Accidents can occur anywhere and at any time. However, the risk of an accident occurring in a work environment with high risks is higher.
Many reports reveal a high rate of work-related injuries, especially in the construction industry. These are the most dangerous jobs that can cause injury. There are steps and ways to reduce the risks associated with hazardous workplaces. It is not surprising that Australian scaffolds are strict in following the standard guidelines for installing fall protection systems.
Australian scaffolds recommend guards and handrails to be the best and most popular choice. It is crucial that workers and employers understand the importance of handrails in the workplace. Employers, as well as workers, must understand the importance of these safety features in providing safety for high-risk jobs.
Safety Tips for Cable Guardrails at Construction Sites
You will see cable guardrails on many construction sites. Although they offer adequate protection at perimeter edges they can sometimes have issues with how they are installed. Risk managers should share the following information with their workers and safety teams. Cable guardrails, if properly designed and maintained can provide fall protection for many situations.
Typically, after the deck has been installed, cable guardrails can be erected in the interior and outside perimeters by ironworkers. Cast-in-place concrete structures will often have wood guardrails replaced by cable guardrails. Controlling contractors can often instruct the contractor who installed the system that the perimeter cables should be left in place until the fall exposure is reduced by setting windows or curtains on walls.
Anyone who installs and maintains a safety railing in construction is strongly advised to be licensed. These systems can be dangerous when they are not correctly maintained or modified during construction.
Most common safety issues that are encountered when performing safety audits on cables guardrails include:
High Deflection or Sagging has turnbuckles that allow for the easy tightening and unwinding of the cable. An alternative is to keep a cord puller and a wire rope grip attached handy so that you can tighten the guardrails.
Minimal or no Flagging: Apply high-visibility adhesive (yellow/orange), to the cable at a minimum distance of 6′.
System Unproperly Terminated: Common issues include wire clip installations backward, inadequate wire rope clips, or improperly spliced cables. The U bolt of the clip should always be applied to the wire rope’s dead end, with the saddle attached to the live end.
Installation Benefits:
You have many advantages to installing a guardrail and a handrail system at work. While the purposes of both systems are distinct, they share the same goal: To prevent an accident from happening.
Here Are Some Reasons to Have a Guardrail at Work
1. Guardrails can be found on roofs, where there are likely to fall. It serves to protect workers and keeps them from unauthorized access.
2. No penetrating security guardrails are great for areas that need temporary protection and restriction. Non-penetrating safeguard rails allow the roof to remain intact while adhering to specified specifications.
3. This handrail system is used to support workers who are trying to climb high places. This will act as secondary protection because workers can use the handrail system to access any safe place that allows them to balance their weight.
4 Guardrail systems also signify and prohibit further entry to high-risk or hazardous zones in a work environment, such as areas in an industrial setting that have large machinery operating.
Takeaway
Construction and industrial workplaces are known for their dangerous, high-risk environments. They are very vulnerable to any potential accident. Employers are required to follow Australian scaffolds guidelines regarding worker safety. It is important to pay attention to guardrails and other handrail systems as they play an integral part in protecting workers and preventing accidents.
