The Edge Protection Federation view the question of gaps in edge protection barriers / guardrailing as a serious issue. Uncontrolled gaps may present the risk of a fall from height by a person, and smaller gaps may permit small objects to escape from horizontal or sloping surfaces to injure those below.

The question for the EPF is: what is a sensible gap for normal day to day sites, and how far can one go when a client insists on 100% gap reduction?

The issue also has other dimensions when considering steel frame commercial or industrial applications, and full height protection. What are the implications of adding closer mesh or debris netting protection to these types of applications- both in terms of cost and practicability?

Standard Applications:
Maximimum horizontal gap between adjacent structures (eg edge protection and columns): 120mm
Maximum gap underneath toeboards: 20mm where practicable. On some surfaces (eg profiled roofs) this may not be achievable or practical.

Demands for tighter gap control
Each of the application situations must be judged individually on its merits as design calculations may be required for variations from standard configurations. Particularly on some steel frame commercial building applications this would be highly undesirable as it may endanger the safety of the edge protection.

Where adequate anchoring is achievable, it may be possible to accommodate tighter gaps in the edge protection by means of additional screening, but it should not be assumed that this is automatically feasible, and it will involve greater inspection and control measures by clients to ensure a safe structure. In some cases it will require additional anchoring .

Therefore the EPF view the issue of additional gap protection as a special application that must be assessed as an individual case, and the views of the supplier should be respected with regard to the assessment of the risk to the configuration. Talk to supplier.

The Work at Height Regulations require duty holders to eliminate or minimise Work at Height risks. The installation of edge protection may involve exposure to particular WAH risks, and the Edge Protection Federation seek to minimise those by safe methods of installation.

Whilst the use of personal protection equipment (eg harnesses) is available as an option, it should not be resorted to if other safer methods are achievable.

The erection of edge protection systems on steel frame construction can in our view often be more safely installed by means of MEWP’s: which may often involve telescopic or articulated boom platforms. When this method is employed, the installer should be securely attached to the platform by a short-length restraint harness. In addition, it will be necessary to transport the edge protection components to the workplace location either within or attached to the platform. At all times the operative must remain within the basket.

In our experience there are often few if any guidelines available from the manufacturers for this process. It is however important that installers observe the following:

1. The installers should have received adequate training to a recognised level (eg EPF)
2. Ensure that installers/ operators are secured to the platform by means of a recognised anchorage point
3. When transporting materials, do not exceed the Safe Working Load of the cage/ platform.
4. If large components (eg Panels) are too bulky for safe installation from within the cage, they must be secured to a part of the platform structure that is capable of supporting their load, and that has been assessed in that capability by a qualified person. An exclusion zone should be established in view of the risk of falling materials.
5. The removal subsequently FROM THE BASKET of those components and the fixing in place should be outlined in a Method Statement which minimises the over-reaching risks and does not endanger the stability of the MEWP.
6. Any measures must be in line with site specific working procedures, and accepted by the clients relevant health and safety professional advisor.

We believe that if these procedures are followed, that the WAH risks of installing edge protection will be minimised to a satisfactory level.