Hazard Identification

• Tthe Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires railing around areas where a person can fall or pass into moving machinery, or where equipment can fall into an occupied area.
  
  

Standard Railing Features

• Industrial railing must include a top rail, intermediate rail and toeboard. The height of the top rail must be at least 42 inches. The intermediate rail must be approximately halfway between the top rail and floor. The toeboard must be 4 inches tall, with no more than 1/4-inch clearance above the floor. The toeboard may be solid or have openings of 1 inch or less.
  
  

Stair Railing Features

• OSHA mandates that stairways have a protective rail on open sides. On winding stairs, operators must use railing to offset the part of the stairs with a tread narrower than 6 inches.
  
  

Construction Standards

• Railings must withstand 200 pounds of pressure on any part of the top rail in any direction. Piping rails must have at least a 1 1/2-inch diameter. Wood railing must be made of 2-by-4 or heavier stock. Structural steel railing must be made of 2-by-2-by-3/8-inch or heavier angles.