Parks, roads, waterworks, sanitation, transportation, planning, commerce…municipalities have a long list of responsibilities, not the least of which is protecting its public. When it comes to safety, the police, fire, and emergency response departments are considered the first line of defense. Municipalities also have a responsibility that overlaps the boundaries of many of their daily functions.

How do we protect people from fall hazards?

For strength, durability, and regulatory compliance, the first line of fall protection is a metal guardrail .

Safety railing systems provide collective fall protection everyday public areas such as parks, playgrounds, stairways, ramps, waterfronts, pedestrian bridges, and more. They also go behind the to protect municipal employees at water and wastewater treatment plants, maintenance facilities, and loading docks and add protection around in-plant hazards, machinery, and equipment.

Expenditures for materials to build welded railings may seem attractive initially. When adding labour and other installation costs, however, it becomes more expensive than using railing components.

Welded railings have other disadvantages. A welded system is inflexible. Unlike a modular pipe-fitted system, it cannot be reconfigured for changing needs and on-site conditions. Welds can corrode over time, requiring expensive repair work.

Constructing a welded system also takes a trained—possibly certified—welder. Virtually anyone with a hex key can assemble a system using railing components.

Keep reading this article on KeeSafety.ca

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