[MFAFF]

This is simply a very sad case of a teenager making a choice as to what he chooses to devote his attention to at a particular time.

The barrier that high is adequate to ensure an 'alert' person does not go over the edge and to provide sufficient restraint for the majority of 'unaware' incidents.

The move to a 1.0m or taller edge protection is a direct response to this type of incident. If somebody were to walk, without breaking step into a 90cm handrail there is a high chance that, with people's increasing height, the combination of momentum and centre of gravity will flip them over, but not an aware person or in the majority of cases someone slipping....agreed 1.0m height reduces that number even further but mainly it protects us from our own inattention.

However....this response (raising handrail heights) is because we label incidents such as this as an 'accidents'....and jump all over those who point out, perhaps harshly, that this guy made a mistake. Had he stepped into the roadway and died his actions would have been viewed differently.

He made a mistake, an easy one to understand, possibly similar to ones we have made, or not.. or less stupid than ones I know I have made.

The consequence is very sad, but its not unpredictable. As to raising the barrier height... in a perfect world the updated codes should apply retroactively...however that is not the case and if it were our view of 'bending over and taking it' would take on a new meaning.