GB2525975A

GB2525975A - Safety rail arrangement

Info

Publication number: GB2525975A
Application number: GB1504342.5A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Holmes
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-03-14
Filing date: 2015-03-16
Publication date: 2015-11-11
Also published as: GB201504342D0; GB201404584D0

Abstract

The present invention relates to a safety rail arrangement 30. The safety rail arrangement 30 comprises a ground support arrangement 34 which defines a ground engaging surface (44, Fig 4). The safety rail arrangement further comprises an elongate support member 32 attached to the ground support arrangement 34. The elongate support member 32 comprises first 38 and second 42 sections. The first section 32 extends away from the ground and the second section 42 extends along the ground when the elongate support member 32 is attached to the ground support arrangement 34 and when the safety rail arrangement 30 is in situ. The elongate support member 32 is integrally formed.

Description

Title of Invention: Safety rail arrangement

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a safety rail arrangement and a safety rail assembly comprising such a safety rail arrangement which is configured in particular but not exclusively to provide roof edge protection.

Background Art

Roof edge protection assemblies are known. Such roof edge protection assemblies typically comprise two or three spaced apart horizontally extending elongate members which are supported above the roof and near the edge by plural support arrangements which are spaced apart along the roof edge. Each of the plural support arrangements often comprises a counter-balance weight which is operative to increase the stability of the roof edge protection assembly by providing resistance to application of loads which would otherwise overbalance the roof edge protection assembly.

The present inventors have recognised current roof edge protection assemblies to have shortcomings. The present invention has been devised in the light of the inventors' appreciation of such shortcomings. It is therefore an object for the present invention to provide an improved safety rail arrangement comprising at least one support arrangement. It is a further object for the present invention to provide an improved safety rail assembly comprising at least one such safety rail arrangement.

Statement of Invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a safety rail arrangement comprising: a ground support arrangement which defines a ground engaging surface; and an elongate support member attached to the ground support arrangement, the elongate support member comprising first and second sections, the first section extending away from the ground and the second section extending along the ground when the elongate support member is attached to the ground support arrangement and when the safety rail arrangement is in situ, the elongate support member being integrally formed.

The safety rail arrangement of the present invention comprises a ground support arrangement and an elongate support member which is attached to the ground support arrangement. The elongate support member and the ground support arrangement may be attached to each other before the safety rail arrangement is brought into use. For example the elongate support member and the ground support arrangement may be attached to each other at a depot before the safety rail arrangement is transported to the site where the safety rail arrangement is to be installed. Alternatively the elongate support member and the ground support arrangement may be attached at or near to where the safety rail arrangement is to be brought into use. Irrespective of where the elongate support member is attached to the ground support arrangement, the two components when attached may be disposed over the ground such that a ground engaging surface of the ground support arrangement bears against the ground. The elongate support member comprises first and second sections. When the elongate support member is attached to the ground support arrangement the first section extends away from the ground and the second section extends along the ground. The first and second sections may therefore extend at an angle to each other. More specifically the first and second sections may extend at an angle between 65 degrees and 90 degrees or 70 degrees and 85 degrees. In a form of the invention the first and second sections may extend at an angle of about 80 degrees. Such a form of the invention is believed to confer an advantage in respect of loading conditions in which a load of 0.74 kN is applied to the top of the first section of the elongate support member or a load of 0.5 kN is applied to the middle of the first section of the elongate support member.

As is described further below, there may be plural attached pairs of ground support arrangement and elongate support member which, in use, are spaced apart from each other on the ground. At least one barrier member may be attached to the upwardly extending first sections at a location spaced apart from the ground and such that the least one barrier member extends horizontally over the ground. The at least one barrier member may therefore present a barrier to movement of persons.

A typical use of the safety rail arrangement of the present invention is in roof edge protection in which the safety rail arrangement is disposed near the edge of a flat roof and such that the least one barrier member presents a barrier to a person falling off the roof.

The elongate support member is integrally formed. The first and second sections are therefore integrally formed. The elongate support member may be shaped, such as during manufacture, such that, in use, the first section extends away from the ground and the second section extends along the ground. The elongate support member may be formed by bending of an elongate member such that the first section extends in a first direction from the bend and the second section extends in a second direction from the bend. The elongate member may therefore comprise a bent section between the first and second sections. The elongate support member may be of generally and substantially a same shape along its length. The elongate support member may be of generally and substantially a same cross-section along its length. In a form of the invention the elongate support member may be tubular and more specifically cylindrical.

The ground support arrangement may define a generally and perhaps substantially planar surface which extends at least part way along the second section and between the second section and the ground when the elongate support member is attached to the ground support arrangement and the safety rail arrangement is in situ. The planar surface may therefore comprise the ground engaging surface. The planar surface may extend part way along the second section away from the first section. The ground support arrangement may be configured such that the planar surface extends beyond opposite sides of the second section in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the second section. The planar surface may therefore provide for stability when the attached elongate support member and ground support arrangement are placed on the ground and before whatever further stability providing components of the safety rail arrangement are installed, such as the at least one barrier member mentioned above.

The ground support arrangement may comprise a plate. The plate may define the planar surface on which the safety rail arrangement is supported on the ground. The plate may be configured such that the planar surface is slip resistant at least in part.

Slip resistance may be provided by way of selection of an appropriate material such as rubber. The plate may therefore comprise the like of a rubber member.

Alternatively or in addition, the plate may define protrusions such as ribs whereby the planar surface is substantially planar or perhaps even generally planar. The plate may define a second surface and more specifically a second planar surface on an opposite side to the planar surface on which the safety rail arrangement is supported on the ground. The second section of the elongate support member may abut against the second surface when the elongate support member is attached to the ground support arrangement. The ground support arrangement may comprise an attachment arrangement which is operative to attach the elongate support member to the ground support arrangement. The attachment arrangement may comprise at least one nut and bolt and more specifically a first nut and bolt and a second nut and bolt which are, in use, spaced apart from each other along a longitudinal axis of the second section.

The ground support arrangement may comprise an upwardly extending member.

The upwardly extending member may have the form of a plate. The ground support arrangement may therefore comprise a first plate, which defines the planar surface on which the safety rail arrangement is supported on the ground, and a second upwardly extending plate. The first and second plates may be integrally formed.

More specifically the first and second plates may be integrally formed from sheet material, such as a rectangular sheet of material, and more specifically from sheet metal such as sheet aluminium or steel. The sheet material may be bent during manufacture such that the first and second plates extend at an angle to each other.

More specifically the ground support arrangement may be configured such that the first and second plates extend substantially orthogonally to each other.

The upwardly extending member may be used to support a horizontally extending member such as a kick-plate. The horizontally extending member may be attached to the upwardly extending member by way of at least one threaded arrangement such as a screw or nut and bolt. The ground support arrangement may be configured such that the upwardly extending member and an edge of the first section furthest away from the second section lie in generally or perhaps substantially a same plane.

Typically the elongate support member may be configured such that it flexes when force is applied to the first section. A force may, for example, be applied when someone leans against the safety rail arrangement. Where the elongate support member is formed of aluminium or steel tube it is liable to flex to a modest extent upon application of force. The elongate support member may, for example, flex by about 25 mm upon application of a load of 0.74 kN at the top of the first section of the elongate support member. The upwardly extending member may be configured and disposed such that the elongate support member abuts against the upwardly extending member and more specifically against a distal end of the upwardly extending member when a force is applied to the first section, the force being applied in a direction away from the second section. More specifically the safety rail arrangement may be configured for providing for flexing of up to 10 mm, 15 mm, 20 mm, 25 mm, 30 mm or 35 mm. The upwardly extending member may thus be operative to arrest undue flexing movement of the first section. Such undue flexing movement of the first section may be undesirable on account of it making the elongate support member more liable to fracture and therefore failure.

Where the elongate support member comprises a bent section, the elongate support member and the ground support arrangement may be configured such that the upwardly extending member is closer to the second section than an edge of the first section furthest away from the second section. More specifically a distal end of the upwardly extending member may be below a proximal end of the first section. The upwardly extending member may therefore be below the first section and may lie within a footprint over the ground defined by the proximal end of the first section.

Upon flexing of the elongate support member about the bent section a part of the bent section adjacent the first section may abut against the distal end of the upwardly extending member.

The safety rail arrangement may further comprise a counter-balance weight arrangement. The counter-balance weight arrangement may be attached to a distal end of the second section. The counter-balance weight arrangement may therefore be operative in accordance with known design to reduce the likelihood of the safety rail arrangement being pushed over. The counter-balance weight arrangement may comprise at least one counter-balance weight. In certain forms of the invention the counter-balance weight arrangement may, for example, comprise two or perhaps three counter-balance weights depending on anticipated loading conditions.

The counter-balance weight may comprise a mass of material, such as a block of concrete, plastics or rubber. The counter-balance weight may further comprise a counter-balance weight member of which one end is received in the mass of material and such that the other, distal end protrudes from the mass of material. The distal end of the counter-balance weight member and the distal end of the second section may be attached to each other. More specifically the safety rail arrangement may comprise a fastening arrangement which is operative to attach the counter-balance weight member and the distal end of the second section to each other. The fastening arrangement may comprise a sleeve which is configured to receive the distal ends of the counter-balance weight member and the second section from opposite ends of the sleeve. The fastening arrangement may further comprise a holding arrangement which is operative to resist withdrawal of the distal ends of the counter-balance weight member and the second section from the sleeve. The holding arrangement may, for example, comprise first and second holding members, such as bolts, with each holding member mechanically coupling with the sleeve and a respective one of the distal ends. The second section may be configured such that its distal end is higher than its proximal end when the safety rail arrangement is in situ. A second section having a higher distal end may be more readily attached to a counter-balance weight. The second section may therefore be bent during manufacture to provide a higher distal end.

The counter-balance weight member may be configured such that its proximal end (i.e. the end received in the mass of material) is wider along a first direction orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the counter-balance weight member than along a second direction orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the counter-balance weight member. The proximal end of the counter-balance weight member may be generally rectangular in cross-section. Where the counter-balance weight member is tubular its proximal end may be formed by crimping.

The mass of material may define a bore and more specifically a blind bore for receiving the proximal end of the counter-balance weight member.

In a first embodiment the bore may be configured such that when the counter-balance weight member and the mass of material have a first relative rotational position the proximal end is receivable in the bore and then when the counter-balance weight member and the mass of material are rotated relative to each other such that they have a second relative rotational position removal of the proximal end from the bore is resisted by part of the distal end abutting against a profile of the bore. The counter-balance weight member and the mass of material may thus be releasably attached to each other. There may therefore be no need for a separate counter-balance weight member and second section which are attached to each other, for example, by the fastening arrangement described above. In view of this, the counter-balance weight member may be integrally formed with the second section. The counter-balance weight member may therefore be constituted by the distal end of the second section.

In a second embodiment the mass of material is formed around the proximal end of the counter-balance weight member. A proximal end which is wider along a first direction orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the counter-balance weight member than along a second direction orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the counter- balance weight member may present resistance to detachment of the counter- balance weight member from the mass of material. In this embodiment the counter-balance weight member and the second section are normally separate parts in contrast to the first embodiment with the counter-balance weight member and the second section being attached to each other by way of the fastening arrangement described above.

Irrespective of whether the present invention is constituted according to the first or second embodiment, retention of an elongate member, whether the second section or the counter-balance weight member, within the mass of material may depend on no other component other than the member or the mass of material. This is in contrast to known configurations in which an elongate member is attached to a metal plate and the mass of material is disposed around the metal plate.

In a third embodiment a fastening arrangement may comprise a single holding member, such as a pin, which cooperates with apertures formed in the counter-balance weight and the counter-balance weight member, the apertures being in registration with each other. The counter-balance weight and the counter-balance weight member may thus be releasably fastened together.

In a fourth embodiment the counter-balance weight member may be configured such that its proximal end (i.e. the end received in the mass of material) defines a protrusion which extends from an exterior surface of the counter-balance weight member. The protrusion may extend entirely around the counter-balance weight member such that it, for example, defines a complete circle whereby the protrusion forms a flange.

As mentioned above plural safety rail arrangements may be installed with at least one barrier member. Therefore and according to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a safety rail assembly comprising plural safety rail arrangements according to the first aspect of the present invention and at least one barrier member. The barrier member may be attached to each of the upwardly extending first sections of the safety rail arrangements at a location spaced apart from the ground and such that the least one barrier member extends horizontally over the ground. In a typical configuration the safety rail assembly may comprise first and second barrier members, the first barrier member being attached adjacent a distal end of each first section and the second barrier member being attached at a location on each first section between distal and proximal ends. Each barrier member may be attached to the first sections by way of brackets of known form and function.

Further embodiments of the second aspect of the present invention may comprise one or more features of the first aspect of the present invention such as a horizontally extending member.

The present inventors have appreciated the counter-balance weight to be of wider applicability than hitherto described. According to a third aspect of the present invention there is therefore provided a counter-balance weight for a safety rail arrangement comprising a mass of material and a counter-balance weight member, a proximal end of the counter-balance weight member being received in the mass of material and a distal end of the counter-balance weight member protruding from the mass of material, the proximal end being wider along a first direction orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the counter-balance weight member than along a second direction orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the counter-balance weight member.

A proximal end having such a configuration may present resistance to withdrawal of the proximal end from the mass of material and thereby make detachment of the counter-balance weight member from the mass of material less likely. Embodiments of the third aspect of the present invention may comprise one or more features of the first aspect of the present invention.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a safety rail arrangement comprising: a ground support arrangement which defines a ground engaging surface; and an elongate support member attached to the ground support arrangement, the elongate support member comprising first and second sections, the first section extending away from the ground and the second section extending along the ground when the elongate support member is attached to the ground support arrangement. Embodiments of the further aspect of the present invention may comprise one or more features of the first aspect of the present invention.

Brief Description of Drawings

Further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following specific description, which is given by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a front view of a safety rail assembly according to the present invention in situ on a roof edge; Figure 2A is a view from above of the safety rail assembly of Figure 1; Figure 2B is an alternative embodiment of part of the safety rail assembly of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a side view of a safety rail arrangement comprised in the safety rail assembly of Figures 1 and 2; Figure 4 is a detailed view of part of the safety rail arrangement of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a detailed view of the counter-balance weight of the safety rail arrangement of Figure 3; Figure GA is a plan view of an alternative form of counter-balance weight; Figure 6B is a perspective view from above and the front of the alternative form of counter-balance weight; Figure GC is a side view of the alternative form of counter-balance weight; and Figure 6D is a front view of the alternative form of counter-balance weight.

Description of Embodiments

A front view of a safety rail assembly 10 according to the present invention is shown in Figure 1 when in situ on a roof edge 12. A view from above of the safety rail assembly 10 of Figure 1 is shown in Figure 2. The safety rail assembly 10 comprises a first horizontally extending barrier member 14 and a second horizontally extending barrier member 16. The safety rail assembly 10 further comprises four safety rail arrangements 18 which are spaced apart along the edge of the roof 12 and which are attached to and support the first and second horizontally extending barrier members 14, 16. The first and second horizontally extending barrier members 14, 16 are attached to each of the safety rail arrangements 18 by way of brackets of well known form and function and which are widely used in modular assemblies such as roof edge protection assemblies. The first and second horizontally extending barrier members 14. 16 are attached to the safety rail arrangements 18 such that the first horizontally extending barrier member 14 is further from the roof and the second horizontally extending barrier member 16 is closer to the roof and yet spaced apart from the roof. The first and second horizontally extending barrier members 14: 16 therefore present a barrier to a person falling off the roof.

As can be seen from Figure 2A each safety rail arrangement 18 comprises at least one counter-balance weight 20. The counter-balance weights 20 are operative to present resistance to the safety rail assembly 10 being overbalanced such as by a person leaning against the first and second horizontally extending barrier members 14, 16. Depending on anticipated loading conditions two or more counter-balance weights 20 may be attached to a safety rail arrangement 18 as shown in Figure 2A.

An alternative embodiment of part 60 of the safety rail assembly which comprises three counter-balance weights 64 is shown in Figure 2B. The safety rail arrangement 62 of Figure 2B comprises a first cylindrical tube of aluminium or steel which extends from the vertically extending part of the safety rail assembly 10 of Figure 1 to a junction 66. Second and third cylindrical tubes of aluminium or steel extend in opposite directions from the junction 66 and orthogonally to the first cylindrical tube. A fourth cylindrical tube of aluminium or steel extends from the junction 66 coaxially with and away from the first cylindrical tube. Each of the three counter-balance weights 64 is connected towards a distal end of a respective one of the second to fourth cylindrical tubes. The form and function of a safety rail arrangement will now be described in more detail with reference to Figures 3 to 6D.

The counter-balance weights 20 shown in Figure 2A are described further with reference to Figure 5. The counter-balance weights 64 shown in Figure 2B are described further with reference to Figures 6A to 6D.

A side view of a safety rail arrangement 30 is shown in Figure 3. The safety rail arrangement 30 comprises an elongate support member 32, a ground support arrangement 34 and a counter-balance weight 36. The elongate support member 32 is integrally formed, i.e. it is in one piece, from a cylindrical tube of aluminium or steel having an outer diameter of 48.3 mm and wall thickness of 3.2 mm. The elongate support member 32 comprises a first section 38, which extends upwards from the roof 12, a second section 42, which extends along the roof 12, and a bent section 40 between the first and second sections. The first and second sections 38, 42 extend at an angle of about 80 degrees to each other whereby the first section 38 leans back from the roof edge. As is described in more detail below with reference to Figure 4 the elongate support member 32 is attached to the ground support arrangement 34 towards the end of the second section 42 adjacent the bent section 40. The first section 38 extends to a height above the roof of 1.1 m and the second section 42 has a length of about 1 m.

A detailed view of the safety rail arrangement of Figure 3 in the vicinity of the bent section 40 is shown in Figure 4. As can be appreciated from Figure 4, the ground support arrangement 34 comprises a first plate 44 and a second plate 46 which are formed by shaping a rectangular sheet of aluminium or steel such that the first and second plates 44, 46 extend orthogonally to each other. The length of the first plate is 300 mm and the height of the second plate is 100 mm. The first and second plates 44, 46 are 100mm wide. As can be seen from Figure 4 the ground support arrangement is located relative to the elongate support member such that the first plate 44 extends below the bent section 40 and below and part way along the second section 42. The first plate 44 is wider than the second section 42 and thus extends beyond both sides of the second section 42 to thereby provide lateral stability. The second plate 46 extends upwardly below the first section 38 and such that the distal end of the second plate 46 is below the proximal end of the first section and near the edge of the first section furthest from the second section whilst lying within a footprint over the ground defined by the proximal end of the first section. The distal end of the second plate 46 thus presents an abutment to movement of the first section 38 and the bent section 40 towards the roof edge and relative to the second section 42 where such movement is caused by flexing of the elongate support member. The elongate support member is attached to the ground support arrangement by way of two pairs of nuts and bolts which are mechanically coupled to the second section 42 and the first plate 42.

A detailed view of the counter-balance weight 36 of the safety rail arrangement of Figure 3 is shown in Figure 5. As can be seen from Figure 5, the counter-balance weight 36 comprises a mass of concrete 52 of generally cuboid form and a counter-balance weight member 54 which is formed from a cylindrical tube of aluminium or steel and is received in part in the mass of concrete. The proximal end of the counter-balance weight member 54 (i.e. the end received in the mass of concrete) is crimped such that it is of significantly greater width in a direction parallel to the roof than in a direction orthogonal to the roof. The counter-balance weight 36 is formed by casting the mass of concrete 52 around the proximal end of the counter-balance weight member 54. When the concrete is set, the crimped end of the counter-balance weight member 54 helps resist detachment of the counter-balance weight member from the mass of concrete 52. The distal end of the counter-balance weight member 54 is attached to the distal end of the second section by a fastening arrangement 56. The fastening arrangement 56 comprises a sleeve which receives the distal ends of the counter-balance weight member 54 and the second section 42 from opposite ends. The fastening arrangement further comprises first and second bolts which each mechanically couple with the sleeve and a respective one of the distal ends. As can be seen from Figure 5, the second section is configured such that its distal end is higher than its proximal end to align the distal end with the counter-balance weight.

In an un-illustrated embodiment, the counter-balance weight is of the same form and function as the counter-balance weight 36 of Figure 5 with the following exceptions.

The distal end of the second section 42 is crimped in the same fashion as the proximal end of the counter-balance weight member 54 of Figure 5. The counter-balance weight member 54 and the fastening arrangement 56 of Figure 5 are not required in the present embodiment. During manufacture the mass of concrete 52 is cast such that it defines a blind bore having an opening at one end of the mass of concrete 52. The blind bore is of non-uniform cross-section along its length and is shaped such that the crimped end of the second section 42 can be fully inserted into the bore when the first section 38 is generally in line with the roof 12. The elongate support member is then rotated relative to the mass of concrete 52 and such that the first section 38 extends up from the roof as shown in Figure 3. After such rotation the shape of the profile of the bore is such that it presents an obstacle to outward movement of the crimped end of the second section 42 to thereby prevent withdrawal of the second section from the bore.

Figures 6A to 60 show an alternative form of counter-balance weight 70 to the counter-balance weight 36 of Figure 5. Figure 6A is a plan view of the alternative form of counter-balance weight 70. Figure 6B is a perspective view from above and the front of the alternative form of counter-balance weight 70. Figure 6C is a side view of the alternative form of counter-balance weight 70. Figure 60 is a front view of the alternative form of counter-balance weight 70. The alternative form of counter-balance weight 70 is cast from recycled rubber mixed with pure rubber. Each cast counter-balance weight 70 then undergoes a layered vulcanisation process to provide for improved durability and longevity. Each cast counter-balance weight 70 weighs at least 25 kg.

As can be seen from Figures 6A to 60, the alternative form of counter-balance weight 70 defines, when viewed from above, a circular sector of 48 degree arc in which the apex is truncated to define a proximal end 72. Further to being truncated and as can be seen from Figure 6C, the proximal end 72 is inclined at 10 degrees to normal to the plane of a base 74 of the counter-balance weight 70 such that a depth of the counter-balance weight reduces as one moves away from the base 74. The edges of the periphery of the arc of the circular sector are 475 mm apart and the distance between the proximal end 72 and the furthest periphery of the arc of the circular sector is 400 mm. As can be seen from Figure 6C, the upper periphery 76 of the arc of the circular sector is rounded. Thereafter the upper surface 78 of the counter-balance weight is inclined at 10 degrees to the base 74 of the counter-balance weight 70 such that the height of the counter-balance weight increases as one progresses towards the proximal end 72. The height of the counter-balance weight at the proximal end 72 is 128 mm.

The counter-balance weight 70 is attached to a counter-balance weight member 80 in the same fashion as the counter-balance weight 36 of Figure 5 except as described below. Figures 6A and 6C show a vestige only of the part of the counter-balance weight member 80 extending from the counter-balance weight 70. The counter-balance weight member 80 is formed from a cylindrical tube of aluminium or steel of 48.3mm outer diameter. The counter-balance weight 70 and the counter-balance weight member 80 are attached such that an end of the counter-balance weight member extends 125 mm into the counter-balance weight and the opposite free end of the counter-balance weight member extends 75 mm beyond the proximal end 72 of the counter-balance weight. An underside of the counter-balance weight member 80 is spaced apart by 30 mm from the plane of the base 74 of the counter-balance weight. The counter-balance weight 70 and the counter-balance weight member 80 are secured to each other by one or more approaches. A first approach involves insertion of a pin through apertures in the counter-balance weight and the counter-balance weight member that are in registration with each other. A second approach involves attaching a collar at or towards the end of the counter-balance weight member to be received in the counter-balance weight and casting the counter-balance weight around the collar bearing end of the counter-balance weight member. A third approach involves crimping the end of the counter-balance weight member to be received in the counter-balance weight, as described above, to thereby increase the diameter of the counter-balance weight member towards the end and casting the counter-balance weight around the thus crimped end of the counter-balance weight member.

Claims

Claims: 1. A safety rail arrangement comprising: a ground support arrangement which defines a ground engaging surface; and an elongate support member attached to the ground support arrangement, the elongate support member comprising first and second sections, the first section extending away from the ground and the second section extending along the ground when the elongate support member is attached to the ground support arrangement and when the safety rail arrangement is in situ, the elongate support member being integrally formed.
2. A safety rail arrangement according to claim 1 in which the first and second sections extend at an angle to each other between 65 degrees and 90 degrees.
3. A safety rail arrangement according to claim 1 or 2 comprising at least one barrier member which is attached to the upwardly extending first section at a location spaced apart from the ground and such that the least one barrier member extends horizontally over the ground.
4. A safety rail arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims in which the elongate member comprises a bent section between the first and second sections.
5. A safety rail arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims in which the elongate support member is tubular.
6. A safety rail arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims in which the ground support arrangement defines a generally planar surface which extends at least part way along the second section and between the second section and the ground when the elongate support member is attached to the ground support arrangement and the safety rail arrangement is in situ.
7. A safety rail arrangement according to claim 6 in which the planar surface extends part way along the second section away from the first section and extends beyond opposite sides of the second section in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the second section.
8. A safety rail arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims in which the ground support arrangement comprises a plate which defines a planar surface on which the safety rail arrangement is supported on the ground.
9. A safety rail arrangement according to claim B in which the plate defines a second planar surface on an opposite side to the planar surface on which the safety rail arrangement is supported on the ground, the second section of the elongate support member abutting against the second planar surface when the elongate support member is attached to the ground support arrangement.
10. A safety rail arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims in which the ground support arrangement comprises an attachment arrangement which is operative to attach the elongate support member to the ground support arrangement.
11. A safety rail arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims in which the ground support arrangement comprise an upwardly extending member.
12. A safety rail arrangement according to claim 11 in which the upwardly extending member has the form of a plate.
13. A safety rail arrangement according to claim 12 in which the ground support arrangement is configured such that the upwardly extending member and an edge of the first section furthest away from the second section lie in substantially the same plane.
14. A safety rail arrangement according to any one of claims 11 to 13 in which the upwardly extending member is configured such that the elongate support member abuts against the upwardly extending member when a force is applied to the first section, the force being applied in a direction away from the second section.
15. A safety rail arrangement according to any one of claims 11 to 14 in which the elongate support member comprises a bent section, the elongate support member and the ground support arrangement being configured such that the upwardly extending member is closer to the second section than an edge of the first section furthest away from the second section.
16. A safety rail arrangement according to claim 15 in which a distal end of the upwardly extending member is below a proximal end of the first section.
17. A safety rail arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims further comprising a counter-balance weight arrangement which comprises a mass of material and which is attached to a distal end of the second section.
18. A safety rail arrangement according to claim 17 in which the counter-balance weight comprises a counter-balance weight member of which one end is received in the mass of material and such that the other, distal end protrudes from the mass of material, the distal end of the counter-balance weight member and the distal end of the second section being attached to each other.
19. A safety rail arrangement according to claim 17 or 18 in which the second section is configured such that its distal end is higher than its proximal end when the safety rail arrangement is in situ.
20. A safety rail arrangement according to claim 18 in which the mass of material defines a bore for receiving the proximal end of the counter-balance weight member, the bore being configured such that when the counter-balance weight member and the mass of material have a first relative rotational position the proximal end is receivable in the bore and then when the counter-balance weight member and the mass of material are rotated relative to each other such that they have a second relative rotational position removal of the proximal end from the bore is resisted by part of the distal end abutting against a profile of the bore.
21. A safety rail arrangement according to claim 18 in which the mass of material is formed around the proximal end of the counter-balance weight member, a proximal end of the counter-balance weight member being wider along a first direction orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the counter-balance weight member than along a second direction orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the counter- balance weight member to thereby present resistance to detachment of the counter-balance weight member from the mass of material.
22. A safety rail arrangement according to claim 18 in which in which the mass of material is formed around the proximal end of the counter-balance weight member and the counter-balance weight member is configured such that its proximal end defines a protrusion which extends from an exterior surface of the counter-balance weight member.
23. A safety rail arrangement according to claim 18 comprising a fastening arrangement which comprises a single holding member which cooperates with apertures formed in the counter-balance weight and the counter-balance weight member, the apertures being in registration with each other.
24. A safety rail assembly comprising plural safety rail arrangements according to any one of the preceding claims and at least one barrier member, the at least one barrier member being attached to each of the upwardly extending first sections of the safety rail arrangements at a location spaced apart from the ground and such that the least one barrier member extends horizontally over the ground.