Fall Protection Blog

The Importance of Double Tie Off Lanyards

2013-05-08T19:20:05Z

One of the most versatile pieces of fall protection equipment is the double tie off lanyard, also known as the Y-lanyard. This new breed of lanyard has become a popular choice among safety professionals in recent years. The Y-lanyard attaches two lanyard legs to a shock absorber and snap hook, which can allow for workers to move horizontally from one area to another while being continuously attached.

Advantages of using Y-lanyards

Ability to bypass obstructions while remaining attached
Avoidance of attaching two separate lanyard snap hooks to a single harness D-ring
A one-piece device with easy handling
Has one shock absorber for both legs
The second leg can be stowed to avoid dragging or hanging when attached

Why Double Tie Off Lanyards are so Important

Recently a high steel rigger fell to his death at the AT&T Center Arena in San Antonio, TX while striking a show at 2:00 AM. Witnesses said he had detached himself from the fall safety line while repositioning himself and lost his footing while moving around a beam. A late load-out can be dangerous as fatigue can play a factor in clarity of thought and situational awareness.

The rigger was identified as Dean Williams, 44, from Houston, Texas. He leaves behind a wife and 3 month old daughter.

Accidents like this can be avoided if you wear a double tie off lanyard.

Y-Lanyard Safety Features:

Reduced Fall Risk - Lanyards are designed to reduce the impact from a fall. They come in a variety of features. They may be single or double leg, shock absorbing, self retracting, and fall restraint. By adding a second leg to the device, there is a reduced risk of falling.
Constant Attachment - A worker using this device can be constantly attached to an anchorage point.
Bypass of Obstructions - Since both legs of the double tie-off Y-lanyard are utilized, a worker can maneuver around obstacles easily without having to detached and risk falling.

Reminders on the Use of the Y Lanyard

The snap hook at the Y lanyard's stem should always be attached to the harness attachment or D-ring.
One should not try to extend the lanyard's reach by attaching a leg to the harness and the other end to the anchor. This will just result to greater fall distances that may cause serious injury or even worse, death.
The leg of the lanyard that is not in use should only be connected to the harness' attachment points, which have only been approved by its manufacture for its intended use. This unused leg should not be parked in the harness D-rings. This can add to the body's load in case of an accidental fall.
While in use, the y lanyard or any lanyard for that matter should not be passed between legs, around the neck or under the arms.

Conclusion

Serious injuries and death from falls can be minimized if employers will practice strict safety measures in a workplace. Falls can efficiently be prevented by means of double tie off lanyards that come with additional protection.

Do People Really Die from Falling through Skylights? YES!

2013-05-07T16:21:42Z

A man named Joe, who worked for the same roofing company for 25 years, fell through the skylight pictured above to his death. He was not wearing any fall protection and the skylight was not protected in any way. California's Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) put together this short video to honor Joe's life to remind us all that safety is not about statistics, but about real people who do not go home at the end of the day. On average 16 people die at work every day in the United States. That number is too high! This video will inspire you to work safer in any environment, but especially on roofs, working around unprotected skylights.

This Could Have Been Prevented with Skylight Fall Protection

As the video points out there are several types of fall protection available for protecting skylights.

Skylight Screens

The most popular skyilight fall protection option is the skylight screen. The skylight screen is designed to connect to the outside of the skylight and form a protective barrier when people trip or fall into the skylight. The screen will prevent the worker from falling through the skylight, saving their life and protecting them from a potentially fatal fall.

Skylight Guardrail

Another option for protecting a skylight is to use a guardrail system that forms a protective boundary around the skylight screen. Skylight guardrail, like Kee Dome, is designed to be non-penetrating so it will not cause any problems with the roof.

Further options, such as temporary weighted anchor points are available for the contractor who has to access the roof in many locations on a limited basis.

Connect with our solutions team to learn more about skylight fall protection solutions.

How Do I Find the Appropriate OSHA Regulations for My Industry?

2013-05-01T20:22:30Z

OSHA regulations can be tricky. There are regulations that apply to specific industries and others that apply to any type of workplace that meets certain criteria. Since the wording of some regulations is vague or imprecise, there are often interpretations of the regulations and exceptions to know about, too.

So how do you know which OSHA regulations apply to your business? Here are some steps to follow to get to the right place.

Does your state have its own OSHA program or does federal OSHA have jurisdiction in your state? About half of the states in the U.S. administer their own OSHA programs. Federal OSHA enforces its own regulations in the remaining states. Go to www.osha.gov to see which states enforce their own plans.
If you are in a ‘state-plan state,’ find the state OSHA’s web site. Nearly all of the state OSHA programs have their regulations online. If you are in a federal OSHA state, stay at www.osha.gov and go to the Regulations page. The online resources available are abundant.
What is your company's industry? That can make a difference in which regulations apply to you. In California, for example, which is a state plan state, there are different “trigger heights” for fall protection that depend on the industry and even the construction trade.

For Example: California framers on certain construction jobs are not required to use fall protection until they get above 15’; roofers have a 20’ trigger height and ironworkers, with some exceptions, have a 30’ trigger height. However, non-construction worksites have a trigger height of only 7 1/2’. Some exceptions and additional requirements that may apply.
Before reading the regulations from beginning to end, check your OSHA web site for publications about the safety area you are concerned about (e.g. fall protection, hazardous materials). If one exists it will probably summarize the agency’s regulations in plain English and give references to the actual regulations.
Joining a local meet up or safety council as well as attending a safety conference such as national shows hosted by ASSE and NSC are great ways to learn, and connect.
Ask a safety product sales team member, the knowledge they have is an invaluable resource. They spend hours researching products that apply to your industry and will often provide extensive knowledge because they want your business.

Once you have identified the agency that regulates you and found any publications that explain the regulations, it’s time to start looking through the regulations themselves. First check the section and chapter of the regulation before you start reading. If the regulation is specific to an industry it will say so. For example, fall protection requirements located in the construction standards cannot be applied to general industry.

Finally, many regulations have a “scope and application section.” If the scope and application don’t fit your company or situation, move on.

How High Does a Roof Parapet Need to Be?

2013-04-23T19:42:55Z

In order for a roof parapet to provide adequate fall protection, a roof parapet should be at least 42" in height. Unfortunately, many buildings get close to this height without quite meeting the height required by OSHA to provide fall protection. There are several solutions to help you raise the height of your parapet that are cost-effective and aesthetically pleasing.

Here are several solutions if you find yourself in a situation where your parapet does not meet the fall protection height requirement.

1. Raise the Parapet Height with a Railing

This is the simplest solution. If you can penetrate your roof parapet, there are several roof parapet railing solutions. We offer railings that attach to the top of the parapet or the outside of the building. Find our more about these types of railings on our roof parapet railing page.

2. Install a Non-Penetrating Full-Height Railing

If penetrating the outside of the wall is not an option, a freestanding, non-penetrating railing can be used to keep people back to from the roof edge. Find out more about KeeGuard, our non-penetrating roof railing.

3. Use Temporary Parapet Railing Clamps to Build a Railing

If you only require temporary access to a roof with a lower parapet, then parapet clamps are a cost-effective option. The clamps are designed to clamp onto the roof parapet. The railing is then formed by inserting 2x4s between the clamps to form a safe, temporary barrier. Click here to find out more about temporary parapet railing brackets.

Whatever the situation you find yourself in, reach out to our trained sales staff. They can recommend products and help you understand the benefits of the different parapet railing solutions that are available.

How Do You Make People More Safety Conscious?

2013-04-12T18:54:34Z

When it comes to safety, it may seem like a no-brainer that those who have OSHA to guide them would not become complacent. However, for those who work in the construction or warehousing fields, it does not work like that.

Workers need regular reminders about safety so that accidents do not occur as often. With some simple implementations, the idea of being safe will always be on their minds.

Even Marines Forget About Safety

Combat engineers are an important part of the Marine Corps' operations. A good friend of mine was telling me, though, that back in 2005 when he was in Fallujah, they had a workplace accident.

The platoon was clearing debris into a 7-ton truck and began making a game of launching it from 50 feet away, not knowing that a fellow lance corporal was on the side of the truck. A piece of 2"x4" missed the truck and hit him in the head, cutting him.

It was a needless non-combat injury, further proving the importance of being safe.

How Many Days Since the Last Accident?

One of the best ways to have a regular reminder about safety is to set goals for how many days a team can go without a workplace incident. When certain benchmarks are met, such as a month, 50 days, 100 days, and so on, there should be a celebration. Perhaps the team can get out of work an hour early, get creative!

This needs to be implemented with a visual reminder so that people can see it. When the day is over and it has been without accidents, a team member should be asked to change the number so as to reinforce the good day that was just had.

Safety Awards

Recognition goes a long way in the workplace. When a person does something exceptional, whether it is revising a safety program, taking on extra responsibilities, or finding a defect in a piece of machinery, they need to be publicly rewarded. A plaque, a gift card, or even a trophy can accompany this reward.

This inspires safety and lets people on the team know that they are truly valuable. There are few times that people are recognized, and when they save lives, they need to know that the leadership of the team recognizes their contributions.

Incentives for being safe can be a touchy subject, check out this active discussion on LinkedIn.

Encourage Open Communication

Open communication with safety managers and co-workers is essential to create a safety conscious work environment. Employees need to know they can come to management without fear of retribution to report violations of safety procedure.

When workers are encouraged to communicate about safety they begin to take an actionable approach to workplace safety. This keeps safety at the forefront of their minds.

Ten Questions Every Construction Safety Professional Should Ask

2013-03-29T16:22:34Z

Safety is a big issue on construction sites. The ways in which serious accidents can occur are countless, thanks to the nature of construction. Federal OSHA’s statistics show that of the roughly 4,600 fatal work-related accidents in the U.S. in 2011, the most recent year for which data is available, 721 of them occurred on construction sites. This doesn’t even count the thousands of non-fatal accidents that can change an employee’s life forever.

What can safety professionals do to promote construction safety and prevent serious accidents from occurring on their job sites? Certainly having the support of management to have a safety-minded culture and having the proper safety equipment for employees to use are indispensable. Assuming those are already in place, here are some questions that the construction safety professional can ask to constantly improve safety on their job sites.

What have I done today to make my job site safer?
Are the employees working here today using the safety equipment that they have been provided?
Have I talked to any workers in the past two days to learn another thing about safety on this job?
Has anything changed on the job site since yesterday that introduces a new hazard that wasn’t here yesterday?
Have I walked the job site today looking for unsafe behavior or equipment?
Am I willing to take action against employees who continually behave in an unsafe manner in order to keep them and the people working with them safe?
Have I talked to my boss lately about safety issues on this job site?
When was the last time I checked the OSHA regulations to make sure there are no new requirements that affect my employer’s job sites?
Do employees feel that they can come to me about safety concerns so that they don’t “drop a dime” on my employer with OSHA?
Have I done what I promised others that I would do to take care of potential safety hazards on this job site?

Everyone says that safety is their number one priority on their job sites, but on at least 721 job sites in 2011 something went wrong. Even if employees have their own responsibility for safety on the job, it’s the safety professional’s job to make sure that those words get translated into action.

How to be a Safety Leader in the Workplace

2013-03-22T17:38:33Z

Workplace safety is not just important because of legal and liability reasons, but having healthy and happy workers should be a top priority for an employer. Below are some ways to be a great safety leader in your workplace.

Push Sick Time Usage – It may sound crazy to promote workers’ using their sick time, but many times employees show up to work with contagious viruses and serious health conditions. This puts everyone in the office at risk. From a health perspective, it is better to allow these employees to stay home and take the day off, or allow them to work from home. Of course, this should only be for legitimate illnesses!
Daily Cleaning and Maintenance – One of the leading causes of work-related injuries is slips and falls. Be a daily monitor for any shared spaces in the workplace to ensure trash, spills and unsafe obstacles are cleaned up or removed in a timely manner. The likelihood of an accident is reduced a great amount by keeping the place clean and orderly.
Securing Your Workplace – Another good way to limit unauthorized individuals from entering your workplace is with security check-ins or key card access. Providing a safe and secure entry to work will give you and your employee’s better peace of mind when working.
Prepare for Emergencies - Believe it or not, about 90 percent of cardiac arrest victims die on their way to the hospital or before they reach the hospital. Having emergency equipment in the office, such as a defibrillator, can help save a person’s life.
Get Informed - It is your employer’s responsibility to ensure that you are informed of and have access to all relevant safety standards for your industry. Don’t make assumptions that you are being told everything you need to know.
Stay Equipped - Keep your safety equipment in good order and up to date.
Be an Agent of Culture Change - the wrong attitudes about safety can be infectious. Use your influence to emphasize the importance of safety and everyone going home safe and happy at the end of every day.
Set an Example - the first principal of any leadership role is to practice what you preach.
Be Your Brother’s Keeper - If you see someone who is going to do something foolish, speak a word to them. They may harass you about it, but you’ll both be glad at the end of the day for watching out for your co-worker.
Safety Training and Drills - Be a leader by promoting and training all employees so that they can administer life-saving techniques. Knowing how to give CPR and how to perform the Heimlich maneuver can come in very handy in an emergency. By the time it takes for emergency personnel to reach your business, a life could be saved by you or one of your own employees if they are properly trained. You should take the time as a leader to train employees on evacuation and emergency procedures as well.

Additionally, you should make sure that you and all employees know the Occupation Health and Safety Act (OSHA) so that you remain compliant with the guidelines. This will keep employees safer and reduce liability in the office.

10 Ways to Communicate Safety Standards Throughout Your Company

2013-03-18T00:00:37Z

Employee safety should be a top priority in any company. Apart from the obvious heartache associated with worker deaths and injuries, workers who are injured on the job could sue the company for financial damages. They may also be less productive when they do return to work. Therefore, it is important that employers effectively communicate safety standards to every employee.

Send An Email or Newsletter – if your employees have a company email address, make sure that everyone gets an email outlining safety standards at least once a month. Another way is mailing a newsletter to the address of every employee; you can include one with their paystub as well.
Post Signage Throughout The Workplace – Place a sign where employees punch in, in break rooms, around equipment and wherever else employees frequently congregate. Be creative and use video and other mediums to help reinforce standards.
Take Pictures Of Safe Actions – A picture is worth a thousand words! Make it perfectly clear what the expectations are by taking pictures of employees demonstrating these actions. Include these in your newsletters and emails.
Hold Meetings (Toolbox Talks)- To ensure that everyone is getting the message, hold small-group meetings that are mandatory for all employees. Make Toolbox Talks a part of the daily routine to review and discuss safety standards.
Require Appropriate Training- If you send people out untrained, you are communicating that safety doesn't matter. People learn more from the workplace culture than from the signs that are posted. Create a culture of safety in the workplace by properly training your employees.
Safety Comment Cards- Encourage employees to hold each other accountable and spot unexpected hazards by providing safety comment cards. You could also include a form on your company’s Intranet to make it easier for people to access.
Make It Part Of The Employee Review Process- If an employee is not being safe, it should be brought up at their next performance review. Likewise, you should reward people who are working safety.
Don't Skimp on the Safety Gear Budget- Communicate priority in your safety budget. If you are buying the cheapest safety harnesses and glasses, no wonder people don’t want to wear them! Put an emphasis on safety by buying quality gear that people will want to wear.
Routine Safety Checks- Supervisors should walk around the premises on a regular basis to do fall safety checks. No one should be exempt from the safety standards implemented by the company. Employees who break these rules should be warned and then sent home if the behavior does not change.
Share Case Studies or Incident Reports- Put the reality behind the need for safety, by sharing events about real people who have been affected by insufficient safety measures.

These 10 tips can help your company establish coherent safety message and increase fall safety awareness in your organization. The good news is that these are easy tips to follow and implement in your company. While it may take some time for everyone to learn and follow the rules, putting some of these ideas into practice will help to create a safer work environment for everyone.

How Can Contractors Working at Height be Kept Safer?

2013-03-11T19:23:52Z

Excuses, excuses, excuses, that's what we hear from residential and commercial contractors that fail to comply with fall protection policies and standards. In 2011, 251 out of 721 worker fatalities were the result of falls. It's time to stop making excuses and start making the changes.

Great solutions for protecting workers?

Regulations for residential and commercial contractors are getting tightened each year; companies must take action to protect their workers. By staying up to date and knowledgeable about fall protection policy and the latest equipment, they can prevent workplace fatalities and costly lawsuits.

Anytime a worker has to compromise safety to work it is a problem. Also performing work at heights always has risk …yet the work needs to get done. The real question is how do you get this work completed without putting your employees in danger of a fall. - Mike Mumau, President, Kee Safety – North America

Here Are A Few Ideas to Promote Contractor Safety

Rally Education – Safety seminars and classes can dramatically increase the outcome of what happens on a jobsite. By promoting safety education, workers will rally behind you, especially since your primary concerns are for their safety.
Improve Efficiency with New Equipment – If workers know they can complete a job on time and budget without compromising their safety they will pay more attention to the rules and regulations. For example, Easi-Dec, an easy to assemble work platform with guardrail, adds efficiency while keeping workers safe.
Provide Accountability – As an employer it's your duty to make sure your workers are safe. Just telling people to be safe is one thing, but making it your priority to ensure that your employees are safe is another. If safety is important to you, it's more likely that it will be important to those in your charge.
Fool Proof Fall Protection Equipment - Most contractors are constrained by budgets and the project timeline. Every second counts on the jobsite and equipment makes a huge difference. With traditional ladders and scaffolding, lots of time and effort is put into setting up and not into getting the job completed. The result is that corners get cut, resulting in non-compliance and increased work-site hazards. New products like Easi-Dec solve this issue by adding safety railing; making the ladder and scaffolding system safer and more efficient.

Implementing some of these measures will help ensure greater safety for contractors on site. Make it your duty to help protect the people that your work with. Safety is everyone's business!

Railing Needed for Rooftop OSHA Violation [Before & After]

2013-03-07T20:51:52Z

It happens to the best of us! Your inspecting the work site and you discover an issue of non-compliance. This is what happened to a recent customer. They had four spots on their roof that were clear OSHA violations. OSHA requires that workers exposed to a fall hazard MUST have fall protection. Industry standard says that protection must be in place for anyone working within 15 feet of the roof edge. The best solution, and the simplest, is to install roof edge guard railing around the trouble spots to eliminate the fall hazard completely.

A member of our staff flew to site an met with the customer to consult about the rooftop railing arrangement. We helped identify the areas of the roof that absolutely required fall protection railing. For budgetary purposes, they could only apply protection where it was absolutely necessary. Our sale engineer identified four key areas that are pictured in this blog post. Each section shows a before and after of the section that was being protected with KeeGuard roof edge railing.

The customer was very pleased with the speed of delivery and the service that was provided. They were able to assemble the railing on site very quickly and advert a problem with OSHA. Here's what he had to say about our service:

We had an OSHA issue that needed a fast response. Dan helped guide me along the way - even flying 1/2 way across the country to first hand review the project. Once on site, in only took 20 minutes for myself and an operator to clearly understand the assembly of the system. We proceeded to install 4 sections of railing totaling 168 feet with 4 men in 2 days.

What's the moral of this cautionary tale? Don't wait till OSHA shows up at your door step to ensure that the proper fall protection measures are in place. Our customer was interested in protecting their workers and took proactive steps to keep people safe! (Way to go Bob!)

We recognize that surprises do happen, so the secondary lesson is this: if you get a surprise from OSHA, Simplified Safety has your back. Call our sales engineers and we will work closely with your team to provide the best fall protection solution that fits your budget and satisfies the fall protection criteria.

What are the Different Types of Fall Protection for the Construction Industry?

2013-03-04T18:23:46Z

Fall protection is a topic that has several facets. Federal OSHA and state regulations on fall safety now demand better and more secure options for worker protection against falls. Government safety agencies are continually holding seminars; they also issue guidelines for employers on standards and methods of proper fall protection.

In the construction industry, it’s the employer’s duty to prevent falls by maintaining a safe work environment through proper fall protection education, equipment, and training. We suggest that employers read through the fall protection regulations and directives for your state as well as taking a competent training course.

Categories of Fall Protection

All active fall protection for the construction industry falls into four basic categories: fall arrest, positioning, suspension, and retrieval. OSHA provides standards for each category of fall protection. Here are some basic explanations and links to each set of standards

Functional Systems of Fall Protection

Fall Arrest – OSHA 1926.502(d) Fall arrest systems are required whenever a worker is exposed to a fall hazard. OSHA generally defines a fall hazard as a drop of 6’ or more from a working/walking surface to a lower level or grade. Some exceptions exist, including (but not limited to) ladders, scaffolding, and steelwork.. Common fall arrest equipment includes an anchor point, body harness, and connector (such as a lanyard or self retracting lifeline).
Positioning – OSHA 1926.502(e) Positioning systems allow the worker to “sit back” in their harness while performing work with both hands. This type of protection is not designed to be used to arrest a fall, and must be used in conjunction with a fall arrest system.
Retrieval – OSHA 502(d)(20) Otherwise known as a rescue plan, retrieval is a crucial step in the development of a fall protection plan. This system covers the post fall scenario of retrieving a worker who has fallen. OSHA does not give any instruction regarding how to accomplish this, but does say that there must be a plan in place.
Suspension – OSHA 1926.452(o) Suspension equipment systems are able to lower and support the worker providing for a hands free work environment. This system is widely utilized by window washers and painters; a fall arrest system to must be used alongside the suspension system.

If the fall risk is outside the range covered in the above categories there are other types of equipment that may be used to protect workers from falls. Technology is constantly allowing for better and safer methods to perform the same work. Call us to discuss the many options we have to help you work safely.

Top 10 Rooftop Safety Hazards

2013-02-21T17:33:45Z

Roof Stability - Is th roof strong enough to support the weight of a human. Are the trusses intact? Will the roof bow on a hot day? Check the underlayment before going onto the roof.
Ladder Security & Placement - Is the ladder secure and at a 4:1 angle, are the feet secure, the top above the roofline and tied securely. A number of fatalities occur each year because of a poorly placed ladder.
Weather Conditions - Ice, snow, and wind are always a hazard on a roof if the shingles or other surfaces are slippery. Membrane roofs are especially slippery in wet conditions and should be avoided under these circumstnaces.
Roof Holes - Unguarded skylights and poorly covered holes. Without fall protection, an open hole on a roof can be just as deadly as the roof edge.
Edge Awareness - Losing the edge of the roof can be a problem when you are enganged in roof work. Some employees get so wrapped up in their project that they forget where the roof edge is.
Improper Training - If there is someone on the roof who has not been properly traineds, they are a rooftop safety hazard and could cause serious injury to themselves or others.
Improper Use of Fall Protection Equipment - Such as: poorly anchored railing, lanyard too long, or weak tie-off point.
Poor Line of Sight - Ridge vents, chimneys, shingle bundles may block egress on a roof.
Pitch - The steeper the roof is, the easier the fall. Ensure that the fall protection and shingle bundles are secure before setting foot on the roof.
Split Level Roofs & Fall Heights - Employees engaged in roofing activities on low-slope and split level roofs with unprotected sides and edges 6 feet (1.8 meters) or more above lower levels should have the proper fall protection equipment.

Rooftop safety is the responsibility of every person involved in the project. The hazards are always there, but identifying them and adhering to the use of fall protection can avoid a lot of injuries and deaths. When wearing a harness, make sure the lanyard is the right length. If the lanyard is six feet long fully stretched and your shoulder height is five feet, the fall needs to be more than twelve feet for the fall protection to work. Make sure that railing and skylight guards are in place. A lot of accidents occur when there is not a clear line of sight to the hazard and you could fall through the hole. This accident occurs most frequently when snow covers the skylight and goes unnoticed.

One of the deadliest hazards on a roofing project is a poorly placed ladder. Either the angle is wrong (1 foot away from the wall for every four feet of ladder height) or the top of the ladder is not securely pinned to the roof. OSHA has several reports of people climbing a ladder with a bundle on their shoulder and the center of gravity change caused the ladder to fall. The worker falls backwards and the bundle is the cause of the injury, not the ladder swing. Ensure that the feet are firmly planted on the ground and the ladder is square to the wall it is facing.

Regardless of the situation, fall protection should always be used and a working knowledge of the PPE (personal protective equipment) will save lives. The top ten list was comprised from fatalities in the workplace with detailed reports on the OSHA website.

Kee Lite Smooth Aluminum Railing

2013-01-04T16:29:53Z

There is a new generation of railing that is emerging from Kee Safety: Kee Lite Smooth Aluminum Railing. As it's name indicates, there is now a way to build smooth aluminum railing with a modular, component based system. Kee Lite Smooth features a railing surface that is smooth to the touch. Such railing is helpful when designing and building ADA railings as well as railing for the wastewater treatment industry. Many of the features that are gained from using a fittings based system apply to the Kee Lite Smooth railing system.

Kee Lite Smooth - Ideal for the Wastewater Industry

We have always been able to provide aluminum railing systems, but those railings were standard railings built with slip-on fittings. The wastewater treatment standards call for the use of smooth railing. Kee Lite Smooth fills this niche and offers a modular, smooth aluminum railing that meets water treatment railing standards. Aluminum is corrosion resistant making it an extremely durable railing in the moisture rich environment.

Get a Project Quote

If you would like a quote for a Kee Lite Smooth railing system, begin by contacting our sales team. They can work with existing drawings or assist in the design process. Click here to contact us.

Cross posted from Simplified Building

Pallet Gates for Work Platforms [Case Study]

2012-12-05T15:24:46Z

Pallet Gates are typically found on mezzanines, but they can be used in other industrial applications. This pallet gate was used on a work platform that was built around an industrial mixing platform. The pallet gate allows for items to be lifted onto the platform (e.g. pallets of materials to be put into the mixer) while at the same time providing safe access to the people working on the platform.

These pallet gates were installed onto an existing work platform with the addition of fall protection railing. OSHA requires that general industry employees working at a height greater than four feet have adequate fall protection. Adding safety railing and pallet gates to these work platforms brought the system into compliance and provided a safer working area for employees.

Pallet gates are special safety gates that open only from the outside. This allows pallets and other items to be pushed into the working area with a fork lift. The gates do not swing in the outward direction. Pallet gates come in two standard sizes, but custom options are available. To find out more about our pallet and mezzanine gates, please visit this page: Pallet Gates

Roof Railing - OSHA Compliant & Non-Penetrating Guardrail

2012-11-30T16:16:43Z

Putting a railing on a roof comes with a number of distinct issues. KeeGuard roof railing has number of benefits that will help you to address these issues.

Issue 1: Do Not Penetrate the Roof Membrane

A roof has one distinct purpose, to keep the weather out of your building. The last thing you want to do is put a hole in what is supposed to be keeping water, wind, heat and cold on the outside. Roof railing that penetrates the roof will only cause you more headaches in the long run. The solution is KeeGuard roof railing. KeeGuard uses a counter-balanced system to hold the railing in place. The result is that the railing will not penetrate the roof membrane.

Issue 2: Ensure that it is Safe / OSHA Compliant

In order for a roof railing to be effective in preventing a fall, it must be able to resist the loads as laid out in OSHA 1926. OSHA says that the top rail of the railing must be able to resist 200 lbs of point load without deflecting. KeeGuard roof railing exceeds this requirements and has the test documents to prove it. Each roof railing system is designed by a sales engineer to ensure the highest level of safety. Do not entrust your employee safety and business liability to mere claims! Get the testing data.

Issue 3: Navigating Roof Obstacles

Most roofs were not designed with railing in mind. There are often obstacles on the rooftop that make the installation of railing difficult. KeeGuard uses modular fittings and standard pipe that make it easy to navigate obstacles that are located on the rooftop. Whether it is a ventilation duct that extends over the edge of the roof or a piece of equipment that installed close to the roof edge, KeeGuard roof railing can be used to protect workers who are accessing these areas.

Issue 4: Keep the Architects Happy - Make it Look Good

Architects have an interest in making sure their design is not corrupted by the addition of a railing to the rooftop. Safety and aesthetics do not have to be mutually exclusive. KeeGuard roof railing has a number of features that make it an acceptable, good looking solution. First off, it's galvanized and not painted safety yellow. This means that the railing is less visible and blends in better with its surroundings. The railing can also be powder coated so that it blends in perfectly with the aesthetics of the building. Secondly, the roof railing can be angled away from the roof edge to make it less visible from the ground. The railing remains compliant, but has a smaller "visual footprint" when viewed from the ground. Thirdly, unlike other roof railing systems, KeeGuard has a contiguous railing. There are no breaks in the railing, making it look more pleasing and well integrated into the building environment.

Issue 5: Install Quickly and Safely

A roof railing that can be installed safely and efficiently is another must! KeeGuard's modular design makes it assemble rapidly without the use of welding or drilling. An Allen key, torque wrench, pipe vise and pipe cutter are all that is needed to install this roof railing. Special non-penetrating temporary anchor points are also available to make sure that your workers are safe while doing the installation. On top of being installed quickly and safely, Simplified Safety also offers several levels of installation services. We can come on site and help your crew install the system, or offer complete turn-key installation.

Issue 6: Must Resist Corrosion and have Long Lasting Durability

The KeeGuard roof railing system is completely galvanized. Because it is not a welded system, it is more impervious to corrosion than standard welded railing that has been painted. KeeGuard systems are built for long lasting durability. Annual maintenance will ensure that your railing last for many years. It's modular nature also ensure that any damaged parts can be easily replaced.

Whatever the issues are surrounding roof railing, KeeGuard has the solution. The KeeGuard system is the industry leading roof railing solution because it performs well in all circumstances.

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