What is the major difference between handrails and guards?

• A. Handrails have to run the full length of each flight of stairs; guards do not.
• B. Handrails are for stairs only; guards are for ramps only.
• C. There will not be a requirement for both a guard and a handrail.
• D. Guards protect against falls into open spaces; handrails are for assistance when climbing or descending stairs.

Answer: (D)

The key idea is that guards and handrails serve different safety roles. Guards are barriers that prevent someone from falling off an edge or through an opening—think of them along the open sides of stairs, landings, balconies, or ramps. Handrails, on the other hand, provide a continuous, graspable surface to help someone balance and steady themselves as they climb or descend stairs or ramps. So the major difference is that guards protect against falls into open spaces, while handrails assist with movement and stability on stairs. That’s why this option is the best: it clearly separates the protective barrier function from the grip/support function.