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Despite indications of a softening economy in the United States, US steel continues to excel. It has surpassed consensus EPS and revenue estimates three times over the past four quarters, and as of mid-February 2023, its shares have already surged by almost double the S&P 500's gain.
Part of the secret to US Steel's success lies in steel's irreplaceability. Even in the face of technological advancements in materials, construction, and equipment, steel remains popular and superior for its effectiveness and versatility.
This is evident in its broad range of industrial applications, including its wide applications in fall protection systems, like a steel guardrail for example. Not only does steel meet OSHA regulations for industrial fall protection, but it also offers several other benefits. When considering safety products for your job site, it is always important to consider the materials used and decide which are best for your application at hand.
This guide discusses types of fall protection systems, the benefit of steel made products, and why steel remains the ideal material for safety rails in rooftop safety systems that provide leading edge fall protection. From all of this information, you will quickly understand why the use of steel in this industry won’t be going anywhere anytime soon.
According to OSHA 1910.28, you must provide fall protection to each employee walking or working on a surface 4 feet (1.2 m) or higher above a lower level. With that regulation in mind, it is imperative to provide workers with appropriate fall protection in these work areas.
OSHA recommends that you use one or more of the following types of protection systems:
Guardrail Systems: Physical barriers used to prevent falls in elevated work areas. They typically consist of a top rail, mid rail, and toe board. They can be constructed from different materials, but steel is a common choice.
Personal Fall Protection Systems: They include fall arrest systems and travel restraint systems to arrest a fall and limit worker movement.
You can use these systems as leading edge fall protection on rooftops, around dangerous machinery, near roof and floor holes, loading docks runways, openings, and other areas.
OSHA has several requirements for guardrail systems ranging from how you should install them to their size. Here are the three requirements OSHA specifies that concern the strength and reliability of the guardrail system.
The guardrail system should withstand an outward or downward force of 200 pounds without failure. The force is applied at any position along the top rail.
Mid rails, screens, mesh, intermediate vertical members, solid panels, or equivalent intermediate members installed between the walking-working surface and the top edge of the guardrail system should be able to withstand a downward or outward force of at least 150 without failure. The force is applied at any point on the intermediate member.
The surface of the guardrail system should be smooth.
Several materials can be used to create guardrail systems that could meet these quality and reliability OSHA requirements. They include steel, aluminum, wood, and high-density polyethylene plastic. However, aluminum is prone to corrosion and requires regular maintenance to remain OSHA-compliant, wood is prone to rot and decay, and plastic is not that reliable.
That leaves us with steel as the best material for guardrail systems, which, as we mentioned, is part of the reason for the continued popularity of steel despite the gloomy economic outlook.
As previously mentioned, steel is the material of choice for internal and external industrial railing systems across industries for many reasons. Here we will discuss a few of the most common before delving into the products that are made out of this reliable material!
A steel guardrail can withstand harsh weather conditions and regular use without major wear and tear. They are also corrosion-resistant, making them ideal for outdoor use and in high-humidity areas. You can even lengthen your steel safety rail systems' durability and minimize the maintenance required by protecting them with a powder-coat finish.
A key advantage of steel is its high strength-to-weight ratio. That means a steel guardrail may even withstand much higher forces than the minimum of 200 pounds required by OSHA. Their strength helps you meet safety regulations and provides a safe working environment that protects workers from falls.
Steel safety rails may have a higher initial cost than other materials, such as aluminum. However, they are more cost-effective in the long term because they don't require frequent maintenance and are more durable giving them a long usage life.
Additionally, steel safety rails are more effective than other materials in preventing falls due to their strength. That means they help you avoid the costs of dealing with downtime as a result of workplace accidents, further reducing costs.
You can use steel industrial railing systems in various applications where other materials may not be practical. You can use them in construction sites, on elevated platforms in warehouses, in loading docks, as leading edge fall protection for industrial rooftops, and more. They can be designed to meet the specific requirements of each facility or area and customized to fit any space.
Steel is considered environmentally friendly because it is 100% recyclable. Once made, it can be recycled forever, reducing the consumption, expenses, time, and energy required to mine and manufacture it again. It is the most recycled material in North America, as it is recycled more than aluminum, paper, glass, and plastic combined. It is the material of choice for environmentally conscious companies.
Steel safety rails are also aesthetically pleasing. They can add to or match the aesthetics of the area or building as you can paint them in various colors and designs that best match your work environment.
The rising demand and prices of steel show that despite the economic outlook, steel remains the most practical choice for industrial railing systems. They provide exceptional value for fall protection as they ensure compliance with OSHA requirements, improve workplace safety, protect equipment from falling, require minimal maintenance, and are even environmentally friendly.
When considering safety products for your job site, you can trust that BlueWater can provide your business with not only the best equipment, but also equipment made from the best materials.
Contact us today for more information on how we can help you promote rooftop safety like leading edge fall protection in your facility, as well as decide the best products for your application.
