Types of Guardrail Systems

Regardless of whether you are a company owner, contractor, or a construction worker; you will appreciate that occupational safety is vital when it comes to working at height. Obviously, it is of the utmost importance that you choose safety systems for you and/or your operatives that are able to consistently ensure one’s health and well being.

Of course, it is not enough to simply put together a basic safety plan and choose equipment that will provide minimal protection. Rather, you need to be far more comprehensive in your thinking and invest in apparatus that you and your workers can have every confidence in.

Guardrails
When it comes to height-related safety equipment and apparatus, there are few solutions available that are able to provide a more immediate and comprehensive level of protection than guardrails. These protection measures are primarily engineered to ensure commercial and residential contractors have a sturdier guide when they are working at height so they are indeed a vitally important safety feature to have in place. Indeed, these simple yet effective solutions can be used to great effect when it comes to aspects such as projecting perimeter safety, safeguarding elevator shafts, and protecting stairways.

There are many different types of guardrail systems available these days. Below are five of the most significant:

Standard guardrails
Standard guardrails are convenient to install and offer comprehensive protection from the potential threats that exist on a rooftop or similar setting.

Radius guardrails
Radius guardrails are usually either concave or convex in design. They are mainly used for commercial rooftops (although they are also frequently used on the steep sides of roads where greater protection is required).

Freestanding guardrails
A freestanding solution uses an integrated counter balance system to ensure total safety of the working area. Freestanding guardrails are ideal for flat rooftops.

Parapet guardrails
A parapet system is used where optimal protection is needed to bolster the reduced tension of a parapet wall. This is achieved by using a flexible bracket system that ensures the associated handrail remains fixed over the parapet.

Top-fix guardrails
A top-fix solution is a type of lightweight system that is specifically designed to be attached to the top of the parapet walls. These systems can be particularly beneficial where a parapet wall is too low.

When choosing a suitable guardrail system, you must always ensure that you select a solution which is made from high-quality materials and is accredited with the highest safety standards. Unlike sub-standard measures, high-quality guardrails will deliver optimal protection and therefore considerably mitigate the risks of you and/or your aerial workers being injured or consequently, your company being sued.

Without doubt, the risk of accidentally falling from a roof edge can be significantly reduced through the effective use of guardrail protection systems – so, can you or your company really afford to be without them?

To find out more about the many benefits of guardrails and view our outstanding range of products in greater detail; explore our pages further or call 0845 6046890.