What is Edge Protection?

Edge protection consists of safety products and devices specifically designed to protect workers, the public, and equipment from falling into trenches and excavations, as well as falling debris.

Our range of Edge Protection equipment is available for use with our complete range of shoring solutions, including our Steel and Aluminium Shoring Boxes, MAPS Systems, and Trench Sheet and Sheet Pile Systems.

• Edge Safe Handrail Systems: Protecting workers and your equipment from falling into trenches and excavations can easily be achieved with our Edge Safe Handrail System, which now comes with rotational feet. 

Coming in 1, 2, 3, and 4-metre lengths, the system is compliant with Australian Standards AS 4994.1 ‘Temporary Edge Protection’ because it has a three-rail system. Scaffolding tubes can also be used to bridge gaps in the system, where the gap is smaller than 1 metre or is across an odd angle.

Two people are needed to install our Edge Safe Handrail System and its accessories safely. The connecting feet have provision for a Toe Board or Kick Board, but Shore Hire do not supply these. If toe boards are required, they should not be less than 150mm high. Once installed, the top of the handrail should be no lower than 900mm from ground level.

• Ladder Safe Platforms and Ladders: Shore Hire’s Ladder Safe Platform is a simple, robust ladder platform that is designed to be used with our excavation support systems. It provides a safe and easy entrance and exit for workers who need to access an excavation.

The system quickly and effectively clamps to both trench boxes and sheeting solutions, providing a safe access platform for entry to the excavation via a ladder attached to the Platform. It features a self-closing and locking gate, and a ladder pole to attach and secure the ladder. Our Ladder Safe is equipped with two fall arrest points. These secure anchorages effectively prevent falls and reduce the risk of injuries during the shoring process. When using our Ladder Safe Platform, the ladder must be installed at a safe angle of inclination between 65 and 75 degrees.

These systems are manufactured by Shore Hire to meet the requirements of the Australian Excavation Work Code of Practice regulations under section 274 of the Work Health and Safety Act. 

We offer a selection of commercially available ladders that can be attached to a Ladder Access Platform to allow safe access into trenches. We have fixed and extension ladders available in a range of heights from 2 metres onwards. Shore Hire can source ladders of any size to cater to your excavation needs.

• Davit Arms and Fall Arrest Systems or Recovery Winches: Our Davit Arms provide workers with a way to safely access and exit trenches and excavations, ensuring they can do their jobs without risking harm. It works with our safety winch to create an inertia-locked reel system that quickly and effectively clamps to trench boxes and sheeting solutions, providing a safe and easy safety system if a person slips or requires retrieval from within an excavation. 

They’re compliant with Australian Standard AS 1891.4:2009 ‘Industrial fall-arrest systems and devices –Selection, use and maintenance’ and have a cable length of 24m and a load capacity of 136kg. This load capacity is based on someone falling with the full force of gravity, so the true static load is significantly higher than 136kg to account for the increased force gravity provides.

We also have a heavy-duty Davit Arm that can hold up to 5 times the weight of our current Davit Arms, and a Davit Arm Trailer Hitch Mount. This mount allows you to use your vehicle as a portable anchor point for confined space entry and retrieval and fall arrest applications, using a Davit Arm. The mount can connect to the majority of 51mm square vehicle receivers, and is made from aluminium, making it strong, but still lightweight.

Fall Arrest Systems or Recovery Winches are the reels placed into davit arms and are devices that have rescue hoisting facilities, allowing a person who has fallen into a trench or excavation to be rescued quickly or safely. Our Recovery Winches have a release pin and two-way winding handle, to engage rescue/recovery mode. The unit is completely closed, and all parts are made from stainless steel, aluminium, or shockproof plastic.

• Stair Access Platforms and Self-Levelling Stairs: Our Stair Access Platform is similar to Ladder Safe Platforms, but features self-levelling stairs instead of a ladder. This platform is required for securing self-levelling stairs via a ladder deck into an excavation. Innovative and robust, the platform features a self-closing and locking gate, and is very easy to secure to all of our shoring systems.

Our adjustable, aluminium Self-Levelling Stairs provide safe, fast, and easy access between floors, decks, and in trenches. The stairs are adjustable between a 31 – 48 degree angle while still providing a safe and easily traversable surface.

Thanks to the heavy-duty aluminium they’re made from, the stairs are lightweight but also incredibly strong and durable. Self-levelling Stairs instantly adjust, once the stairs are placed into position, the threads will self-level to suit the angle of the batter. When the handrails are raised and the stairs are fixed at the top and bottom, they’re ready to use – no additional sign-off or certification is required.

Our Self-Levelling Stairs have a 90-degree top fixing bracket, folding handrails, and a large support foot. Additionally, the anti-slip self-levelling stair treads provide added safety for workers.

These portable aluminium stairs are made to meet the AS 1657:2018 safety standards. Our Self-Levelling Stairs are available in two different widths, 600mm and 1200mm. They also come in five different sizes, with options ranging from 3 to 18 steps.

If you want to learn more about our range of edge protection equipment or any of our shoring products, visit your nearest branch, email [email protected], or call our friendly team of experts at 1300 SHORE HIRE.