets you secure the entire site
If it’s installed properly and of good quality, it offers complete, uncompromising, and flawless protection. Fall protection is also required when employees are working on the following surfaces:
- Roofs;
- Forklift platforms;
- Rising work platforms;
- Suspended removable work platforms;
- Hanging scaffolding;
- Boatswain’s chairs;
- Suspension equipment;
- Personnel transportation equipment.
2 – A guardrail complies with the applicable safety standards
The best types of fall protection systems are those that completely prevent falls, such as guardrails that comply with the applicable safety standards in your country. In Canada, permanent guardrails (2.9.1 and 2.9.2 SCCI) are the equipment privileged and therefore recommended by the CNESST (Commission des normes, de l’équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail) above any other system. When purchasing guardrails, it’s necessary to ensure the quality and the compliance of its manufacture. You should therefore choose your manufacturer knowingly and choose a system that complies with the applicable standards and is therefore preferably manufactured in the same country. This factor ensures that the safety features really meet the applicable standards but are also perfectly resistant to the weather conditions in the country.
3 – A guardrail lets you fulfill your responsibilities as an employer without getting cluttered
In effect, a guardrail makes it possible to respect the responsibilities that an employer has regarding employee safety while limiting the acquisition of safety equipment. The responsibilities of employers whose employees work at height include:
- Providing a fall protection system when an employee is working with a risk of falling.
- Prioritizing the use of guardrails, movement limitation systems, or fall limitation systems, unless your employees are working on a surface with a slope greater than 6 out of 12.
- Ensuring that the elements of the fall protection system are designed, mounted, installed, assembled, used, handled, stored, adjusted, maintained, repaired, and dismantled according to the requirements of CNESST standards.
- Developing a process for rescuing an employee in case of emergency and providing training to all employees on this subject.
- Repairing, destroying, or rendering useless any faulty element involved in arresting a fall.
- Ensuring that the employee is made aware of the fall protection system before entering a work area involving the risk of falling.
- Ensuring that a qualified person can inspect a fall protection system regularly and as needed.
Delta Prevention is a manufacturer of non-penetrating fall protection equipment for rooftop. With innovative materials and industry leading versatility, Delta Prevention’s VSS System is the safest and most durable collective fall protection system on the market. Visit our website at deltaprevention.com