Purlins and Side Rails Installation

Purlins and side rails are secondary steelwork fixed to the main frame to support roof and wall cladding.
Installation involves working at height on the steel frame, often at the leading edge of erection.
Purlins are typically light gauge cold-formed sections that can be carried by one or two operatives.
Falls from purlins during installation are a leading cause of serious injury in steel erection.
The narrow top flange of a purlin provides very limited footing and is not a safe working platform.
Safety nets, harnesses, or temporary edge protection must be in place before purlin fixing begins.
Bolt connections must be fully tightened before the purlin is used as a support for further work.
Wind can catch lightweight purlins during handling, throwing the operative off balance at height.
The Work at Height Regulations 2005 require fall prevention for all purlin installation activities.
A method statement must specify the safe sequence and fall protection for each bay of purlins.

Fatal falls	Workers fall from purlins during installation because the narrow flange provides no safe footing or edge protection.
Leading edge work	Purlin installation is leading edge work at the furthest point from completed platforms, maximising fall distance.
Wind exposure	Lightweight purlins act as sails in wind, destabilising workers handling them at height on the steel frame.

Do

Don't

Install safety nets or fall arrest systems before starting purlin installation.
Wear a harness with a short lanyard when no collective fall protection is available.
Use the approved method statement sequence for each bay of purlin installation.
Fully tighten purlin bolts before using them as a base for further work.
Handle purlins with care in windy conditions; they catch wind easily at height.
Use a crane or mechanical aid to lift purlin bundles to the working level.
Maintain three points of contact when moving on the steel frame between positions.
Establish exclusion zones below the purlin installation area at all times.
Brief the team on the fall protection plan and anchor points before starting.
Stop work in high winds that make purlin handling unsafe at height.

DON'T walk along purlin top flanges as a means of access on the frame.
DON'T install purlins without fall protection such as nets, harnesses, or guardrails.
DON'T leave purlin bolts loose or finger-tight during the installation sequence.
DON'T handle purlins in high winds that could throw you off balance.
DON'T stack purlins on the steel frame without securing them against sliding.
DON'T work at the leading edge without a harness attached to an approved anchor.
DON'T throw bolts or tools between operatives working on the steel frame.
DON'T remove safety nets or edge protection before all purlins in the bay are fixed.
DON'T stand under purlin bundles being lifted by crane to the working level.
DON'T deviate from the method statement installation sequence without approval.

See also: Steel Erection Safety | Working on Steel at Height

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