Guardrails are used on roads, highways and in buildings such as hospitals, hotels or schools. Guardrails education and training teaches employees how to install guardrails efficiently while maintaining safety regulations. Guardrails training is available for both indoor and outdoor guardrails. No matter where you install or maintain guardrails, guardrails education and training is beneficial to your clients, employees and company.

When determining the best guardrails education and training for your employees, consider your training budget, how many employees need training and how much time can be spent training. Seminars and workshops provide a classroom setting and professional educators, but it is the most expensive training option. Online information is free and can be used by many employees, however it is not as extensive as professional training. Videos and training programs are also available. These programs normally charge a fee, however the training can be used as many times as needed by your employees.

1. Sign up for workshops and seminars that focus on training with guardrails.

2. Use online information to train employees to work with industrial guardrails and guardrail supplies.

3. Purchase guardrail training videos and programs.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Locate guardrails education and training workshops and seminars

Guardrails training workshops and seminars are available across the U.S. These training sessions are led by trained professionals and are available in comprehensive or refresher courses. This is normally the most expensive form of training, however it does provide a more in-depth educational opportunity.

I recommend: Visit the American Traffic Safety Services Association for courses about stainless steel guard rails. Attend a guardrail installation training seminar taught by the National Highway Institute. Attend the University of California's one-day seminar about industrial guardrail installation.

Find online information to train employees to safely work with industrial guardrails

There is a wealth of training information online regarding guardrails. This information is normally free and provides training materials and ideas for training your employees.

I recommend: The U.S. Department of Transportation provides guidelines and information for training meetings about safety guardrails. Use their publications as part of your education program. Present your employees with your state's safety regulations for installing a steel guardrail from the National Safety Compliance. Link to your specific state and select "guardrail" for the state's regulations.

Download guardrail training videos and programs

These videos and guides allow you to teach employees the proper way to install guardrails. Using visual aides often helps employees to visualize the work that needs to be done. This helps them produce a better result when installing the guardrail.

I recommend: GRIT, or Guardrail installation Training, is a guardrail training course that can be downloaded or purchased as a CD. Download videos for guardrail training at Building Media.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Your guardrail manufacturer may provide installation instructions or training courses for your employees. These are often very helpful because it teaches your employees how to work with the actual products they use on the job.

Erecting and maintaining safety guardrails are a great way to make sure you keep people and machinery out of dangerous areas. Safety is always a top priority on the job. If you operate in an industrial workplace with heavy machinery, it's especially important to take precautions to make sure both people and property are kept out of harm's way.

All it takes to find guardrail supplies online is a little bit of research and knowing what you're looking for. A guardrail manufacturer may specialize in certain sizes or types of guardrails, so be sure to compare products when you browse the Internet. Find stainless steel guard rails for any workplace application. Some of the main uses of industrial guardrails include:

1. In-plant offices. Protect your workspace from heavy machinery.

2. Stairways. Safety guardrails will keep pedestrians safe from falling or from mobile equipment.

3. Storage areas or loading docks. Even in the absence of constant traffic, guardrails can act as a reminder for employees about areas it's not safe or prudent to enter.

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Find stainless steel guard rails at the strength you require

Steel guardrails come in different strengths and sizes depending on your intended use. If you're searching for guard rails to use in low traffic areas, or places where heavy machinery like forklifts are not apt to travel, you may be looking for standard strength guardrails. If on the other hand you need guardrails for a particularly busy or dangerous intersection in your plant, you may want taller and more heavy duty guardrails.

I recommend: Check out the industrial steel guardrails offered by Cisco-Eagle. They offer guardrails in standard-duty or heavy duty variations, and at multiple heights.

Get feedback on your custom guardrail layout

If you want to install industrial guardrails in your workplace and are looking for a quote on the price and materials needed, contact a guardrail manufacturer to evaluate your project. Guardrail suppliers can provide the materials and also advice on your proposed plan.

I recommend: Herwin is a guardrail manufacturer who also provides guardrail supplies. Fill out a worksheet detailing your project layout and fax them a copy so they can evaluate your needs and place an order for all the necessary materials.

Get an immediate quote on guardrails and materials

If you're looking for quick feedback on materials for your project, go online and fill out a manufacturer's survey. Specify your guardrail needs and the timeline of your project to receive a quote on materials when you need it.

I recommend: Check out Allied Modular's selection of Tufguard rails, then fill out a quote request detailing your needs and project timeline.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Sometimes you need mobile or non-permanent guardrails. Look for a temporary guardrail manufacturer whose products may be moved or easily replaced when they're no longer needed.

As the name indicates, high-pressure compressors operate at a higher pressure than the normal pressure conditions. High-pressure compressors are useful in various applications, such as automotive repairs, woodworking, painting and packaging.

While searching for basic information about high-pressure compressors, you will come across various technical terms that indicate types of compressors, various compression techniques and specifications of the compressor products.

This guide intends to explain the compressor terms that will help you make smarter business choices. Some of the compressor terms covered in this guide are reciprocating compressors, centrifugal compressors, adiabatic compression, isentropic compression, gauge pressure, brake horsepower and compression efficiency.

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Adiabatic compression

In an adiabatic compression process, there is no heat transfer. The compressed fluid is neither heated nor cooled during the compression process.

I recommend: airandvac.com provides a glossary of air terms, including adiabatic compression. Pneuaire, a reputable supplier of compressors, presents the definition for the adiabatic compression process.

Isentropic compression

As the name indicates, an isentropic compression process is an adiabatic process with an increase in entropy.

I recommend: You can read through the definition for an isentropic compression process at Sawyer Compressor, a leading manufacturer of compressors.

Isothermal compression

The compression process, in which the temperature of the compressed fluid remains constant, is called the isothermal compression process.

I recommend: For the definition of the isothermal compression process, you can read through the glossary at IDG Compressor (PDF), a supplier of industrial compressors. In addition, Northwest Air Solutions, Inc. offers the compressed air glossary for the inexperienced reader.

Reciprocating compressors

In a reciprocating compressor (also called a piston drive compressor), the fluid is compressed with a piston-cylinder mechanism.

I recommend: Air Compressor Resource, an online resource for prospective compressor buyers, offers information on the various types of compressors, such as reciprocating compressors.

Centrifugal compressors

A centrifugal compressor compresses the fluid by using rotating vanes or impellers. For achieving high discharge pressures, you can also employ a multi-stage centrifugal compressor.

I recommend: To understand the definition for a centrifugal compressor, you can read through glossaries of key terms at websites of the different compressor suppliers, such as Pneumatic-Source.com and Impact RM.

Gauge pressure

Gauge pressure (also referred to as overpressure) is the pressure of a system measured by a gauge or any other pressure-measuring instruments.

I recommend: JPL Air Compressor Service and Main Power Connect provide air compressor glossaries explaining various key terms, such as absolute pressure and gauge pressure.

Brake horsepower

Compressor manufacturers use this measurement unit to specify the power of a high-pressure compressor. Brake horsepower of a compressor is the horsepower required at the compressor shaft for its efficient functioning.

I recommend: Industrial Air Power, a supplier of compressor parts, offers information about the term brake horsepower. PneuSource, Inc., a specialist in the air-compression technology, also provides definitions for compressed air terms.

Compression efficiency

Compression efficiency is the ratio of the theoretical work requirement to the actual work required to be done on the fluid for its compression and delivery.

I recommend: R and R Compressor Service Co. publishes the basics of compression efficiency. In addition, Enerquip offers a glossary of the compressor key terms, such as compression efficiency.

All the guardrails types and styles available on the market have one function: to provide a safety barrier. Whether they block traffic on a highway or prevent a fall from a high spot, guardrails are an important safety precaution. And because they are so much a part of our landscape, we often take them for granted.

No matter what kind of guardrails you need, you'll find that they not only protect the area behind them, they also can act as a cushion to anything that hits them. This in turn acts as a safety mechanism for whoever tries to cross one.

As you look at installing guardrails in your business, think about the areas that need protection. You should consider:

1. The size of the area you need to protect.

2. The material you wish to use as guardrails.

3. The cost of the project.

Action Steps
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Use stainless steel guard rails

If you want to add a touch of modern décor to your business, consider adding stainless steel guard rails to your stairs, balconies and decks. This product is simple, yet performs the safety task as it should. You can install just stainless steel guard rails or use a combination of stainless steel and wood.

I recommend: McGraw Hill Construction offer stainless steel guard rails in a variety of decorative options. Contact them to design guardrail for your next project. Stainless steel guard rails also work as deck rails in projects shown at Ideas-For-Deck-Designs.com.

Put guardrails inside your shop or factory

Whether you want extra protection around the shop office or to protect the inside walls from forklifts, you can find guardrails suitable for industrial purposes. They are a good way to protect not only your workers, but your products and equipment as well.

I recommend: Set up industrial guardrails from WireCrafters. This guardrail manufacturer offers both double and single rail products. Omega has a full line of safety guardrails for your shop or factory. The company shows a number of ways you can configure your industrial guardrail to suit your specific safety needs.

Install highway guardrails

If you want to protect your outside parking lots, you may want to install highway guardrails. This type of guard rail curls into itself when hit, protecting the driver of the vehicle as well as the property. Because it uses high tension to provide the cushion, you should have highway guardrail installed by trained professionals.

I recommend: Trinity Highway Products is a leading supplier of steel guardrail used as highway barricades. It also offers a full line of guardrail supplies, such as end terminals and crash cushions. GSI Highway Products is also a leading guardrail supplier.