Framing the first level of any structure presents risks. Once the work area is no longer on the ground floor, the risk of falls becomes greater. As with all construction work, forethought and preparation is key to creating a safe workplace.

In order to construct a solid work area for the construction and/or erection of wall frames on the first level, flooring needs to be laid to ground and upper floors at the earliest opportunity.

The laying of floor sheets needs to begin adjacent to an internal or external access point which provides initial fall protection for workers. Laying of sheets needs to then proceed using a safe work procedure that prevents employees from falling over the leading edge.

Edge protection in the form of external scaffolding or guard railing, needs to be provided prior to laying flooring perimeter. The setting out and nailing of ceiling joists, or upper level floor joists, needs to be done by working off scaffolding set upon the floor below. Trestle scaffolds may be used for this purpose. It is important that employers ensure that no person walks the external top plate.

Prior to any work proceeding at floor level all stairwells, atriums and voids need to be sturdily guarded, covered with an industrial safety net or sheeted over, regardless of the fall distance from the upper level floor.

In summary, before work on wall framing commences, employers should ensure that:

• Sheet flooring has been laid;
• Openings have been guarded;
• Edge protection is provided.

When used correctly, guardrailing is an efficient way to prevent falls and should be implemented at:

• The perimeters of buildings or other structures;
• The perimeters of skylights and other areas of the roof where materials are fragile;
• Openings in floor or roof structures;
• Edges of excavations.

Further, guardrails should incorporate:

• A top-rail at a minimum 900 mm above the working surface;
• A mid-rail;
• A bottom rail or toeboard (where a toeboard is not used alternative measures need to be implemented to prevent risks to persons working below from falling objects);
• Robust construction and designed in accordance with the AS 1657 Fixed platforms, walkways, stairways and ladders – design, construction and installation or AS/NZS 4994 Temporary edge protection.

If you are prevented from using guardrails, wall-framing incorporating studs at 600 mm maximum centres and 1 row of noggings is an acceptable alternative.

Note that additional members must be placed across any window or door openings in the structure to provide fall protection equal to a guardrail. 

To ensure safety for everyone on the worksite, proprietary systems need to be configured, installed, used and dismantled according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Building timber needs to be inspected by a competent person to determine whether it is suitable for use as guardrailing.

Where timber guardrailing is not specifically designed in accordance with AS 1657, the member sizes set out in table 1 and table 2 need to be used for guardrail and post sizes respectively.

Wherever feasible, guardrailing needs to be constructed in a way that, when an outward force is applied, the posts are subjected to bending about their strong axis.

Finally, remember that where workers are working from trestles, ladders and mobile scaffolds in close proximity to floor openings, such as stairwells and partially completed floors, the openings must be covered with covers designed to withstand likely impact and static loads and fixed to prevent any dislodgement or accidental removal.