During Use: Fall Protection
SWP 3. Implement Precautions When Using Wire Rope Guardrails
Accounting for the Deflection
of Wire Rope
When wire rope is used for top rails
and/or middle rails, additional protective features
must be introduced. The suspension cable assemblies
to which the wire rope guardrails are attached are
flexible. When guardrails of wire rope are attached
to suspension cable assemblies using wire rope clamps
(not tied), the outward and downward deflection of
the top and middle cables cannot be minimized.
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Positioning
the top cable at 48 inches and the middle cable
at 24 inches above platform level and using safety
screen to fill the gap will provide an added
degree of protection by "containing" worker(s)
on the platform. |
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Check distance of top and middle wire rope guardrails.
Photo courtesy of OSHA.
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Specifications for Effective
Use of Safety Screening
From field tests, a Virginia Ship
Repair Association, Inc. (VSRA) engineering study has
determined that for the screen to be an effective barrier,
it must be attached to the top rail cable, platform,
and scaffold suspension
ropes with plastic ties at 18-inch intervals. Use
flame-resistant, polyethylene fencing material with
maximum openings of 1½ by 3½ inches,
and plastic wire ties, each with a breaking strength
of not less than 740 pounds.
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Polyethylene
fencing. |
Safety-screen
system.
Photos courtesy of VSRA.
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Plastic tie. |
 
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