Safety Net Systems on Elevated Work | Tailgate Talk

Good morning. Not every job site uses safety nets, but if you’ve worked steel erection or bridge work, you’ve probably seen one. Today we’re covering what makes a net system safe versus just a piece of mesh hanging under you.

Why This Matters

A safety net is fall protection you don’t wear — it catches you if guardrails and personal fall arrest aren’t practical for the work being done. But a net that’s rigged wrong, hung too far below the work, or never tested can fail exactly when it’s needed most.

What OSHA Requires

Under 1926.502(c), nets must be installed as close as practicable to the working surface — never more than 30 feet below it. The horizontal distance the net extends outward depends on how far above it workers are: at least 8 feet out when work is 5 to 10 feet above the net, and more as that height increases. Mesh openings can’t be larger than 36 square inches, and the border rope must have a minimum breaking strength of 5,000 pounds.

Testing and Inspection

• Nets must be drop-tested with a 400-pound bag before first use, after major repair, and at least every 6 months.
• Inspect for damaged mesh, frayed border rope, and loose connections weekly and after anything falls into it.
• Remove debris, tools, and scrap from the net regularly — a loaded net can’t catch a falling worker properly.
• Never work above a net that hasn’t been documented as tested and inspected.

Did you know? Safety nets were one of the very first forms of fall protection used in high-rise steel erection, going back to bridge and skyscraper projects in the early 1900s — long before harnesses were standard gear.

Talk It Over

• When was our net system last drop-tested and documented?
• Is there any debris or tools sitting in the net right now that needs to come out?
• If guardrails or a harness would work better for this task, should we switch?