How to Ensure Scaffolding Safety at the Building Site

One thing every company that uses scaffolding should be concerned about is safety at the building site. When employees are using scaffolding, their risks increase due to the working conditions being more dangerous. They are usually up high, so any fall is more likely to have disastrous consequences. The working space is limited which restricts their movements to some extent and this can also contribute to injuries or falls. So how do you ensure scaffolding safety at the building site?

• • Make sure all employees have proper training for working on scaffolding. This training should be ongoing, not done once and never again. People forget things and situations change. Training should be done so staff can keep up with the latest safety developments.
  • Never allow an untrained person to go up on scaffolding. It is quite easy to forget who has had training and who hasn’t. Keeping on top of details like this will ensure a better quality of safety for all concerned.

• Make sure that the scaffolding is erected by people trained to do so. Erecting scaffold is a job for a professional tradesman who has been trained especially for the type of scaffolding used. To get the best it may be a good idea to use staff supplied by the scaffold hire company. You can be sure that they are trained and experienced.
• Never let any unauthorised people onto the building site.
• Make sure authorised personnel always wear safety boots and hats.
• Keep all large equipment or vehicular traffic away from the scaffolding so that no collisions with the structure or those working on it are likely.
• Make sure you use the type of scaffolding that best suits the project. There are many different types and specifications vary. What is suited for painting a high wall will not be good enough to build a sky-scraper or a bridge.
• Choose scaffolding with sturdy, non-slip walkways, handrails and wide access.
• Ensure the base is sturdy. No matter what kind of scaffolding you use, it needs to have a firm footing that cannot wash out in a storm or suddenly sink under a load. Some scaffold has castors that lock so it can easily be moved from place to place. Make sure the locks are not worn and that they are firmly in place when the structure is in use.
• Have it checked out for weakness or breakage on a weekly basis and after high wind or stormy conditions.

Once you take into account all these safety measures your worksite is sure to be one of the safest in the district. Remember, accidents not only ruin lives, they also cause a great deal of delay and associated costs that could put your company in the red.