WAC 296-155-505
Guardrails, handrails and covers. (1)
General provisions. This part applies to temporary or
emergency conditions where there is danger of employees or
materials falling through floor, roof, or wall openings, or
from stairways, runways, ramps, open sided floors, open sides
of structures, bridges, or other open sided walking or working
surfaces.
(2) The employer shall determine if the walking/working
surfaces on which its employees are to work have the strength
and structural integrity to support employees safely. Employees shall be allowed to work on those surfaces only when
the surfaces have the requisite strength and structural
integrity.
(3) When guardrails or covers required by this section
must be temporarily removed to perform a specific task, the
area shall be constantly attended by a monitor to warn others
of the hazard or shall be protected by a movable barrier.
(4) Guarding of floor openings and floor holes.
(a) Floor openings shall be guarded by a standard railing
and toe boards or cover, as specified in subsections (4)(g)
and (7) of this section. In general, the railing shall be
provided on all exposed sides, except at entrances to
stairways. All vehicle service pits shall have a cover or
removable type standard guardrail. When not in use, pits
shall be covered or guarded. Where vehicle service pits are
to be used again immediately, and the service person is within
a 50 foot distance of the unguarded pit and also within line
of sight of the unguarded pit, the cover or guardrail need not
be replaced between uses. Where vehicle service pits are used
frequently, the perimeters of the pits shall be delineated by
high visibility, luminescent, skid resistant paint. Such
painted delineation shall be kept clean and free of extraneous
materials.
(b) Ladderway floor openings or platforms shall be
guarded by standard railings with standard toe boards on all
exposed sides, except at entrance to opening, with the passage
through the railing either provided with a swinging gate or so
offset that a person cannot walk directly into the opening.
(c) Hatchways and chute floor openings shall be guarded
by one of the following:
(i) Hinged covers of standard strength and construction
and a standard railing with only one exposed side. When the
opening is not in use, the cover shall be closed or the
exposed side shall be guarded at both top and intermediate
positions by removable standard railings;
(ii) A removable standard railing with toe board on not
more than two sides of the opening and fixed standard railings
with toe boards on all other exposed sides. The removable
railing shall be kept in place when the opening is not in use
and shall be hinged or otherwise mounted so as to be
conveniently replaceable.
(d) Wherever there is danger of falling through a
skylight opening, and the skylight itself is not capable of
sustaining the weight of a two hundred pound person with a
safety factor of four, standard guardrails shall be provided
on all exposed sides or the skylight shall be covered in
accordance with (g) of this subsection.
(e) Pits and trap door floor openings shall be guarded by
floor opening covers of standard strength and construction. While the cover is not in place, the pit or trap openings
shall be protected on all exposed sides by removable standard
railings.
(f) Manhole floor openings shall be guarded by standard
covers which need not be hinged in place. While the cover is
not in place, the manhole opening shall be protected by
standard railings.
(g) All floor opening or hole covers shall be capable of
supporting the maximum potential load but never less than two
hundred pounds (with a safety factor of four).
(i) All covers shall be secured when installed so as to
prevent accidental displacement by the wind, equipment, or
employees.
(ii) All covers shall be color coded or they shall be
marked with the word "hole" or "cover" to provide warning of
the hazard.
(iii) If it becomes necessary to remove the cover, a
monitor shall remain at the opening until the cover is
replaced. The monitor shall advise persons entering the area
of the hazard, shall prevent exposure to the fall hazard and
shall perform no other duties.
(h) Floor holes, into which persons can accidentally
walk, shall be guarded by either a standard railing with
standard toe board on all exposed sides, or a floor hole cover
of standard strength and construction that is secured against
accidental displacement. While the cover is not in place, the
floor hole shall be protected by a standard railing.
(5) Guarding of wall openings.
(a) Wall openings, from which there is a drop of more
than four feet, and the bottom of the opening is less than
three feet above the working surface, shall be guarded as
follows:
(i) When the height and placement of the opening in
relation to the working surface is such that either a standard
rail or intermediate rail will effectively reduce the danger
of falling, one or both shall be provided;
(ii) The bottom of a wall opening, which is less than 4
inches above the working surface, regardless of width, shall
be protected by a standard toe board or an enclosing screen
either of solid construction or as specified in subsection
(7)(f)(ii) of this section.
(b) An extension platform, outside a wall opening, onto
which materials can be hoisted for handling shall have
standard guardrails on all exposed sides or equivalent. One
side of an extension platform may have removable railings in
order to facilitate handling materials.
(c) When a chute is attached to an opening, the
provisions of (a) of this subsection shall apply, except that
a toe board is not required.
(6) Guarding of open sided surfaces.
(a) Every open sided floor, platform or surface four feet
or more above adjacent floor or ground level shall be guarded
by a standard railing, or the equivalent, as specified in
subsection (7)(a) of this section, on all open sides, except
where there is entrance to a ramp, stairway, or fixed ladder. The railing shall be provided with a standard toe board
wherever, beneath the open sides, persons can pass, or there
is moving machinery, or there is equipment with which falling
materials could create a hazard.
(b) Runways shall be guarded by a standard railing, or
the equivalent, as specified in subsection (7) of this
section, on all open sides, four feet or more above the floor
or ground level. Wherever tools, machine parts, or materials
are likely to be used on the runway, a toe board shall also be
provided on each exposed side.
(c) Runways used exclusively for special purposes may
have the railing on one side omitted where operating
conditions necessitate such omission, providing the falling
hazard is minimized by using a runway not less than 18 inches
wide.
(d) Where employees entering upon runways become thereby
exposed to machinery, electrical equipment, or other danger
not a falling hazard, additional guarding shall be provided.
(e) Regardless of height, open sided floors, walkways,
platforms, or runways above or adjacent to dangerous
equipment, pickling or galvanizing tanks, degreasing units,
and similar hazards, shall be guarded with a standard railing
and toe board.
(f) Open sides of gardens, patios, recreation areas and
similar areas located on roofs of buildings or structures
shall be guarded by permanent standard railings or the
equivalent. Where a planting area has been constructed
adjacent to the open sides of the roof and the planting area
is raised above the normal walking surface of the roof area,
the open side of the planting area shall also be protected
with standard railings or the equivalent.
(7) Standard specifications.
(a) A standard railing shall consist of top rail,
intermediate rail, toe board, and posts, and shall have a
vertical height of forty-two inches (1.1 m) plus or minus
three inches (8 cm) (39-45 inches) from upper surface of top
rail to floor, platform, runway, or ramp level. When
conditions warrant, the height of the top edge may exceed the
forty-five-inch height, provided the guardrail system meets
all other criteria of this subsection. The intermediate rail
shall be halfway between the top rail and the floor, platform,
runway, or ramp. The ends of the rails shall not overhang the
terminal posts except where such overhang does not constitute
a projection hazard.
Note:
When employees are using stilts, the top edge height of the top rail, or equivalent member, shall be increased an
amount equal to the height of the stilts.
(b) Minimum requirements for standard railings under
various types of construction are specified in the following
items:
(i) For wood railings, the posts shall be of at least two
inch by four inch stock spaced not to exceed 8 feet; the top
rail shall be of at least two inch by four inch stock and each
length of lumber shall be smooth surfaced throughout the
length of the railing. The intermediate rail shall be of at
least one inch by six inch stock.
(ii) For pipe railings, posts and top and intermediate
railings shall be at least 1 1/2 inches nominal OD diameter
with posts spaced not more than eight feet on centers.
(iii) For structural steel railings, posts and top and
intermediate rails shall be of two inch by two inch by 3/8
inch angles or other metal shapes of equivalent bending
strength, with posts spaced not more than eight feet on
centers.
(iv) For wire rope railings, the top and intermediate
railings shall be at least 1/2 inch fibre core rope, or the
equivalent to meet strength factor and deflection of (b)(v) of
this subsection. Posts shall be spaced not more than eight
feet on centers. The rope shall be stretched taut, so as to
present a minimum deflection.
(v) The anchoring of posts and framing of members for
railings of all types shall be of such construction that the
completed structure shall be capable of withstanding a load of
at least 200 pounds applied in any direction at any point on
the top rail, with a minimum of deflection.
(vi) Railings receiving heavy stresses from employees
trucking or handling materials shall be provided additional
strength by the use of heavier stock, closer spacing of posts,
bracing, or by other means.
(vii) Other types, sizes, and arrangements of railing
construction are acceptable, provided they meet the following
conditions:
(A) A smooth surfaced top rail at a height above floor,
platform, runway, or ramp level of between thirty-nine inches
and forty-five inches;
(B) When the 200-pound (890N) test load specified in
subsection (6)(b)(v) of this section is applied in a downward
direction, the top edge of the guardrail shall not deflect to
a height less than thirty-nine inches (1.0m) above the
walking/working level. Guardrail system components selected
and constructed in accordance with this part will be deemed to
meet this requirement;
(C) Protection between top rail and floor, platform,
runway, ramp, or stair treads, equivalent at least to that
afforded by a standard intermediate rail;
(D) Elimination of overhang of rail ends unless such
overhang does not constitute a hazard.
(c)(i) A standard toe board shall be nine inches minimum
in vertical height from its top edge to the level of the
floor, platform, runway, or ramp. It shall be securely
fastened in place and have not more than 1/4 inch clearance
above floor level. It may be made of any substantial
material, either solid, or with openings not over 1 inch in
greatest dimension.
(ii) Where material is piled to such height that a
standard toe board does not provide protection, paneling, or
screening from floor to intermediate rail or to top rail shall
be provided.
(d) Floor opening covers shall be of any material that
meets the following strength requirements:
(i) Conduits, trenches, and manhole covers and their
supports, when located in roadways, and vehicular aisles shall
be designed to carry a truck rear axle load of at least two
times the maximum intended load;
(ii) All floor opening covers shall be capable of
supporting the maximum potential load but never less than two
hundred pounds (with a safety factor of four).
(A) All covers shall be secured when installed so as to
prevent accidental displacement by the wind, equipment, or
employees.
(B) All covers shall be color coded or they shall be
marked with the word "hole" or "cover" to provide warning of
the hazard.
(C) If it becomes necessary to remove the cover, a
monitor shall remain at the opening until the cover is
replaced. The monitor shall advise persons entering the area
of the hazard, shall prevent exposure to the fall hazard and
shall perform no other duties.
(e) Skylight openings that create a falling hazard shall
be guarded with a standard railing, or covered in accordance
with (d)(ii) of this subsection.
(f) Wall opening protection shall meet the following
requirements:
(i) Barriers shall be of such construction and mounting
that, when in place at the opening, the barrier is capable of
withstanding a load of at least 200 pounds applied in any
direction (except upward), with a minimum of deflection at any
point on the top rail or corresponding member.
(ii) Screens shall be of such construction and mounting
that they are capable of withstanding a load of at least 200
pounds applied horizontally at any point on the near side of
the screen. They may be of solid construction of grill work
with openings not more than eight inches long, or of slat work
with openings not more than four inches wide with length
unrestricted.