How To Select The Right Mezzanine Safety Gate
How to Choose The Right Design: Fall Protection Mezzanine Safety Gate Selection Guide
A safety gate for fall protection is a critical system used to prevent employee falls at mezzanines, pallet drop areas, and elevated work platforms. In industrial and material handling environments, OSHA requires fall protection at open edges where workers load, unload, or access materials starting at 4 feet high. Selecting the right mezzanine safety gate depends on factors such as pallet size, load height, overhead clearance, and workflow. This guide explains how safety gates work, outlines OSHA compliance requirements, and helps you choose the best gate design for your application.
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Why Fall Protection Matters
OSHA Walking-Working Surfaces 1910.29 requires guardrails or equivalent fall protection for working surfaces 4 feet or higher in general industry and 6 feet or higher in construction. ANSI standards further refine expectations for engineered fall protection systems. Safety gates at pallet drop and access points help meet these requirements by providing barriers that stay in place whether employees are loading, unloading, or working material.
With properly engineered dual-gate systems, one gate is always closed, creating a continuous safety barrier even during pallet handling.
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Key Factors in Selecting a Safety Gate
Before selecting a mezzanine safety gate model, answer these questions for your application in order to choose the right safety gate model:
- What type of platform or elevated area needs protection?
- How much headroom and clearance is available?
- Are pallets standard or oversized?
- Will the gate be manually operated or powered?
- Is product containment needed to prevent falling objects?
Mezzanine Safeti-Gate Safety Gate Models & Best Uses
While we’re offering the ideal environment for each of our safety gate models below, it’s important to note that most of our gate models can be used in any application. We also create custom-engineered safety gates for very unique areas.
1. Roly® – The Most Versatile Dual-Gate System
The original dual-gate safety system, the Roly mezzanine gate performs well in most pallet drop applications, especially where a range of pallet sizes or configurations is handled. Its flexibility allows it to adapt to wide, deep, or tall pallet areas. Remote or power-operated options are available for forklift operator convenience.
Best for: Standard pallet drop zones, doorway access areas, and general-purpose mezzanine use.
2. Tri-Side – Access from Multiple Directions
Tri-Side mezzanine safety gates provide access on both the back and side of the pallet, with a compact footprint that’s ideal for walkways, catwalks, or narrow work platforms. The fixed stanchions are only 14 inches deep — minimizing space while allowing ergonomic access to pallet loads.
Best for: Production platforms, catwalks, and pallet drop zones where multi-side pallet access is needed.
3. Pivot & High Pallet Pivot – Few Moving Parts, Long-Term Reliability
Pivot and High Pallet Pivot safety gates use a pivoting framework that uses few moving parts, making very durable and efficient. The Pivot models fit into spaces with limited overhead clearance, making them an ideal candidate for rack systems. Their fewer moving parts make them excellent for dusty, hostile, or sanitary environments, especially when constructed of stainless steel. The High Pallet Pivot safety gate design accommodates pallets up to 80 inches tall.
Best for: Restricted height areas, demanding operations and hostile environments.
4. Open-Top – Tall Pallets & Overhead Access
Open-Top safety gates have no overhead mechanics, allowing for tall loads and access by hoists, vacuums or other lifting equipment. Open Top mezzanine gates can be configured with the gates opening to either side or at 90 degrees.
Best for: Very tall loads or environments using overhead lifting equipment to load material.
5. Pallet Flow – Secure Flow Lanes
While employees are discouraged from walking out on pallet flow lanes, they must be guarded to keep employees from walking out on the lanes. Pallet Flow safety gates can be configured to protect single or multiple wide pallet flow lanes while maintaining continuous fall protection. Our pallet flow gates are hinge free, so there is minimal maintenance needed, even with continuous use.
Best for: Pallet flow lanes and cluster-picking areas where aisles are shared.
6. Rack-Supported Gates – Maximizing Space
Rack-Supported mezzanine safety gates attach directly to existing pallet rack structures, saving valuable floor space and eliminating standalone framing. Roly, Tri-Side, and Pivot models are all available in rack-supported configurations to suit specific needs.
Best for: Multi-level picking modules and high-bay rack installations.
Optional Upgrades & Add-Ons
Add any of these options to your existing mezzanine safety gates or new orders.
Product Containment Netting & Wire Mesh Panels
Adding netting on the ledge gate keeps loose materials from falling off the platform. The netting compresses out of the way during loading and expands when the gate closes to provide product containment. Adding wire mesh panels will also keep products from falling.. Netting and mesh panels reduce product damage and potential employee injury from falling objects, enhancing safety for both personnel and products.
Power Operation & Smart Control
All of our safety gate models are available with power operation options. We offer electric or pneumatic power systems and can include remote push buttons and radio frequency remotes that communicate with forklift-activated sensors.
Pallet Position Indicators
If you load elevated pallet drop areas with a lift truck, adding pallet position indicator lights can reduce pallet and product damage by signalling that the pallet is in the correct place. The optional operator-assist technology uses an easy red and green light system.
Selecting the right safety gate involves more than ordering a generic safety gate. You must matching functionality, environment, and safety requirements of your operational workflow to a model that is best suited for those needs. Whether you need a single-wide Roly safety gate system or a custom engineered solution, Mezzanine Safeti-Gates has options that will fit your application and protect your employees.
Need help choosing?
Contact us — we’ll work with your team to evaluate requirements and recommend the best safety gate configuration for your facility.
