If you are in the construction industry, you know that scaffolding is essential to the job. It allows workers to reach high places and complete tasks safely and efficiently. However, if not used correctly, scaffolding can be very dangerous. In this blog post, we will discuss 10 scaffolding safety tips that will help keep you safe while working on a scaffold.
10 Important Scaffolding Safety Tips
Working on raised scaffolding can be very serious or dangerous whenever the proper safety precautions are not sustained or maintained. However, when the safety protocols & practices are correctly followed, working on these structures can be just as safe as any additional or other elevated construction technique or way. Let’s look at the ten scaffolding safety tips and how they keep you safe while working.
1. Get The Right Training
New safety regulations mandate that all workers working on or near scaffolding be trained and educated on how the scaffolds are invented and performed. This includes how to get on and off the scaffolding safely, prevent falls and respond to emergencies while on the scaffolding. This training is necessary to keep yourself and everyone else on and below the scaffolding secure & safe at all times.
2. Be Prepared
Always ensure that you are inspecting scaffolding thoroughly before using it. Check to make sure the base is secured and that it is level and adjusted for any lean in the building & Make sure that every single guardrail and plank is installed or fitted safely and securely, and also look out for elevation changes, obstructions (such as wires), and weather conditions.
3. Ensure Everyone Is Licensed
OSHA (Occupational Safety And Health Administration) has claimed that rogue employers are a significant risk when working on scaffolding. These employers are unlicensed to be working but do so.
Rather than go through the proper channels and become licensed, they throw together a pick-up truck, some workers, and uninspected building material. Not only does this put the workers in danger, but it also puts the future occupants of the building in danger.
4. Understanding Load Capacity
During the design stages of scaffolding, one of the leading mistakes is failing to consider all the different types of load that the material will be under during construction and setup. To maximize the safety of everyone involved, do not attempt to overload the scaffolding with more workers than it is rated for to save time. Also, ensure that equipment does not overload it and that nothing is pushing against any guardrails.
5. Secure The Platform
Scaffolding is designed to be braced by or entirely attached to a building. If bracing isn’t adequately secured, scaffold movement may dislodge an end, reducing the scaffold’s stability. There are a few types of brace retention or locking systems on scaffolding.
These systems need to operate freely during assembly and dismantling and also be able to secure or lock to prevent the brace from dislodging. You shouldn’t try and replace the proper parts supplied by the manufacturer with nails or other miscellaneous substitutions.
6. Take Advantage Of Guardrails
When considering the scaffold’s design, a construction company must ensure that any scaffolding over 10 feet high has guardrails on the three sides facing apart from the building, at the very slightest. The side facing the building is still dangerous, so having them there is also recommended. Guardrails should not be observed as a replacement for the proper fall protection gear, which should be worn at all times while on the scaffolding.
7. Inspect It
Scaffolding structures need to be constantly maintained and inspected to retain their structural integrity and safety. Someone knowledgeable about the construction of the scaffolds themselves needs to examine the structure to ensure that it is still functional and safe, making sure that boards are all still intact and that all of the components are still in good shape. Keeping these crucial components regularly maintained could lead to extremely hazardous conditions.
8. Keep Things Organized
Scaffolding structures are notoriously cramped, so tools must not be left out and are put up neatly on the scaffolding itself. Keep all of the walkways free of obstructions and trash that might be able to cause a fall.
9. Balance Yourself
Scaffolding must be perfectly level to minimize the risk of workers falling off and being injured or killed. Still, stay alert when on a scaffold, and watch your balance at all times.
10. Use Protection, Or PPE
This includes head protection, fall prevention gear, and non-slip footwear. It is essential to wear these measures at all times to maximize your safety and the safety of everyone around you.
If these safety tips are followed, you or your workers should have no problem operating on scaffolds to complete the job. Knowing these essential tips could be the difference between life and death on a construction site, so make sure to consider them when performing any type of work on scaffolding.
