It is presented here as historical content, for research and review purposes only. OSHA Height Requirements. RE: New OSHA Handrail Requirements cadred (Structural) 19 Jun 17 20:15 It does say you can go to 38" now from the leading edge of the tread to the top surface of the rail if combining the guardrail with handrail (dual purpose). RAILINGS open-sided stairs < 44 require 1 stair rail/side; open-sided stairs > 44 require 1 stair rail and 1 separate handrail/side HEIGHT CLEARANCE minimum 66 clearance from nose of tread to overhead obstruction SHIP STAIRS only usable where standard stairs are impractical, 50-70 deg, rise 6.5-11, tread 4, width 18 Stair width minimum should be 22 inches between vertical barriers. OSHA Railing requirements for Stair Railing: Required on stairs with four or more risers. 4. OSHA handrail and stair rail system to be updated for general industry. Post spacing shall be a maximum of 6'-0". Adult bed rails have been linked to hundreds of deaths and injuries over the years. Under 1910.23 (e) (1), OSHA says that a guardrail must have a vertical height of 42 inches nominal from the upper surface of the top rail to floor, platform, runway, or ramp level. 1910.23(e)(1)] In this way, at what height does OSHA require handrails? Mid rail height of 21 inches. osha.oregon.gov OR-OSH 03/20 S-04 HANDRAILS What are they? Post shall be 1 1/2" Schedule 40 aluminum pipe of the same alloy. Adult bed rails have been linked to hundreds of deaths and injuries over the years. OSHA states that guardrail must reach a height of 42 inches, plus or minus 3 inches, above the walking-working surface and withstand a force of 200 pounds at any point in a downward or outward direction. If the railing dips below 39 inches, due to the force, the railing is not OSHA compliant. If your system was installed before January 2017, the mandatory height decreases to 30 inches. For stair rail systems installed on or after January 17, 2017, the top rail and handrail must be separate. Systems mounted before 01/17/2017 must be 30 inches or higher. One set of those standards involves stairway and handrail safety. Heights of Handrail and Stair Rail Systems | Occupational Tread depth should be a minimum of 10-14 inches. Handrails are rails that provide a handhold for support. "Nominal" simply means that 42 inches has been established as the de facto standard for guardrail height. It is presented here as historical content, for research and review purposes only. Handrail and railing specifications for general industry. The height of handrails shall be not more than 37 inches (94 cm) nor less than 30 inches (76 cm) from the upper surface of the handrail to the surface of the tread, in line with the face of the riser at the forward edge of the tread. Railings shall be 1 1/2" Schedule 40 aluminum pipe alloy 6105-T5, ASTM-B-429 or ASTM-B-221. With that in mind, OSHA is proposing updates in the handrail and stair rail system requirements for its general industry, Walking-Working Surfaces standard. RE: handrail requirements per latest OSHA standard JLNJ (Structural) 19 Feb 18 14:41 They deliberately included f.1.iii because the older stairs are grandfathered in and it was a way of writing into the code what had previously been a grey area. All ErectaStep stairs comply with OSHA standard 1910.25 which covers all stairways including standard, spiral, ship, and alternating tread-type stairs. The CPSC is starting work on a federal safety standard, nearly a Height is measured from the leading edge of the stair tread to The top rail of the handrail must be a minimum of 42" [ref. The 1991 Standards, at sections 4.8.5, 4.9.4, and 4.26, and the 2010 Standards, at section 505, contain technical requirements for handrails. Height is measured from the leading edge of the stair tread to the top surface of the handrail. As an employer, it is your responsibility to ensure all workers have adequate fall protection and falling object protection including handrails, stair rail systems, and guardrail systems according to For stair rail systems installed on or after January 17, 2017, the top rail and handrail must be separate. Place handrail at 36. Your paraphrased scenario, as confirmed by a telephone conversation with my staff on April 17, 2013, question, and our response, follow. Download the OSHA cheatsheet. Handrails must be 30-38 inches above the leading edge of the stair tread. What to use for Railings: Wood Railings: 2 x 4 stock, not more than 6 feet apart. Pipe Railings: 1-1/2 nominal diameter, not more than 8 feet apart. Systems mounted before 01/17/2017 must be 30 inches or higher. OSHA handrail standards state that the height of handrails should not be more than 37 inches or less than 30 inches from the upper surface of the handrail to the surface of the tread. OSHA published a final rule on walking-working surfaces and personal protective equipment in November 2016 that updated requirements for slip, trip and 30 to 34 inches in height. OSHA handrail standards state that the height of handrails should not be more than 37 inches or less than 30 inches from the upper surface of the handrail to the surface of the tread. OSHA Instruction STD 1-1.6 October 30, 1978 4. The U.S. Department of Labors Occupational Safety and Health Administration is proposing updates in the handrail and stair rail system requirements for its general industry, Walking-Working Surfaces standard. OSHA requires that employers provide fall protection for employees on any walking-working surface with an unprotected side or edge that is If you do go that route, the first place to look for noncompliance is in the guard rail. 1926.500, Guardrails, handrails & guards. 3. Safety railings. Handrail Height. 1910.29(f)(1)(iii) The top rail of a stair rail system may serve as a handrail only when: 1910.29(f)(1)(iii)(A) The height of the stair rail system is not less than 36 inches (91 cm) and not more than 38 inches (97 cm) as measured at the leading edge of the stair tread to the top surface of the top rail (see Figure D-13 of this section); and Posts (uprights/verticals) must be no more than 8 feet apart from center to center of each post. Intermediate rail at about halfway up. OSHA is requesting updates to the handrail and stair rail system requirements for its general industry, Walking-Working Surfaces standard, according to a press release. OSHA intends the proposed 37-inch upper limit for handrails to provide a measure of flexibility, allowing a 1-inch tolerance for the height of a stairrail that also serves as a handrail. The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSH Act of 1970) was created to protect workers from serious injury on the job. The railing height should be at least 42 inches from the first edge of the tread to the rail's upper edge. 1926.1052 (c) (3) The height Use 1-1/2 Schedule 40 Handrails must be placed between 34 and 38 in height, measuring from the nosing of the stair. OSHA requirements are set by statute, standards and regulations. This is measured from the top surface of the handrail. Handrails are required on all stairs that have three steps or more or ramps with a rise of 6 inches and above. Paragraph (c)(7) allows any stairrail system between 36 and 37 inches in height to double as a handrail. OSHA provides a range for the railings to ensure your system is safe and compliant. With both standards, OSHA deems guardrail compliant under the following conditions: Vertical height of 42 inches. www.osha.gov. This Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) is intended as a template that Federal Agencies can use to improve their safety and health training. It may be useful for Federal Agencies to develop other policy and procedures as a companion to this SOP. What is OSHA standard for handrail? Standard Number: 1926.500. The CPSC is starting work on a federal safety standard, nearly a decade after consumer groups asked for one. Action Pending final approval of the proposed changes in the standards, any violation of the clearance requirement of handrails and railings required in 29 CFR 1910.23 shall be considered de minimis, if the clearance is at least 1-1/2 inches. OSHA guidelines for warehouses are important standards that help you maintain a safe work environment for your employees. Handrail and components shall be TUFRAIL, as manufactured by Thompson Fabricating, LLC (Birmingham, Alabama) or an approved equal. Pipe Railings: 1-1/2 nominal diameter, not more than 8 feet apart. The employer must ensure guardrail systems meet the following requirements: 1910.29 (b) (1) The top edge height of top rails, or equivalent guardrail system members, are 42 inches (107 cm), plus or minus 3 inches (8 cm), above the walking working surface. This is measured from the top surface of the handrail. Click to see full answer. OSHA intends the proposed 37-inch upper limit for handrails to provide a measure of flexibility, allowing a 1-inch tolerance for the These days, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) serves that purpose by enforcing a variety of protective workplace safety and health standards. Heres a checklist of what to look for in moveable safety steps: 1. Riser height should be 5 to 9 inches. The top rail must be at least 42 inches in height (1910.29 (f) (1) (ii) (B)) and the handrail must be 30 to 38 inches in height (1910.29 (f) (1) (i)) (as measured at the leading edge of the stair tread to the top surface of the rail). The OSHA rules and standards regarding handrails are in the section about the fall protection systems. Tread nosing shall be straight leading edges. We have an entire section of our web site devoted to ADA handrail standards. Scenario: A general industry workplace uses structural steel railings to prevent falls. Different requirements for children show a maximum height of 28 with a minimum clearance of 9 between the adult rail and the childrens rail, which is only a recommendation and not a requirement. You requested an interpretation of OSHA's standard for guardrail systems, 29 CFR 1910.23(e)(3). Standard Interpretations. The top rail is 42-inch nominal height and the top OSHA 29 CFR 1910.23 includes requirements for ladders, where OSHA defines handrail requirements on platforms and how high safety railings must be. 1) safety railing must be -inch in diameter (a plastic coating could be used to bring the diameter up to -inch) 2) the safety railing must be 42 inches high, plus or minus 3 inches 3) the top must not fail and may deflect to a point no lower than 39 inches above the floor when a 200 pound load is imposed on it in a downward or outward direction. Our interpretation letters explain these requirements and how they apply to particular circumstances, but they cannot create additional employer obligations. Compliance with these guidelines regarding Warehouse safety structures like guardrails and handrails not only protect warehouse employees from injury and prevent damage to inventory and storage racks, they improve the OSHA Standard 29 CFR 1926.750(b)(1)(iii) does not address the issue of deflection. Standard Number: 1910.23 (e) NOTICE: This is an OSHA Archive Document, and may no longer represent OSHA Policy. In November 2016, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced a final rule on walking-working surfaces and personal protective equipment that enhanced criteria for slip, trip, and fall risks.The manufacturer has received multiple requests for handrail The top rail must be at least 42 inches in height (1910.29 (f) (1) (ii) (B)) and the handrail must be 30 to 38 inches in height (1910.29 (f) (1) (i)) (as measured at the leading edge of the stair tread to the top surface of the rail). OSHA Handrail Standards. The 2010 Standards provide more flexibility than the 1991 Standards as follows: Section 4.26.4 of the 1991 Standards requires handrail gripping surfaces to have edges with a minimum radius of 1/8 inch. There were no comments on paragraph (c)(7). OSHA requirements are set by statute, standards and regulations. Effective Date Maximum height is 38 inches.