Safety evo
Life saving tips
Despite its small size, Toe board is one of the most important control measures in scaffolding.
It might seem as a useless part of the scaffold.
But in fact it protects lots of lives and assets.
In the next lines, we will mention some facts about the toe-board.
The next section includes the elements we are about to cover.
what is a toe board
Simply, it is a protective barrier surrounds the working platforms
Used especially for elevated platforms like scaffolds.
This barrier can prevent tools from falling and protects workers from sliding.
A variety of materials can be used as a toeboard .
Wood, aluminum or any available metal can be used to install this barrier.
OSHA says that toeboards can also be called toeplates or kickplates
The same organization considers the toe board as a part of a guardrail system
Why we need to use a toe board
Falling from heights is the most common cause for fatalities in construction works.
And when someone is working on an elevated platform, his tools may accidentally fall to the ground.
We are not sure where this tool may fall and who or what can be affected by its failure.
Installing this very important safety control on the scaffold or platform can avoid these unwanted events.
It protects people in two ways:
Those who are working on the platform are more safe because the toe board can protect them from falling.
And those who are working around the area will not suffer from tools falling.
Not only workers, we can alos protect the existing assets from damage.
What may happen if we do not use toeboards
We need to think about it,
In the absence of a toe board , workers who are working on height are in great danger.
Especially in harsh environmental conditions.
Another scenario we need to think about is
What if a hand tool fell from this height on an existing equipment on the ground.
In both scenarios, we will suffer huge losses, either injuries, fatalities or asset damage.
Using this toe board is considered an engineering control that can prevent the event from the beginning.
So, it lowers the likelihood or the chance of the risk not lowering the severity.
unlike other mitigations that can be used to decrease the severity of consequences.
Fall arrestors can be used to catch the workers after falling.
It is very important, but toe boards can protect them from falling.
Toe board requirement
Let’s talk about OSHA toeboard requirements
The employers need to use control measures when workers are working below an elevated platform.
It is clearly mentioned in OSHA 1917.112d
This toe-board shall be at least 3.5 inches in height ( approximately 9 cm)
starting from the floor level of the platform.
It has to withstand at least a force of 50 pounds
It is allowed to leave a space for fluid drainage ( not exceeding 0.25 inch)
Never under-estimate the toe board
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