Work at height & materials
Edge protection and loading bays
Stopping people falling off, and getting materials up safely. Two of the most common causes of site incidents, both solved properly.
Falls from height remain the single biggest cause of fatal injury in UK construction, and manual handling of materials at height isn't far behind on the injury statistics. Both are entirely solvable with the right temporary works — and both are routinely done badly, because they're treated as an afterthought once the main scaffold is up.
We design edge protection, loading bays and stair towers into the access package from the start, so they're properly integrated, correctly loaded and actually usable rather than something everybody steps around.
- Temporary edge protection to leading edges, roof perimeters, floor openings, stairwells and excavations.
- Loading bays sized for the actual load — with the loading class specified, marked and designed, not assumed.
- Stair towers giving safe, fast access for operatives and light materials without a ladder in sight.
- Public protection fans and gantries where the work overhangs a footpath or public area.
- Gates and hop-ups that self-close and actually get used, rather than being tied open on day two.
- Integrated from the start — designed with the main scaffold, not bolted on afterwards.
Detail
What's included
Compliant edge protection
Guard rails, toe boards and intermediate rails to the heights and gaps the regulations require — properly, every time.
Designed loading bays
Loading class specified and marked on the bay so nobody has to guess what it will take. Designed where loading demands it.
Stair towers
Proper stair access instead of ladders — faster, safer, and far better for productivity on a busy site.
Public protection
Fans, gantries and covered walkways where the works overhang public routes, with lighting and guarding as required.
Licensing handled
Where protection sits on the highway or footpath, we handle the local authority licence application and the conditions attached.
Maintained, not just installed
Checked on the seven-day cycle and after any alteration — because edge protection that's been moved and not reinstated is worse than none.
Typical applications
- Leading edge protection
- Roof perimeter protection
- Floor opening protection
- Stairwell protection
- Loading bays & platforms
- Stair towers & access towers
- Material hoist support
- Public protection fans
- Pedestrian gantries & tunnels
- Excavation edge protection
- Mezzanine & internal edges
- Fragile roof protection
FAQs
Edge protection and loading bays — your questions
What height does edge protection need to be?
Guard rails need to be at least 950mm above the edge, with no unprotected gap exceeding 760mm — which in practice means a main guard rail, an intermediate rail and a toe board. We install to that as standard.
How do I know what a loading bay will hold?
Because it's specified and marked. Loading bays are designed to a defined loading class and signed accordingly. If you know a specific delivery is coming — heavy blocks, a large plant item — tell us at quotation stage so the bay is designed for it rather than hoped over.
Can you install edge protection without a full scaffold?
Yes. Standalone edge protection to roof perimeters, leading edges and floor openings is common, particularly on new build frames and roofing contracts where no perimeter scaffold is otherwise required.
Do I need a licence for a pavement gantry?
Almost certainly, yes — anything occupying the public highway or footpath needs a licence from the local authority, with conditions on lighting, guarding and pedestrian routes. We handle the application and tell you the council fee up front.
What if a trade removes a section and doesn't put it back?
It happens, and it's the most common way edge protection fails. Anything altered must be inspected before re-use, so tell us and we'll attend. We'd far rather come out for an hour than have somebody step through a gap.
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