Posted By CCB H&S
Dear all.

System scaffold is currently being used as edge protection on a particular site I visited, the design of system scaffold means that the hand rail stands at 910mm, however, 950mm is now the minimum height the hand rail should sit at. Has anyone else come across this problem, and if so what practical measures if any have been taken to resolve this issue, I suggested a traditional tube and fitting handrail could be placed upon the existing handrail to achieve the 950mm height.

Any comments or practical alternatives would be appreciated.

Apologies if this topic has been recently raised.

Regards

Posted By Bob Shillabeer
Well said Salus 40mm too low one and a half inches is hardly going to result in someone falling off is it. We don't need Jeremy Clarkeson when we nit pick ourselves. Just attended a conference (IOSH based) where the need to be realistic was discussed rahther than risk aversion. Our role as safety professionals is to enable the job to done safely not stop thed job because there is some theoretic risk that being one and a half inches to low could result in someone being injured.

Posted By Chris Pope
Control measure. Only employ non standard short people like me. 5 foot 4 inches !

Posted By peter gotch
Hi CCB

Unless this has been in place for quite some time it should be upgraded...

the top guard-rail or other similar means of protection shall be at least 950 millimetres or, in the case of such means of protection already fixed at the coming into force of these Regulations, at least 910 millimetres above the edge from which any person is liable to fall;

910mm recognised as no longer being adequate as the population has become taller.

If you were looking at a permanent rail in e.g. a building the requirement would be for 1100 unless building control allow otherwise e.g. for listed building reasons.

Regards, Peter