Guard rail is one of those components in a facility that typically is not top-of-mind with companies until it’s too late.
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What do people think when they hear the term “guard rail”? Is it something on an elevated platform that prevents people from falling? Is it that low-profile metal strip that runs along the freeway? Or maybe nothing significant comes to mind? Unfortunately, the latter is often the case, especially when talking about guard rail in an industrial setting. Guard rail is one of those components in a facility that typically is not top-of-mind with companies until it’s too late. Soft federal guidelines for its use have helped contribute to its low awareness within facilities and have placed the responsibilities on individual companies to implement. However, when used properly, it can effectively protect equipment, assets and personnel in and around a facility. The key is to identify areas in need of guard rail, correctly specify it for the application and take action.
Why Guard Rail?
While an industrial guard rail protects machinery and provides a safe and efficient work environment, its most important role is protecting people. Forklifts, Tugger AGVs and other material handling vehicles are commonplace in manufacturing facilities and often operate near employees. Sometimes their paths do cross...with deadly results. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, from to , 614 workers lost their lives in forklift related incidents and more than 7,000 nonfatal injuries with days away from work occurred every year.
How do forklift accidents happen? OSHA reports that most accidents could have been prevented with better operator training. Still, it is easy to see how an accident can occur. Many manufacturing facilities have tight lanes for forklift traffic. If a turn is not executed properly, the wheels or forks could sway into a designated “safe area” occupied by employees or equipment. Place an inexperienced driver behind a forklift and the risks increase. Well-positioned guard rail can help reduce the chance of accidents by preventing forklifts and other vehicles from straying into dangerous or off-limits areas.
While there are OSHA guidelines regulating the use of handrails and other safety guarding in facilities for structures such as stairs, mezzanines, temporary manhole covers, etc., there is no direct guidance for the use of guard rail around machinery or designated vehicle travel paths. As such, many facilities simply mark the floor for off-limit areas, travel paths and pedestrian walkways with yellow-striped tape—which provides absolutely no protection against vehicle impact. What happens if the forklift driver experiences a medical issue, such as a heart attack or is inattentive to his surroundings due to texting on his/her cell ? A yellow piece of tape will certainly not stop an out-of-control forklift.
Guard Rail Systems provide a physical and visual barrier in the workplace. It is used to guard a variety of areas throughout your building. The goal of any facility is to be safe and avoid accidents. By adding guard rails to designated areas – you will be equipped with the safety standards and insurance should an accident occur.
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As a company your building, employees, equipment and physical inventory represent the majority of your assets. An economical way to protect all three is to place protective guard rail systems in traffic areas.
In a warehouse forklift damage is the most common type of damage, which generally results in loss of expensive equipment and employee injuries. This generally happens because the pallet racking systems cannot withstand the heavy impact of a forklift. Using guard rail systems and floor mounted protectors will maximize the protection of your warehouse.
It used to be that guard rail systems always meant rigid steel, but in recent years, other options have emerged. The two dominant types are traditional, rigid steel railing and newer flexible systems.
STEEL: The primary components of steel guard rail are the square tube steel posts, base plates, and steel rails. Impact resistance relies on the thickness of the steel, the number of posts and the general layout of the railing.
FLEXIBLE POLY GUARD: If a section of guard rail is always being impacted, it’s a great candidate for flexible systems, which deform on impact, then flex back, and don’t require replacement components as frequently
Depending on what type of equipment used and/or level of protection you require, Vital Valt can help you find the product right for you. We’ll help you plan layouts and provide you with specs and cost comparisons to help you determine the type of rail that works best for you. Contact us now for more information.
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