Living On The Edge: Your Guide To Edge Protection

Heights are not for everyone. Some people enjoy being high above ground while others fear it.

Some people love heights. It’s just another day at work to be working on a roof or in a multi-story building. However, there is a greater chance of things falling or getting hurt from higher heights.

These increased risks mean it is crucial to make sure all corners are covered.

Here are the facts:

What is edge Protection?

Edge protection is a safety measure that prevents people, tools and materials from falling. This covers:

• A perimeter of an elevated work area
• Around openings
• To prevent access to brittle material that cannot support a person

When it’s needed

If your job requires you to work above ground or on raised surfaces,

Protect the edges of any roof. This includes the perimeter of buildings, skylights, or other fragile roof materials.

What it means

There are many options for edge protection, including:

• A proprietary system (engineered):
  • This must be done by someone competent with appropriate training in safe work methods
  • It must be mounted according to manufacturer’s specifications and instructions
  • Rating must be given if the pitch of the roof is less than 25°
  • Roof pitches greater than 25 degrees must be rated. A barrier between the bottom rail and the mid-rail must also be installed to stop anything falling.
• Materials for forming a guardrail or physical barrier
  • Must be installed only by a qualified person
• A temporary edge-protection system is supported by erected scaffolding
  • Mounted by a competent person or a certified scaffolder depending on the scaffold’s height.

Planning for It

Failure to plan is like planning to fail. Edge protection is no exception.

Edge protection is something you should consider when planning your project. Do not wait to create a plan until you are ready.

Consider the risks and how they could impact you, your team and others on-site. Also consider how the installation and removal will affect them.

Proper and thorough planning will reduce the chance of someone getting hurt or causing property damage when working at heights.

Installation

Make sure you have your edge protection in place before you start a job. You should have a clear plan for when edge protection will be required on-site.

Keep everyone informed. Your team and contractors should be informed about when edge protection will be installed, for how long and when it will be taken down.

Checking its Integrity

If edge protection isn’t effective, it’s useless. Edge protection should be:

• It was erected, used, and maintained according to its design information
• Regular inspection by a qualified person
• Inspected following a storm, other weather events, and natural disasters such as an earthquake
• Before use, all defects are removed