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Guardrail bracket spacing on flying forms

Summary An equipment company asked whether flying form guardrail brackets could be spaced 14 feet apart. OSHA said that spacing was permissible if the rail system offered protection equivalent to brackets spaced eight feet apart. OSHA now archives the letter as potentially outdated.
Document
Federal opinion letter
Agency
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Document number
1986-04-17
Date issued
April 17, 1986
Status
Archived by the agency
OSHA archives this letter and says it may no longer represent OSHA policy.
Status last verified October 10, 2026
Topics
Workplace Safety OSHA 1926 Fall Protection
Source
View the official document

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The current status of this document is unclear
OSHA archives this letter and says it may no longer represent OSHA policy. It may no longer reflect the agency's current position. Treat this page as historical context, not current guidance, and verify current law before relying on anything here.
About this page: The full text below is the official document from Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Ezel adds the plain-English summary and tracks the document's status. The official source linked on this page is authoritative for any reliance.

NOTICE: This is an OSHA Archive Document, and may no longer represent OSHA Policy. It is presented here as historical content, for research and review purposes only.

April 17, 1986

John Rosenthal, P.E.
Vice President Operations
ALUMA-SYSTEMS
[Recipient address omitted]
Dear Mr. Rosenthal:

This is in response to your letter of March 10 requesting guidance on the spacing of guardrail brackets used on flying forms.

The post spacing of guardrail brackets (post sockets) at 14-foot intervals would be permissible if the guardrail system provides the equivalent protection of a spacing of 8-feet.

Your effort in supplying equipment to ensure the safety of the worker in the job environment is to be commended.

If you require further information, please contact Jack Matthews at (202) 523-8132.

Sincerely,
Leo Carey, Director
Directorate of Field Operations

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