Q&A

See our professional assessment on Unprotected Roof Edges.

See our professional assessment on Unprotected Skylights.

See our professional assessment on Unprotected Roof Hatches.

See our professional assessment on Unprotected Fixed Ladders.

Yes, according to OSHA Standards your roof edge must be protected.

Yes, we do sell Roof Anchors. We also offer free-standing OSHA compliant Rooftop Railing for permanent fall protection as roof anchors must be inspected annually.

Yes, however, it costs a little more than painted railing.

Yes, we do. We often recommend free-standing railing, as it’s non-penetrating, but we can engineer Permanently Attached Railing if required.

Yes, we do. We offer Non-Penetrating Railing for permanent or temporary installations.

We have 10’, 7 ½’ and 5’ panels. We also sell continuous railing for a smoother look.

Yellow is standard. We also have a selection of standard special colors other than yellow. See our Color Chart.

Once on the roof, 2 people can install about 600’ in an 8-hour day.

Yes, according to OSHA Standards, all skylights must have fall protection.

You can either protect them with Safety Screens or in some cases Skylight Railing are required for larger skylights or skylights that open.

Our standard screens are galvanized steel. We can provide stainless steel if required.

Once on the roof, a skylight screen takes about 15 minutes to install.

Provide us the length, width and dome height and if they open or not and we can design the appropriate OSHA protection for you.

Yes, according to OSHA Standards, the open hatch is a “hole” that must be protected.

In most cases, our railing attaches to the counter-flashing of the roof hatch and does not penetrate the roofing membrane.

Our hatch railings are either galvanized steel or aluminum.

Yes, if you provide a RAL color number, we can get close to the color you need. See our Color Chart.

Once the railing is on the roof, it takes one person about an hour to install. That’s assuming you have experience in these type installations.

There is a crank handle at ground level that moves the lifting mechanism up and down.

The push rod at the top of the unit is screwed through the bottom skin of the hatch lid with 2 self-tapping screws. The screws do not penetrate the outer skin of the hatch lid.

Yes, if the unit is unlocked at ground level, you can move the lid up and down if necessary.

With a padlock at ground level. You provide the padlock.

Powder coated steel.

Although the only impact to the hatch is very minor, just two self-tapping screws, the hatch manufacturer will say it voids the warranty. You need to decide if the safety of your people is more important than a warranty that may never be needed.

No. There are issues with the electronic hatch openers in addition to the fact that the material and installation is very expensive.

A standard unit for a 19’ ladder costs approximately $2,100 plus freight and tax (if applicable). Additional costs may apply for longer ladders or if mounting modifications or other customizations are needed.

Yes, quantity discounts may be available based on each individual job.

For standard units, a week to 10 business days.

Fill out the Measurement Form, and return it to info@SafetyRailSource.com in order to receive a formal quote from which you can order.

For an additional charge we can provide professional installation, however you can install the system yourself with some basic tools and the instructions we provide.

A first-time installation will probably take about 2 hours.

Yes, according to OSHA Standards, ladders are the most common risk of injury and must protected.

No. OSHA changed the requirement for a cage in 2018 in lieu of requiring a lifeline system on ladders 24’ and over.

A clearance of 7” or more is required by OSHA.

Yes. The ladder extension handles must extend at least 36” above the landing surface of roof.

SRS offers modular Aluminum Ladders or welded Steel Ladders. Our aluminum fixed ladders are in stock and generally less expensive than steel ladders. Aluminum ladders are also easier to install, due to their light weight and can often be installed without a crane.

Yes, on ladders extending 24’ or more from the landing surface or roof. See our Fixed Ladder Lifelines and other Personal Protection Equipment (PPE).

The standard color for steel ladders is powder coated gray. They can be powder coated a few different colors at no additional cost. Our aluminum ladders are typically not painted.

Yes. You can choose from several ladder configurations.

Yes. SRS sells ladders with a platform and ascending rungs on the inside of the parapet.

Yes. Please specify the requirement upon your RFQ.

With our modular aluminum ladder, we provide plates that fasten directly to the wall without the need to connect to structural beams inside the building.

The WebRail is a portable, tensioned guardrail and fall arrest system designed for temporary use on construction sites and industrial projects. It utilizes heavy-duty webbing to create a safe perimeter without the need for traditional rigid rails or heavy wire cables.

Tie Down offers two primary WebRail transport pallet kits, providing either 186 linear feet or 360 linear feet of continuous protection. For larger perimeters, multiple pallets can be combined to cover any required distance.

Each stackable shipping/storage cart includes everything needed to complete a 186 ft. or 360 ft. section, including main column upright attachments, ratchet binders, tension gauges, and middle rail posts.

Yes. When installed according to the manufacturer's instructions, WebRail meets all OSHA guardrail requirements. The top web, mid web, and toe web are all fully OSHA compliant.

Yes. To meet EM385-1-1 compliance (the safety standard for US Army Corps of Engineers projects), the middle rail posts must be positioned no more than 7 feet apart.

The heavy-duty 4-inch web straps are incredibly durable and carry a rating of 20,000 lbs.

The mid-span supports allow up to 4 workers to be simultaneously attached for fall arrest between the main column supports.

The WebRail system is highly versatile and is designed to wrap around and secure to both round and square columns up to 30 inches in diameter.

• Middle Rail Posts: Must be spaced no more than 10 feet apart (or 7 feet for EM385-1-1 compliance).
• Main Support Columns: The maximum distance between the main structural columns is 31 feet for the 186 ft. system, and 60 feet for the 360 ft. system.
• Note: If columns are closer than standard spacing, a terminating post can be added as a "pass-through."

You don't have to guess. The system features a built-in Tension Spring Bracket and tension gauges. This allows safety managers and workers to perform a quick, reliable visual inspection to ensure the system is properly tensioned before use.

NextGen Warning Lines are a permanent, non-penetrating visual barrier system used to demarcate "safe zones" on rooftops. Unlike temporary plastic flagging, the NextGen system uses heavy-duty weighted bases, galvanized steel cables, and aluminum pennants designed to withstand year-round outdoor exposure.

Neither.Warning lines arevisual demarcation systems. They are designed to alert workers that they are approaching a fall hazard. They are not engineered to stop a fall once it occurs (like a harness) or physically block a person from the edge (like a guardrail).

The NextGen system is built forpermanence. While many warning lines use plastic flags and light bases that blow over in high winds, NextGen features:

• 50 lb. weighted bases for maximum stability without roof penetration.
• Aluminum pennants that won't fade, crack, or tear like vinyl flags.
• Stainless steel or galvanized cable options for long-term corrosion resistance.

Yes. When installed correctly, the system meets OSHA 29 CFR 1910.29and1926.502(f). These standards require warning lines to be flagged every 6 feet, maintain a height of 34"–39", and be supported by stanchions that can resist tipping.

According to OSHA, warning lines must be placed at least 15 feet from the leading edge for general maintenance work. If the work being performed is specific "roofing work," the distance can sometimes be reduced to 6 feet, but 15 feet is the standard for most permanent installations to ensure a "safe zone."

Only if the workers remain inside the "safe zone" created by the lines. If a worker must go between the warning line and the edge of the roof, they must be protected by a secondary system, such as a personal fall arrest system (harness/lanyard) or a guardrail.

The system is non-penetrating. It sits on top of the roof membrane using heavy, rubber-lined or protective bases. Since no bolts or screws enter the roof deck, the integrity of your moisture barrier remains intact.

The system is modular and "plug-and-play." A two-person crew can typically install several hundred linear feet in a single day. No specialized tools or welding are required; the stanchions simply drop into the bases and the cable is tensioned through the tops.

Because the system uses galvanized steel and aluminum, maintenance is minimal. We recommend an annual inspection to:

1. Ensure the cable hasn't sagged below the 34" OSHA minimum.
2. Check that the bases haven't shifted due to extreme weather or roof movement.
3. Confirm all pennants are still securely attached and visible.

Forklift accidents can cause significant structural damage, lead to expensive equipment repairs, and pose a severe risk to employee safety. Using protective barriers like guardrails and bumper guards creates a physical "safety zone" that separates heavy machinery from pedestrians, rack systems, and building utilities.

Safety Rail Source industrial line includes solutions designed for floor-level safety, such as:

• Heavy-Duty Guardrails: To protect machinery and walkways.
• Overhead Door Track Guards: For protecting door tracks and building corners.
• Angle Iron Bumper Guards: To prevent forklifts from impacting pallet racks.
• Sprinkler Head Safety-Bars: Specifically designed to shield overhead sprinkler heads.

Yes. Industrial-grade guardrails are typically rated to withstand specific impact forces. For example, many heavy-duty systems are tested to withstand a 10,000 lb. impact at 4 to 6 mph, ensuring they can stop a moving forklift without the rail failing or the forklift penetrating the protected area.

Absolutely. Modular guardrail systems are frequently used to create "Pedestrian Path of Travel" zones. By installing a double-rail system, you provide a highly visible and physical barrier that prevents forklifts from accidentally veering into walking lanes.

Standard Railing: Usually utilizes 2" schedule 40 steel and is suitable for lighter traffic or protecting against smaller pallet jacks.

Heavy-Duty Railing: Uses high-strength ASTM A-36 structural steel beams, 6 x 6 steel posts. and reinforced base plates to absorb the high-energy impact of large, fully loaded forklifts.

Most forklift protection products are "bolt-down" for maximum stability. They are anchored into the concrete floor using heavy-duty wedge anchors (typically 3/4” x 4¼”). This allows the system to transfer the energy of an impact into the floor rather than through the equipment it is protecting.

Safety Rail Source products are designed with modularity in mind. If a forklift hits a rail, you generally only need to replace the damaged rail section or the specific post that was impacted, rather than replacing the entire run of fencing.

While most forklift barriers require floor anchoring to withstand heavy impacts, some temporary warning lines and visual barriers are available. However, for truedamage protection against moving vehicles, anchored steel is the industry standard.

You can contact Safety Rail Source for a professional assessment. They provide expert recommendations to help you determine where protection is most critical, such as at the ends of rack aisles, near dock doors, or around expensive production machinery.

It is a portable safety solution designed to protect workers from falls without being permanently bolted or welded to the structure. These systems typically use weighted bases or clamping mechanisms to provide a secure anchor point or barrier that can be moved as the work area changes.

• Fixed Systems: Permanently attached to the building (e.g., bolted railings or permanent lifelines).
• Mobile Systems: Temporary and modular. They are ideal for short-term projects, rented facilities, or rooftops where membrane penetration is prohibited.

Yes. High-quality mobile fall protection systems are engineered to meet or exceed OSHA 1910.29(Fall Protection Systems and Criteria) and ANSI A1264.1standards. 

• Fall Prevention (Restraint): Systems like guardrails that physically prevent a worker from reaching a fall hazard.
• Fall Arrest: Systems (like mobile anchor carts) designed to safely stop a worker after a fall has occurred.

Most mobile systems are non-penetrating. They utilize rubber-lined weighted bases or specialized pads to distribute weight evenly, protecting delicate roof membranes (such as TPO, EPDM, or PVC) from punctures or leaks. Some systems deploy spikes that drive into a roof in the event of a fall. Roof damage from the spikes can be easily repaired.

Mobile weighted systems are generally designed forflat or low-slope roofs(typically up to a 1:12 pitch). For steeper slopes, specialized pitched-roof brackets or engineered anchors are required.How many people can use a mobile anchor at once?This depends on the specific model. Some mobile carts are rated fortwo people for fall arrestandone additional person for fall restraint. Always check the manufacturer’s data plate for the specific capacity of your unit.

Most systems are designed with portability in mind.

• Mobile Anchor Carts: Usually equipped with heavy-duty flat-free tires for easy maneuvering.
• Modular Railings: Can be disassembled or moved by two workers using the "drop-in" pin system.

Regular inspections are critical. You should:

1. Pre-use: Perform a visual check for cracks, corrosion, or loose hardware.
2. Annual: Have a "competent person" perform a documented inspection of all components, including welds, ballast weights, and connection points.

• Cost-Effectiveness: Eliminates the need for expensive roof repairs associated with drilling.
• Versatility: Can be relocated to different sections of a facility or moved to a new job site entirely.
• Speed: Fast setup times mean your crew can get to work sooner without waiting for complex structural installations.