Dropped Objects
Prevention Safety Nets

Best practices & recommendations for Securing structures

Next to securing of devices, tools and other equipment parts of structures should be properly secured. In addtion there are some structurail equipment like grafting, toeboards that contributes to the prevention of dropped opbjects. This part is all about best practice recoommendations of several structurail equipment to prevent dropped objects.

Grating Best practice recommendations:

Grating must be adequately fixed to underlying structures to prevent loosening due to vibrations or loads
Grating should be secured against sideways movement in all directions, by stopping against structure like nabouring grating, toe board, railing etc
Through-bolts or threaded connections with lock nuts are recommended for securing
Openings in the grating must not exceed 20 mm where personnel may traffic the area below, and should otherwise not exceed 35 mm.

Piping and equipment feedthroughs Best practice recommendations:

All piping and equipment feedthroughs in decks and grating must have a toe board and must be covered to the greatest extent possible
Canvas or a cladding material can be used
Covering is especially important in areas where there is equipment requiring periodic maintenance. if done properly, and preferably permanently, this is an effective measure against dropped objects

Best practice recommendations:

Railings must be a minimum of 1100 mm high and have integrated toe boards that are at least 100 mm high
Railings must be functionally designed for the area they are intended to secure, e.g. wire mesh must be installed as required (loading areas)
Railings shall not have deformations or cracks that affect their functionality or strength
It must always be possible to insert movable railings into the fastenings and insert a securing through-bolt
The safety bolt must be adequately locked using a securing pin, snap hook (with eyelet) or a cotter pin (see also the section on securing pins)
Both the safety bolt and locking mechanism must be secured in the immediate vicinity of the fastening
All connections between elements in the railing must be secured with a through-bolt and lock nut
The use of setscrews is not recommended in permanent railings
Railings and attachment points for collapsible and movable railings must be inspected on a regular basis to maintain adequate security and functionality

Toeboards Best practice recommendations:

Decks, gangways and platforms must have toe boards with a minimum height of 100 mm
On stairways, every step must have a toe board with a minimum height of 50 mm
All landings in stairways must have toe boards with a minimum height of 100 mm
The gap between the deck or grating and toe board must not exceed 10 mm

Swing gates / Safety gate Best practice recommendations:

Gates must be of the same strength as the surrounding railings
Gates must be secured in order to prevent disengaging
Gates must open/swing towards the platform or deck
Gates must be designed to automatically return to and remain in a closed position (self-closing gates)
On floating rigs/installations it is recommended that a latch is fitted to secure the gate in the closed position
Toe boards must be integrated with gates in accordance with requirements
Wherever possible, the hinges should be an integral part of the gate
Swing gates must be inspected and maintained on a regular basis to ensure adequate functionality

Ladders Best practice recommendations:

Ladders higher than 9 m must feature an incorporated rest platform every sixth metre, or be equipped with a permanent fall arrest device
Ladders higher than 6 m should have a rest platform in accordance with recommendations from the norwegian Labour inspection Authority
Safety cages must be installed on ladders higher than 3 m, and on shorter ladders where there is a risk of falling to a lower level
The safety cage must start at a maximum of 2200 – 2300 mm above the deck/floor. The distance between the upper part of the railing and the lower part of the cage should be minimised by using extra protection as appropriate wherever there is a risk of falling to a lower level
The safety cage must extend to at least 110 cm above the top level
The diameter of the safety cage must be at least 70-80 cm
Any damage or deformation must be reported and corrected as soon as possible
Ladders and safety cages must be inspected on a regular basis in order to ensure adequate functionality

Wind walls Best practice recommendations:

Wind wall panels must be fastened to a dedicated support structure and never to the main structure
Wind wall panels must always be reinforced using horizontal steel beams in accordance with the design loads
Areas that are exposed to collision risk must have stronger corner mountings secured by through-bolts and lock nuts
The preferred attachment solution is through-bolts with large washers and lock nuts
The user manual/instructions must also provide guidelines for the correct installation of joints and attachment points
Routines for necessary maintenance and the inspection of wind wall panels and their attachment points must be prepared

Dropped Objects Prevention Safety Nets