Page 88 - OHS, July/August 2020

FACILITY SAFETY
rary manhole covers, etc., there is no direct guidance for the use of guard rail around machinery or designated vehicle travel paths. As such, many facilities simply mark the floor for off-limit areas, travel paths and pedestrian walkways with yellow-striped tape—which provides absolutely no protection against vehicle impact. What happens if the forklift driver experiences a medical issue, such as a heart attack or is inattentive to his surroundings due to texting on his/her cell phone? A yellow piece of tape will certainly not stop an out-of-control forklift.
Differences in Guard Rail
Although it may look similar in appearance, not all guard rails are manufactured the same. Many manufacturers build their guarding products to have impact ratings of 10,000 pounds at 4 mph. An av- erage forklift with a load generally weighs between 8,000 to 10,000 pounds. A guard rail with a 10,000-pound impact rating means it should prevent a forklift from driving through it at a speed of 4 mph or less. The goal of an industrial guard rail is to maintain its integrity and deflect an impact. In contrast, a highway guard rail is designed to absorb and disperse an impact, which is why at an ac- cident scene that type of guarding system is typically crumpled up.
But not all industrial guard rails come with only a 10,000-pound impact rating. Some manufacturers build it to a stronger 13,000-pound impact rating. The added value that a higher-rated guard rail brings to a facility is an increased level of safety for peo- ple and equipment. Clearly, a higher-rated product will withstand a more severe impact.
Furthermore, a 13,000-pound impact-rated guard rail has a lower deflection rate than a 10,000-pound impact-rated guard rail. For example, when a forklift truck traveling at 4 mph strikes a 10,000-pound impact-rated guard rail, it can deflect (or push back) up to 12 to 15 inches. When that same forklift strikes a 13,000-pound impact-rated guard rail, it typically deflects only 10 inches or less. A few inches may not seem that great, but in facilities and distribution centers where space is often at a premium, those few inches mean that equipment and fixtures will be protected, and additional manufacturing or storage space can be obtained.
It is important to check the impact rating on any guarding sys- tem purchased. That is because some manufacturers do not list an impact rating for their guard rail at all. The likely reason is that it was never tested, or it failed an impact test and they did not want to spend the time, money or resources to redesign it. Instead, they go to market with a product that is not rated. These are products to avoid because their impact rating is not known and, as a result, your facility’s safety may be at risk.
Building a 13,000-Pound Impact Rated Guard Rail
The way some suppliers achieve a 13,000-pound impact rating is found in their manufacturing processes. The best material to use is corrugated 11-gauge steel for the rail. In the manufacturing process, strength is gained in part by hemming the top and bot- tom portion of the rail sections. This step not only provides added strength but also smooths out any rough edges to enhance em- ployee safety. Many manufacturers do not hem the rails and simply
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