Deb Hilmerson

When an edge protection system looks like it offers protection, workers may take more risks—believing they’re safe when they’re not. As safety consultant T.J. Lyons puts it in the ENR article:

“There’s more risk-taking where there is a barrier.”
“We should be more afraid of openings.”

And the numbers back it up. Fatal construction falls have remained stubbornly high for years, with many involving improperly built or failed edge protection systems.

The Hilmerson Safety Rail System: Designed to Protect, Built to Last

The ENR article highlights companies that are rethinking fall protection railings by offering engineered, reusable guardrail systems—and features Hilmerson Safety as a trailblazer in the industry.

“Former contractor safety professional Deb Hilmerson founded Hilmerson Safety 25 years ago to meet a need she saw for reusable protective guardrails that are OSHA and code compliant and which made sense.”

– ENR

Hilmerson’s fall protection railing:

• Uses galvanized steel to prevent rust and corrosion.
• Is OSHA-compliant and designed to withstand a 200-lb force.
• Offers both non-penetrating and penetrating base options to suit different jobsite needs—preserve roof warranties with our weighted-foot design or choose anchored bases for permanent or high-traffic applications.
• Can be installed by a two-person crew in just 12 minutes per 120 linear feet.
• Is reusable, saving time and money across multiple projects.
• Kit “cart” provides easy and efficient delivery, stacking, storing, inventorying and transporting guardrails.

Why Engineered Fall Protection Railing Systems Matter

The ENR article brings to light that while some large contractors invest in proper fall protection, many small contractors still rely on what’s available onsite. That’s a dangerous gamble.

At Hilmerson Safety, we believe safety should never be improvised. Our system is engineered, tested, and built to last—so you can focus on the job, not on whether your fall protection railing will hold.

“Our market research found the cost of job-built wooden guardrails averages $18.58/linear foot, and that does not factor in lumber cost increases as high as 30% since the start of 2017. Note, these averages do not reflect the current significant increase in 2×4 pricing from recent tariff changes. We also found estimators are often failing to include significant “true cost” factors like transportation, disposal, inspections, and maintenance required for job-built wooden guardrails in their cost estimates.

The Hilmerson Safety Rail System™ eliminates many recurring project-based costs and allows for quick recovery of acquisition cost and provides a significant return on investment. By purchasing and deploying our safety rail system and eliminating wooden 2×4 guardrails, initial cost can be recovered in as quickly as two project deployments.

We also offer free onsite safety training and support to customers. Our experts will come to your job site, wherever you are, to provide hands-on training and ensure everyone on your team understands how to use our equipment correctly.”

– Deb Hilmerson, President & CEO

Stop the Guesswork. Start Saving Lives.

Every contractor, regardless of size or budget, deserves access to reliable, OSHA-compliant edge protection. The cost of doing it right is nothing compared to the cost of a life lost.

We encourage you to read the full ENR article to understand the full impact of this industry issue—and how engineered fall protection railing systems like ours are helping fix it.