Fall Protection Best Practices for Industrial Mezzanines

Fall Protection Best Practices for Industrial Mezzanines

With industrial facilities facing increased pressure to save costs and maximize space efficiency, many are looking upward instead of outward when considering expansion. Elevated work platforms and multi-level racking systems allow companies to add floor space without adding to the facility’s footprint, which is generally less costly and time-consuming than expanding outward, leasing new space, or constructing a new facility.

Unfortunately, these elevated environments also create safety challenges. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), falls are among the most common causes of serious work-related injuries and deaths. Falls, slips or trips account for 15 percent of all accidental deaths (second only to motor vehicle accidents) and falls specifically account for 80 percent of those fatalities. The National Security Council estimates that these types of workplace injuries constitute approximately $70 billion annually in workers’ compensation and medical costs.

In order to provide the necessary safety for employees and to protect products, facility managers contemplating the addition of elevated work-spaces must take OSHA-mandated safety regulations — and should take ANSI best practices guidelines — into consideration when designing and outfitting these areas. In both cases, dual reciprocating barriers can be a key element in safeguarding employees and ensuring regulatory compliance.

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