Whether you operate a warehouse, a manufacturing facility, or another type of commercial property, space limitations can restrict your business growth. Mezzanines and other elevated surfaces are an ideal way to increase your facility’s usable floor space to maximize productivity. As you implement these elevated solutions, you need to be aware that employees traversing stairways to get to these walkways and work surfaces face increased fall risks. Making sure your stairways meet OSHA standards and installing industrial fall protection equipment such as guard rails, handrails, and commercial stair gates help eliminate fall hazards.
Your Duty to Provide Fall Protection
You’re aware of the fact that OSHA 1910.28 states that it’s your obligation to provide fall protection for your employees whenever they work 4 feet or more above the surface below. In the case of mezzanines and catwalks, the most common OSHA-compliant means of protecting workers is a guard rail system. In some cases, however, guardrails may not be sufficient, and it may also be necessary to incorporate personal fall protection devices.
OSHA-Compliant Industrial Fall Protection
Although OSHA requires you to provide fall protection for your employees, it doesn’t tell you exactly what types of devices and equipment you must use. What OSHA does do, however, is give specific guidelines for the types of fall protection devices that you might use. For example, if you choose to use a guardrail and swing gate, they must meet the following criteria:
- Have a height at the top rail of 42″, plus or minus 3″, from the walking/working surface.
- Top rails must be able to withstand a force of 200 lbs. without deflecting below 39″.
- Midrails have to be able to handle at least 150 lbs. of force without failure.
- Railings and gates must be made of smooth material that won’t snag or scratch workers.
OSHA Standards for Stairs Leading to Elevated Surfaces
Stairs are essential for workers who need to get from one level of your facility to the next. It’s your responsibility to make sure that the stairs are safe for workers to use and that they comply with OSHA standard 1910.25. Some of the key areas you need to pay attention to include:
- Steps must have a uniform riser height and tread depth.
- Stairway landings and platforms must be at least 30″ deep.
- Stairway gates cannot diminish the usable platform space to less than 20″ when open.
- Each step must be able to handle five times the average load, but not less than 1,000 lbs.
- One or more handrails must be installed on stairways that have at least 3 treads and 4 risers.
When Are Commercial Stair Gates Required?
As with most other fall protection equipment, OSHA doesn’t necessarily require the use of stairway gates. However, you have to keep employees from falling as they enter and exit the stairway. One way that you can do this is to provide an offset entrance with guardrails that lead to the steps. The preferred solution, however, is to install a swing gate that meets the guidelines set forth in OSHA 1910.29, which include:
- Commercial stair gates, swing gates, and other protective gates must be self-closing
- Gates must slide or swing away from the stairs or other opening.
- Top rails and Midrails must meet the same requirements as guardrails for strength.
- Gates must be made of smooth, non-snagging material.
Stairway Gates Provide Excellent Passive Fall Protection
When workers go through a safety gate before ascending or descending stairs, it’s an opportunity to pause and take note of their surroundings. In doing so, workers can avoid obvious fall hazards such as debris or a wet spot on the floor. In addition, stairway gates are a good way to keep unauthorized individuals from entering dangerous or restricted mezzanines and catwalks, thus minimizing risks. And, of course, a swing gate can help you avoid costly fines for non-compliance.
Are Stair Gates Right for Your Industrial Facility?
If you’re using mezzanines, catwalks, and other elevated areas to maximize your facility’s square footage, fall protection is a must. Installing metal guardrails around the perimeter of these elevated surfaces is a great start, but you also have to make sure workers have safe, easy access to these areas. Stairways leading to mezzanines can be well-protected by installing commercial stair gates.
What’s the Right Industrial Fall Protection Solution?
Every facility is unique; it’s up to you to assess your needs and make that choice. Determining whether your facility would benefit from the use of stairway safety gates begins with a thorough inspection. You’ll want to have a qualified safety expert on hand during this inspection to lend their professional opinion and insight. It’s imperative that you spend time observing workers as they make their way up and down stairways so you can fully understand their challenges. You and your safety expert will determine if a safety gate is the right choice based on your observations.
How to Choose Stairway Swing Gates
Once you’ve determined that a safety gate is right for your application, you have the difficult task of choosing which gate to invest in. Some things to look for in a safety gate include:
- OSHA Compliance — When choosing a stairway gate, remember that it must meet the OSHA standards noted above, otherwise you’re not providing adequate protection. You may also be fined or penalized by OSHA if you use substandard gates.
- How the Gate Opens — While standard safety gates swing to the right or left, this isn’t always feasible. If your space doesn’t allow for a horizontal swing, or you need more width at the entrance, perhaps a vertical lift gate is in order.
- Ease of Installation — While it’s always a good idea to leave the installation of fall protection equipment to a qualified safety expert, the job doesn’t have to be hard. In fact, safety gates for stairways should be fairly easy to install.
Partner with Fabenco and Protect Your Employees
Fall protection is a serious issue in your industrial facility, and you can’t afford to get it wrong. When it comes to keeping workers safe at height, you can count on the experienced safety experts at Fabenco. Our full line of industrial fall protection equipment includes stairway gates, guardrails, personal fall protection devices and more. Contact us today to discuss your fall safety equipment needs and how we can help you avoid OSHA fines and penalties.
