Guidance Note GN052: Using timber for temporary perimeter guardrails
WorkSafe Tasmania
This guidance note explains how to use correctly use timber to create safe temporary guardrails.
If you are a building tradesperson, the code of practice ‘Preventing Falls in Housing Construction’ (in particular, section 4) contains adequate information for you to erect a temporary edge protection system using timber. This guidance note summarises that information.
To see the code in full, go to the WorkSafe Tasmania website at www.worksafe.tas.gov.au and search for ‘CP127’.
The code of practice ‘Managing the Risks of Falls at Workplaces’ (in particular, section 4.2) is also helpful. To see this code, go to the WorkSafe Tasmania website at www.worksafe.tas.gov.au and search for ‘CP122’.
This guidance note does not apply to re-usable edge protection systems designed and manufactured in accordance with AS4994:
Temporary edge protection–General requirements.
Framing timber has been used by the construction industry for many years to create temporary edge protection systems or guardrails to prevent falls from height.
However, these timber guardrails are not always made adequately — the standard of materials used, the spacing of supports and rails, and the method of fixing has varied widely — and in almost all cases, has been done without having an engineer verify the design.
