Safety Nets
Construction · Ver en español
Talking points
- Safety nets must be installed as close under the work surface as practical, and never more than 30 feet below.
- Nets must extend outward from the edge of the work surface: 8 feet for fall distances up to 5 feet, and up to 13 feet for falls of 10 feet or more.
- Drop-test safety nets with a 400-pound sandbag before use and after any repair. The net must catch the bag without contacting any surface below.
- Remove all accumulated debris from safety nets at least weekly or before debris could affect net performance.
- Safety nets are most common in bridge work, high-rise steel erection, and long-duration elevated work where guardrails and PFAS are impractical.
Ask the crew
What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of safety nets compared to guardrails or harnesses?
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.
Run this talk with your crew and keep the record
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Sign-in sheet
Print this page to collect signatures, or run the talk in Jobsite and workers sign in on their phones.
| Name | Signature | Date |
|---|---|---|
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