Seven Safety Essentials For Working With Scaffolding

Those who work on scaffolds face some workplace risks that can be minimized if the proper precautions are taken. Care needs to be taken throughout any construction operation requiring scaffolding equipment to keep workers safe and avoid injuries. 

The following are seven important precautions that can be taken to make sure that a construction site stays safe and secure when scaffolding is being used:

Proper training

Workers should not only receive training regarding safety features and practices that go along with the use of scaffolding equipment. They also need to develop an understanding of the design and the functioning of scaffolding equipment to avoid hazards. 

Understanding load capacities

A thorough understanding of load capacities is very important when it comes to scaffold use. It's important to factor in ALL loads putting stress on the scaffold when determining how many workers and how much equipment the scaffold can support. 

Adequately securing scaffolds

When a scaffold is used, it needs to be braced or tied to a secure structure. Contractors using scaffolding equipment can decide from among a variety of brace retention and locking systems to find the best option for securing equipment. 

Using guardrails

Guardrails are important safety features on scaffolds. There should be a guardrail along the top, middle, and bottom of the scaffold. Although guardrails may need to be temporarily removed when materials are hoisted, they should be replaced immediately. 

Keeping things organized

Clutter on a scaffold surface is very dangerous. Scaffold platforms generally don't offer a lot of space. Keeping them well ordered and free of obstructions is of vital importance for worker safety. 

Preparing properly

Prep work is an important part of scaffold use. Prep work should include ensuring that the scaffold base is sound and secure. Also, ground conditions need to be examined to prevent hazards and keep obstructions away. 

Keeping up on maintenance

Maintenance tasks are important for keeping a scaffold safe. Scaffolds should be regularly inspected for damaged parts that need to be replaced. Braces, frames, and other components need to be looked at regularly for signs of wear or corrosion. 

Keeping things level

Scaffolds need to be completely level before they are mounted by workers. A scaffold that is not perfectly level could increase chances that workers will lose their balance and potentially fall.

It's probably a good idea to re-verify that a scaffold is level throughout the day, because stresses and impact with equipment pieces could cause scaffolds to shift as work progresses.