Implementing extra wide safety gates for fall protection is a crucial component to keeping your workers safe and you OSHA compliant. In some areas, a regular-sized safety gate will suffice, but in other places you will want to implement an extra wide safety gate for full fall protection. The size of the openings in areas like loading docks and mezzanines require a larger gate than the standard issue. These extra wide safety gates provide increased support, are easy-to-install and can be purchased to meet all general needs; custom safety gates can also be fabricated to meet your specific requirements. These safety gates can and should be used in all locations where workers are especially at risk and in need of fall protection.
Any location that requires a worker to transition from one level to another can be made more secure by installing an industrial safety gate. These safety gates should be made from the proper materials – carbon steel, aluminum and/or stainless steel.
Extra wide safety gates will provide increased fall protection and OSHA compliance in many ways. Avoid unnecessary employee injuries or fatalities and meet OSHA requirements by implementing these safety gates into all areas of your worksite that require fall protection. These areas include, but are not limited to: rooftops, mezzanines, loading docks, and work platforms.
Rooftops
Make sure all roof top access points are protected by installing an industrial safety gate. These access points include ladder openings, roof hatches, caged ladders, catwalks & other walkways, transition points, etc. Installing safety gates at these access points is required if you want to remain OSHA compliant. Not only that, but it should be considered a standard procedure when striving to create a safe and trusted environment for your workers. Many avoidable injuries have occurred from workers being too focused on their task at hand and simply backing into an unprotected opening.
Loading Docks
One of the top falling hazards is unprotected loading docks. These docks are most commonly placed between 48” and 52” above ground level, so an untrained individual will not consider it dangerous, and is also commonly overlooked as a serious OSHA violation. OSHA requires that all workers be protected from falling any time they are 4 feet or higher off the ground.
Installing extra wide safety gates on loading docks is a simple procedure and should not be overlooked. It’s also an extremely cost-effective way of implementing OSHA-compliant fall protection.
Mezzanines
Mezzanine edges can and should also be protected with an extra wide safety gate, where access is required to transport material. There are a variety of different gate styles, which allow the gates to be opened horizontally or vertically to accommodate your facility’s needs.
Work Platforms
These come in a variety of different forms, each one requiring fall protection for workers. Some of these may have some sort of fall protection guardrail already installed if it was manufactured in recent years, but may still have some unprotected edges. Make these edges safer and OSHA compliant by installing an OSHA compliant safety gate.
Implementing extra wide safety gates into your warehouse, factory, or other worksite does not only give you OSHA compliance, it keeps your workers safe and prevents costly accidents from occurring. Give your workers a safer environment and avoid costly accidents by implementing extra wide safety gates into your work site.
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