As today's work areas can be pretty fast-paced, it's in everyone's best interests to try to build safety into a floor area — to that end, industrial safety gates help provide additional barriers to an accident-prone space, whether it's for controlling access to hazardous substances or protecting workers from potential falls. These kinds of tools also assist in compliance with OSHA and other work safety guidelines.

For those looking for instruction in how to use or select industrial safety gate models, the web has abundant resources like the following:

1. Training and consulting on commercial safety gates use and placement from companies with an eye toward OSHA compliance and general functionality.

2. Visuals and info pages detailing industrial security gates as part of a workplace safety infrastructure.

3. More from blogs and forums on the use of static or folding security gates or other similar tools.

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Find industrial safety gates consulting and training

Some companies offer online versions of a consulting training program for helping a business to incorporate industrial safety gate design into its specific floor areas. Look for options related to the specific challenges faced by a business in directing workers and avoiding potential liability.

I recommend: Get a variety of consulting and training options for safety and safety tools like industrial safety gates through HotFrog. Find fall and rescue training options, consulting on OSHA and details on self closing ladder safety gates from sites like the Safety Connection.

Find more on industrial safety gates from info sites

Other areas of the web include pages showing the set-up of industrial safety gates, as well as specifications, use methods, and details on what these tools are generally used for within a factory or production area, or in other trades and fields.

I recommend: Get visuals and details on industrial security gate models from Simplified Building. Find more of this kind of resource at sites like Industrial 101.

Locate more info on industrial safety gates from public blogs and web forums

There's more on the web regarding the use of industrial safety gates, too, from independent blog post pages, info sites and web forums where trades and production workers discuss aspects of using industrial safety barrier gate models in practice.

I recommend: Look for additional safety gates info from Article Alley. Or look for posts and info on indoor or outdoor safety gates as included in a workplace safety prospectus at Industrial Safety online.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Industrial safety gates education and training needs to be dispersed among the managers as well as the rank and file for best application within a business.
• •  All kinds of training for these tools should include attention to specific OSHA guidelines as well as applicable state or local worker safety law. Getting OSHA compliant is a great asset to a business, and on the flip side of that coin, non-compliance can be a costly liability.

In order to meet OSHA requirements, your business may need to install industrial safety gates to protect employees from dangerous machinery and falls from elevated areas. Industrial security gates are common on docks, mezzanines and ladderways.

1. Folding security gates can be stored out of the way when not needed for safety.

2. An industrial safety gate can make staircases and ladders more safe and secure for your employees.

3. Dock door safety gates protect your equipment and employees from accidental falls.

Commercial safety gates make your business and your employees safer. Complying with OSHA regulations by using industrial security gates is easier than ever to do.

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Assess where to place commercial safety gates

Use industrial safety gates for places where employees could potentially fall or need extra protection from equipment. OSHA regulations can help guide you to potential hazards, but you can also place folding security gates in areas that you feel pose additional concerns.

I recommend: A-Mezz has a number of different types of safety gates for potential hazard spots at your business site.

Consider the type of industrial safety gate for the space

In some areas, you'll want gates that can be easily moved or folded down flat. Consider whether the area to be included in the safety gate is visible from the outside and what the area is mostly commonly used for. Choose a gate that works for the space.

I recommend: The Safety Rail 2000 from BlueWater can be customized in a number of ways to suit your needs.

Use folding or portable indoor and outdoor safety gates for doorways and hallways

In some cases, you may want to obstruct particular areas, rooms or driveways. Folding or portable gates allow you to keep people out when you need to and allow access at other times.

I recommend: Blockader Gates provide you with a number of options in folding and portable scissor gates. Use them in doorways, hallways and other areas.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Industrial safety gate providers typically use a bright yellow color on safety gates. In some cases, you may be able to choose a different color or paint the safety gate later. Keep in mind that the yellow color makes the safety gate more visible.

Industrial safety gates ensure the safety of workers on the shop floor, elevated surfaces and other accident-prone areas. Safety gates also prevent falls from unoccupied loading docks.

Industrial safety gates come in various options, such as pallet safety gates, mezzanine safety gates and flood control gates. They are generally made of metal, but you can also buy wooden industrial safety gates.

This guide intends to familiarize you with technical terms related to industrial safety gates.

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Mezzanine safety gates

Mezzanine gates prevent falls and accidents from the mezzanine floor in a workplace. Mezzanine safety gates act as a railing system and protective guard; they are common on elevated surfaces.

I recommend: To gain basic knowledge about mezzanine safety gates, read through some basic information at Total Lifting Solutions, a manufacturer of industrial lifting and handling equipment.

Safety pallet gates

A safety pallet gate operates over a pallet and it is useful in loading areas. The safety pallet gate creates a protected area where you can store ready-to-ship goods.

I recommend: Haagh Protection BV, a manufacturer of industrial safety equipment and safety gates, offers basic information about safety pallet gates.

Ladder safety gates

Ladder safety gates provide protection from falls on industrial work floors with ladder way openings.

I recommend: You can learn more about ladder safety gates and their applications at PS Doors Inc., a manufacturer of industrial doors, safety products and flood protection products.

OSHA (Occupational Health and Safety Administration)

OSHA is the federal agency that administers the laws and safety measures to protect employees at any workplace within the United States. Employers must install OSHA adhering industrial safety gates in their premises to prevent accidents.

I recommend: All About OSHA offers detailed information about OSHA and provides guidelines for developing and implementing OSHA regulations.

Self-closing safety swing gates

You can install self-closing swing gates in hallways or on the shop floor to control employee traffic.

I recommend: To learn more about self-closing swing gates, read through basic information at A-Mezz Industrial Structures, Inc., a manufacturer of industrial gates.

Guardrails

Guardrails are protection barriers that prevent people and goods from entering a restricted area. You can install wooden or metal guardrails at your workplace if you want to allow limited access to any area.

I recommend: wiseGEEK, an online information resource, provides basic information about guardrails and their applications.

Industrial safety gates are a non-negotiable item in any warehouse, manufacturing plant or for the roof of an office building. You'll want to establish a generous budget in order to keep your employees safe and your business running properly. Industrial safety gates pricing and costs vary quite a bit due to the need that each gate needs to serve.

There are more factors that you need to consider other than just the initial cost of an industrial security gate. Consider the following contributing factors:

1. The size of an industrial safety gate plays a major role in the final price.

2. The type of material that makes up your industrial safety gate affects the cost.

3. The need for replacement parts and routine maintenance are important considerations in your industrial safety gate budget.

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Consider the size of commercial safety gates

Industrial safety gates can range in price from $200 to $1,000, and industrial safety gates come in a variety of sizes depending on the type of area that they need to cover. The price of an industrial safety gate depends on its size, which encompasses not just the length of an industrial safety barrier gate but its height and the amount of protection it offers. Some commercial safety gates act as just a warning around machinery or chemicals, while others actually provide protection from harm or act as security.

I recommend: Blockader displays the different sizes of security gates that it offers. Depending on the height and width, this type ranges in price from $700 to $1,000. Safety Connection specializes in barrier-type industrial security gates that cost around $200.

Decide on the type of material for your industrial safety gates

When setting your safety budget, it's important to account for the fact that industrial security gates use a variety of materials. If you need something that is extra durable and can withstand the elements, your investment will more then pay off when you don't need to replace your outdoor safety gates after a hard winter. It almost always is beneficial to spring for the better materials for the outdoors, such as driveway security gates, but for gates such as indoor dock door safety gates, it might not make a difference. Keep in mind that many manufacturers work on a quotation basis and won't provide prices unless you contact their sales department.

I recommend: BlueWater Manufacturing outlines its OSHA-approved industrial security gate. The company works on a quotation basis, so you need to contact them for direct pricing. Can-Am Industrial Safety Products explains the difference between mild steel, stainless steel and an aluminum industrial security gate. It also works on a quotation basis.

Factor in replacement parts and routine maintenance of commercial safety gates to your budget

With any industrial security gate, it's crucial to allow room in your budget for routine maintenance and replacement parts for your folding security gates. Outdoor safety gates will need routine upkeep in order to keep them functioning properly during all types of weather. Hinges, although only of little cost, are one example of a part that you may need to replace on a commercial safety gate. Painted gates will also likely need repainting every couple of years to keep from rusting. All of these considerations can add a few hundred dollars per year to your industrial safety gates budget.

I recommend: Simplified Safety reviews installation of industrial safety gates. Rite-Hite, one of the industrial safety gate manufacturers, specializes in indoor industrial safety gates of all kinds.