Scaffolding Safety – The Do’s And Don’t While Using A Scaffold

Scaffolds are often used as temporary work platforms in new construction, regular maintenance, and other types of work in various industries. About 65% of all construction workers, according to OSHA, do their jobs on scaffolds every year.

When you consider the numerous applications for which scaffolds are used, the question of their safety or durability is undoubtedly raised.

Scaffolding safety is very important for you and your team. When working on a scaffold, you need to pay special attention to the safety features.

When working on scaffolding, it is also vital that each worker has the proper safety equipment and has been trained well on how to work safely. 

Workers who know about the hazard associated with scaffolding are much less likely to get hurt or hurt someone else while working on or near scaffolding.

With a large number of workers across numerous industries using scaffolding, it’s very important to understand what to do and what not to do for scaffolding safety. 

In this blog, we will be sharing scaffolding safety do’s and don’ts to help you keep yourself and your workers safe while working on or near scaffolding.

The Do’s For Scaffold Safety

1. Only let a qualified person who is well aware of the scaffolding safety requirements, train workers to work on scaffolding.

1. Before each shift, make sure a qualified person checks and approves the scaffold.

1. Every time you move the scaffold, you should level it.

1. Find out how much weight your scaffold can hold before you use it.

1. Depending on the type of scaffold, you should always wear the right PPE around it. (hard hat, fall arrest system for each worker)

1. Make sure there is enough space above your scaffolding and that nothing dangerous, like power lines, can touch it.

1. To prevent unintentional contact with objects like vehicles, place barriers all around the scaffolding base.

1. When moving around on the scaffolding, you should always have three points of contact.

1. Always keep a watch on people working above and below you, as well as those working on the scaffold.

The Don’ts For Scaffold Safety

1. Don’t put more weight on the scaffold than it can handle.

1. No matter how much damage there is, don’t use a damaged scaffold.

1. Do not leave unattended things on the scaffolding, since they may fall or cause others to trip.

1. Scaffolding with missing parts should not be used.

1. Don’t use scaffolding that has ice, mud, water, or wet leaves that could cause you to slip and fall.

1. If there are strong winds, snowfall, rain, or fog, don’t use the scaffolding.

1. Don’t jump from one section of scaffolding to another or between them.

1. Avoid increasing your work height using boxes or ladders. If you can’t reach a particular level, ask your supervisor to raise the work platform so you can get there.

1. Don’t stand on extensions, ties, or guardrails.

Importance of Proper Training For Scaffolding Safety

• With the right fall protection and scaffolding training, workers can do their jobs safely. Remember that workers can only be trained on scaffolding by individuals who are qualified to do so. 

• Workers should be taught how to spot hazards and how to get rid of them as part of their training.

• Depending on what kind of scaffolding is being put up and taken down, erectors and dismantlers need additional training.

• Another important part of training is retraining, which should happen whenever a worker doesn’t have the right skills or knowledge to work safely around scaffolding. 

With the right training, you can make sure workers are safe and follow the rules.

To Conclude

All scaffolding-related casualties can be avoided if workers follow the dos and don’ts listed above. When working on scaffolds, workers must be trained to understand terms related to capacity limits, no matter how the scaffold is built. 

In addition to these dos and don’ts for scaffolding safety, it is very important to use a guardrail to prevent falls. Almost 3/4 of scaffold accidents that are reported are caused by not having enough guardrails.

Scaffolds Supply is a trusted scaffolding plank supplier. The company sells different kinds of high-quality scaffolding and accessories online. The company sells Ringlock, Cuplock, Shoring, and other scaffolding parts to shipyards, refineries, construction companies, scaffold rental companies, scaffolding suppliers, and all end customers who use scaffolding equipment. 

When you work with the company, you can expect quality, consistency, sufficient stock, and the best customer service. Scaffolds Supply knows how important it is to keep your workers safe. Help them stay safe with Scaffolds Supply’s help!