When it comes to fall safety equipment for your facility, you want it to be OSHA compliant and durable. Steel guardrails, as well as metal swing gates are a popular way to protect workers from falls due to their strength and longevity. However, the lifespan of your safety equipment depends on several factors including the environment where they are installed and used, volume of usage, and how well maintained they are. Once you understand these important aspects of your fall protection system, you can make better decisions to further protect your employees.
OSHA Guidelines for Fall Safety Equipment
OSHA 1910.28 clearly states that it is your responsibility to provide fall protection for your employees. This obligation kicks in anytime workers are working 4′ above a previous level and there’s an exposed side. In an industrial facility, there are innumerable places that fit this description. Therefore, you’re going to need to make sure you install OSHA compliant fall protection equipment such as guardrails, spring loaded safety gates, and the like. Areas you need to pay close attention to include:
- Mezzanines and Catwalks
- Loading Docks
- Uneven Floor Surfaces
- Stairways
- Ladder entrances
- Near or Above Dangerous Equipment
- Holes More than 2″ in Diameter
- Any Other Known Fall Hazard
How Long Is Fall Protection Equipment Designed to Last?
Thinking about steel and metal guardrails, you may be convinced that they’re pretty much indestructible. For the most part, this would be a fair assessment. Steel can last for 50 to 100 years without failure, which is why it’s used to construct huge buildings. Even though steel is strong and durable, that doesn’t mean it’s infallible. The lifespan of your guardrails and metal swing gates depends upon a few factors:
Volume of Usage
Like any other piece of equipment in your facility, your metal swing gates and guardrails are subject to normal wear and tear due to regular use. Hinges, springs, and other components of safety gates that are operated frequently during multiple shifts are going to wear down faster than one that’s located in a quieter place in the facility. Over time, well-used spring loaded safety gates may develop issues with operation and require repairs or replacement springs to once again provide adequate fall protection.
Caustic Industrial Environment
In certain environments, metal fall protection equipment will rust and become dangerous for workers to use. This is a particular problem where the conditions are wet and humid, salty, or where chemicals of a high acidity or alkalinity are being used. At first, you’ll notice rust forming on the surface of the equipment. Over time, the rust and corrosion can literally eat away the metal, rendering your guardrails and safety gates unsafe and unusable.
Maintenance History
You regularly inspect and repair the machinery and equipment in your facility, and you need to do the same for your fall protection equipment. Missing a regular inspection or failing to perform basic maintenance like replacing worn-out springs on your spring loaded safety gates can result in the gate malfunctioning. And if you aren’t routinely inspecting and maintaining your guardrail system, it could rust out and fail.
How to Increase the Useful Life of Your Fall Safety Equipment
Your number one priority is to keep your employees, contractors, and visitors safe inside your facility. To do so, you must install the appropriate OSHA compliant fall safety devices and equipment wherever a fall hazard is present. It is absolutely vital that you regularly inspect the fall protection equipment throughout your industrial facility and follow through with repairs and maintenance.
Safety equipment inspections should be performed by a qualified safety expert. Every potential hazard or incident of potential non-compliance needs to be noted. It’s a wise idea to meet with employees to discuss their safety concerns and equipment maintenance or repair issues during this inspection.
If your railings and gates appear to be damaged upon inspection, they may not be OSHA-compliant. That means workers may be at risk of falls and you could face stiff OSHA fines and penalties. If this is the case, you must act quickly to rectify the situation by repairing or replacing the inadequate equipment. Review OSHA 1910.29 for specifications for guardrails, safety gates, and other fall protection devices.
What Does Regular Maintenance Look Like for Safety Equipment?
The type and frequency of maintenance that your fall safety equipment needs depends on the factors noted above. However, there are some key maintenance activities that can be applied to the stair gates for warehouses, metal guardrail system, or self-closing safety gate you may be using in your facility. A typical fall protection equipment maintenance session will look something like this:
- Inspection – Begin by performing a visual inspection alongside a qualified safety expert. This will include observations of the safety equipment in use as well as up-close inspections to detect rust, wear and tear, or damage.
- Repairs – If damaged parts, such as springs, are found in any of your safety gates, they need to be replaced right away to ensure safe operation. If repairs cannot be made immediately, the gate in question should be decommissioned until the repairs are completed.
- Maintenance – Along with inspections and repairs, safety gates and railings sometimes need a little extra TLC. Repainting faded metal guardrails and gates, lubricating swing gates, and adjusting springs all contribute to a longer, smoother lifespan for your fall protection equipment.
Choosing the Right Fall Protection Equipment for Performance and Longevity
Regular maintenance and repairs are key to the longevity of any fall protection system. Equally as important is choosing the right type of equipment for your facility. You must take into consideration the environmental factors present such as caustic chemicals, saline, and even ambient humidity. Balancing the fall protection needs of your workers, your obligations under OSHA, and your desire to invest wisely can be difficult.
Contact us at Fabenco and we’ll help make that decision a little easier. Our highly qualified safety experts will be happy to guide you through the process of determining what type of fall protection equipment will best serve your workers. We’ll also help you understand the maintenance requirements of our safety gates and guardrails for warehouses, manufacturing facilities, distribution centers, and other industrial buildings so you can make the right educated decision for your business.
