Portable Fall Protection Systems

Most portable fall protection systems use two- or three-bar guard rails, just like permanent fall protection systems, but with weighted bases instead of flanges that are bolted or otherwise directly connected to the roof or other elevated area of the building on/in which they’re used.

Easy to Use Passive Fall Protection

Portable fall protection systems provide reliable “passive” fall protection. That is, they keep you from falling off a roof (for example), but won’t arrest your motion if you do fall, as a harness system—or, “active” fall protection—would. While permanent fall protection systems are fixed in a single location, portable systems are easily reconfigurable and moveable. Most styles feature rails that are detachable from the bases, making it easy to move the two components separately, with no need for special tools or equipment. Most versions of these devices meet OSHA guidelines. A portable fall protection system used to protect only a single roof access point.

Versatile & Cost-Effective

In many instances, rooftops or other potentially dangerous elevated areas of a workplace do not need to be accessed regularly by personnel, or only select, smaller areas need to be accessed, without traversing the entire roof area. In these cases, portable fall protection is an excellent option, as they can be disassembled, moved to where they’re needed, and reassembled with relatively little effort. This allows users to “cover” an entire roof area with a fairly small system. Even if, for example, the entire roof of a building needs to be worked on, a portable fall protection system can be moved from place to place as workers move across the rooftop performing their task. That last point also makes a portable fall protection system an economical alternative to a permanent system. In the above scenario, a permanent system would need to be in place to surround the entire roof, whereas with a portable system, the user would only need enough railing, etc., to surround the workers themselves. Rather than 500 feet of railing to enclose the whole rooftop, for example, a portable system comprising only 50 feet of rail may be sufficient.

Portable Fall Protection System Providers

• Dakota Safety specializes in safety guardrail systems, including portable fall protection systems. They can provide everything you need for complete, passive fall protection on any rooftop or elevated work area.