Guides & Toolkits

JUNE 2013 (3) The guardrail system or protective covering required under subsection (1) or (2) may be removed temporarily to perform work in or around the opening if a worker is adequately protected and signs are posted in accordance with subsections 44 (1) and (2). O. Reg. 145/00, s. 14. (4) The following are the specifi cations for a guardrail system: 1. It shall have a top rail, an intermediate rail and a toe board. 2. The intermediate rail may be replaced by material that can withstand a point load of 450 newtons applied in a lateral or vertical downward direction. 3. The top of the guardrail system shall be located at least 0.9 metres but not more than 1.1 metres above the surface on which the system is installed. 4. The toe board shall extend from the surface to which the guardrail system is attached to a height of at least 100 millimetres or, if the toe board is made of wood, at least 89 millimetres. 5. If the guardrail system is located at the perimeter of a work surface, the distance between the edge of the surface and the guardrail system shall not be greater than 300 millimetres. O. Reg. 145/00, s. 14. (5) A guardrail system shall be capable of resisting anywhere along the length of the system the following loads when applied separately, without exceeding the allowable unit stress for each material used: 1. A point load of 675 newtons applied in a lateral direction to the top rail. 2. A point load of 450 newtons applied in a vertical downward direction to the top rail. 3. A point load of 450 newtons applied in a lateral or vertical downward direction to the in termediate rail, or midway between the top rail and the toe board. 4. A point load of 225 newtons applied in a lateral direction to the toe board. O. Reg. 145/00, s. 14. (6) If the distance between any two adjacent posts of the guardrail system is greater than 2.4 metres, the system shall be capable of resisting the loads specifi ed in subsection (5) increased in proportion to the greater distance between the posts. O. Reg. 145/00, s. 14. (7) The following additional requirements apply to a guardrail system that is made of wood: 1. The wood shall be spruce, pine or fi r (S-P-F) timber of construction grade quality or better. 2. The wood shall be free of sharp objects such as splinters and protruding nails. 3. The system shall have posts that are at least 38 millimetres by 89 millimetres, are securely fastened to the surface and are spaced at intervals of not more than 2.4 metres. 4. The top rail and the intermediate rail shall each be at least 38 millimetres by 89 millimetres. O. Reg. 145/00, s. 14. 36

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