Workplace handrail safety done right

We're a team that works hard to provide everyone with the best safety products. These come in many forms, including handrail solutions and crash barriers. People can use the handrails to stabilise themselves inside a building or in public areas. They are suitable for both commercial and residential properties too. In other words, you have a versatile option.

The risks

Any unprotected staircase, roof edge, platform, walkway edge, or other raised area from which someone can fall, needs handrails. Falls, trips, and slips are the most common causes of injury in work areas. Actually, over 29% of workplace injuries originate from the three. Falls from height account for 7%. In severe cases, they can be fatal. During the 2016/2017 year, 25 workers were involved in fatal incidents due to falling from heights.

Incidents like falls, trips and slips cost employers £512m a year due to lost production and other costs. To help stop falls at height and at work, your workplace must use the right handrail designs.

Handrails are an efficient means of stopping serious injuries. They provide security and protection to people working on any sort of raised platform and navigating stairs. Where you need loading access for mezzanine flooring, it is also recommended to use gates of tubular construction. The same goes for protection across openings at the head of ladders or stairs. You can make these to match the design of the adjoining handrails so everything fits together.

An employer's responsibility

As an employer, it's your responsibility to care for everyone working for you. Under UK legislation, handrails are necessary. The Workplace (Health, Safety, and Welfare) Regulations Act 1992 has certain requirements. Rails must be supplied on staircases within the workplace. Although, there are a few factors to take into consideration. These installations need to be in the right place and at the right height. This is to prevent loss of balance from becoming a serious fall.

If a staircase is more than 1000mm wide, it needs rails on both sides. Any flights more than 2m wide should come with a divide. The rail needs positioning at a height of 900mm above your floor. It also needs to be at 1100mm on the level. Moreover, a handrail must allow for a firm grip. At the same time, it can't be too cold or hot to touch.

Always choose a reliable handrail

At Barrier Mart, we do our part to keep everyone safe by supplying the best products. We manufacture everything in house. This ensures quality with all our merchandise. We can then arrange installation in numerous cases. It ensures clients can get the best solutions from us.

So, if you're interested in purchasing a handrail, please get in touch. Or, browse our website to see what we have to offer; you can choose different key clamp parts and tubing to create rails.