Guardrail Systems
Construction and general industry · Ver en español
Talking points
- Top rails must be 42 inches high (plus or minus 3 inches) and able to withstand 200 pounds of force applied in any outward or downward direction.
- Midrails are required and must be installed halfway between the top rail and the walking surface — approximately 21 inches high.
- Toeboards at least 3.5 inches high are required where materials could fall from the platform onto workers below.
- Wire rope guardrails are acceptable if flagged every 6 feet with visible material and tensioned to prevent more than 3 inches of deflection.
- Never lean against a guardrail as a backrest or use it to support heavy loads — guardrails are designed to arrest a fall, not to bear working loads.
Ask the crew
If you noticed a guardrail that was loose or wobbly, what would you do before continuing work in that area?
Standards this talk is built on
A toolbox talk is a short safety briefing. It supports the training a standard requires; it does not replace it.
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Sign-in sheet
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| Name | Signature | Date |
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