Handrail and Edge Protection Standards

Edge protection prevents falls from edges, openings, and elevated work areas on construction sites.
A compliant guardrail system consists of a top rail, mid-rail, and toe board at minimum.
The top rail must be at least 950mm above the working surface — EN 13374 specifies exact requirements.
Toe boards must be at least 150mm high to prevent materials and tools falling from the edge.
Gaps between the mid-rail and top rail, and between the mid-rail and toe board, must not exceed 470mm.
Edge protection must withstand a person falling against it — it must be rigid, not just visual.
The Work at Height Regulations 2005 require edge protection as the primary collective fall prevention.
Temporary edge protection must be maintained throughout the work and not removed until no longer needed.
Openings in floors, roofs, and voids must be covered or guarded with edge protection to prevent falls.
Removing edge protection without authorisation is a common cause of fatal falls on UK sites.

Prevent falls	Edge protection is the primary collective measure preventing falls from height.
Legal requirement	Work at Height Regulations mandate guardrails as a priority over personal PPE.
Universal protection	Unlike harnesses, edge protection protects everyone automatically without training.
Dropped objects	Toe boards prevent tools and materials falling onto workers below.

Do

Don't

Install edge protection with a top rail, mid-rail, and toe board as a minimum.
Ensure the top rail is at least 950mm above the working surface level.
Use toe boards at least 150mm high to prevent objects falling from edges.
Check that edge protection is rigid and capable of withstanding a person's weight.
Inspect edge protection daily and after any event that may have caused damage.
Guard all floor openings, roof edges, and voids with compliant edge protection.
Report any missing, damaged, or displaced edge protection to your supervisor.
Secure edge protection so it cannot be accidentally knocked out of position.
Use edge protection in preference to personal fall protection wherever practical.
Brief operatives that removing edge protection without authority is strictly prohibited.

DON'T remove edge protection without authorisation and a safe alternative in place.
DON'T use edge protection that is bent, broken, or not securely fixed.
DON'T rely on barrier tape alone as edge protection — it is not structural.
DON'T leave gaps in edge protection where a person could fall through.
DON'T reduce the top rail height below 950mm for any reason.
DON'T omit toe boards — they prevent tools and materials falling below.
DON'T use improvised edge protection from scaffold tubes without proper fixings.
DON'T lean against edge protection or use it to support materials.
DON'T accept missing mid-rails — gaps over 470mm allow a person to fall through.
DON'T walk past missing or damaged edge protection without reporting it.

See also: Edge Protection Requirements | Falls From Height Awareness

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