What Is Edge Protection and When Is It Required?

17 Aug What Is Edge Protection and When Is It Required?

Whether you work in roofing, construction, or any other role that requires you to work at heights, protection is essential. It aims to minimise the risk of falling, helping you and others nearby to remain as safe as possible. But what is edge protection, and when do you need to use it?

This article explains what edge protection is, discusses the different types, and explains when you need to use it. For personalised advice, contact our team at Australian Height Safety Services today.

What is Edge Protection?

Edge protection is designed to minimise the risk of workers falling from heights. It’s named this because it’s used at the edges of the structure being worked on, typically rooftops and buildings such as train stations, football stadiums, and warehouses.

Edge protection may be used on almost any structure where people will be working at heights. However, some buildings may not be able to accommodate edge protection.

Types of Edge Protection

Edge protection looks different depending on the type used. These are:

1. Collapsible Guardrail and Handrail

Collapsible guardrails and handrails are often used when the aim is to preserve a building’s architectural integrity while still ensuring safety and compliance. This is because they take aesthetics into account as well as safety, keeping a building’s facade intact as much as possible. When not in use, they can be folded and kept out of sight thanks to their functional hinged bracket system. As such, they’re typically used when working on historic and heritage-listed structures. They’re also commonly used for temporary protection and when other machinery or equipment is in use in the same area.

2. Fixed Guardrail and Handrail

This type of edge protection is fixed to parapets, providing a reliable, 24/7 barrier. This means that workers are able to safely access their work at any time, such as in an emergency or for any other unplanned work. They’re typically adjustable in height and able to be used with any roof type, and may come with additional features such as self-closing swing gates, access ladders, and more.

3. Freestanding Guardrail and Handrail

Freestanding guardrails and handrails provide a safety system that doesn’t penetrate the roof surface, keeping the roof’s structural integrity intact. They’re adaptable and versatile as they can be easily moved to meet your needs, and allow you to add additional elements as required. Using counterbalance design, freestanding guardrails and handrails are weighted enough to minimise the risk of falls, but are still moveable.

When is Edge Protection Required?

It’s a wise decision to use edge protection when working at heights, regardless of whether or not it is a legal requirement.

In NSW, it must be used whenever it’s possible that a person could fall two or more metres, whether from scaffolding, stairs, landings, or another flat edge more than two metres high. It should also be used wherever practical to prevent falls through fragile surfaces such as skylights and polycarbonate sheeting.

The requirements for edge protection may differ between states and the specific job and its premises, so ensure you check these before beginning work.

The Benefits of Edge Protection

Working from heights with edge protection in place ensures that you’ve implemented a robust fall protection system. Benefits include:

• Helping to prevent accidental falls— Accidents may happen on any worksite, so it’s crucial to do everything you can to mitigate this risk. Falls may result in serious injury or even death, and may lead to legal consequences.
• Minimising workplace injuries— Minimising injury to yourself or your workers means you’ll likely be able to get the job done on time, ensuring productivity and efficiency.
• Easy installation— Easy installation ensures you can get to work quickly.
• Regulation compliance— Using edge protection is often a legal requirement, and using it provides peace of mind that you’ve covered your legal bases.
• Enhanced safety culture— Showing you’re willing to invest in edge protection demonstrates your commitment to safety, helping workers and customers to trust you.

Interested in Edge Protection?

Edge protection is one of the safest and cost-effective safety systems for working at heights. At Australian Height Safety Services, our aim is to minimise the risk of accidents and enhance your worksite safety. Whether you’re looking for collapsible, fixed, or freestanding edge protection, we offer solid and sturdy guardrails for many types of roofs and platform contours. To find out more, contact us today.

FOR MORE INFORMATIONON OUR HEIGHT SAFETY SERVICES
1300 941 211