The Importance of Safety Guardrails on a Home Building Site

Join NAHB and its official safety sponsor, Builders Mutual, as we celebrate the seventh annual Guardrail Safety Week, Oct. 19-23, and be part of the difference proper guardrail use makes in protecting workers and saving lives.

Guardrails are simple installations, primarily constructed of 2x4s, that physically block openings that present a fall risk on a construction site, like second-floor window openings and unfinished balconies. Guardrails prevent a fall through these openings in the event of a trip or inattention.

Falls from height are the most common cause of residential construction fatalities. Fall protection is also OSHA’s most-cited violation on jobsites, with more than twice the number of violations for inadequate fall protection as the second most-cited standard.

Builders Mutual, a leading writer of commercial insurance for the construction industry in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast, has joined forces with NAHB, the Job-site Safety Institute (JSI) and Safety Maker to promote and encourage proper and consistent guardrail use to protect everyone on a jobsite, including visitors.

Builders Mutual is giving you the chance to win a safety bundle worth up to $500: Just watch its “Put Your Guard Up” video and you’ll be able to enter for a chance to win.

NAHB, Builders Mutual and its supporting partners have created resources that can be used to build and strengthen safe habits on jobsites. In addition to the video embedded below, please visit these additional resources: 

• Builders Mutual-Guardrail Training Guide
• Builders Mutual-Guardrail Inspection Checklist
• Builders Mutual-Guardrail Infographic
• NAHB Fall Protection Toolkit

Proper guardrail use was also the topic of one of the first NAHB Safety Tip of the Week social media videos. View and download the video on the Tip of the Week page. 

During Guardrail Safety Week, join NAHB and Builders Mutual in changing the safety culture — and remember to Put Your Guard Up.