Keeping to Safe Scaffolding Procedures to Prevent Accidents

Some people think rules are meant to be broken, but rules are an important concept that helps to prevent high-risk situations. The Department of Labor has established an organization known as The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) which works to set rules that keep individuals working in the construction industry safe from workplace risks. According to the OSHA’s statistics, over 2.3 million people, which accounts for over 60% of the individuals working in the construction industry, use scaffolding on a daily basis. Setting rules for the safety of scaffolding help to keep these millions of individuals safe while they perform tasks from high elevations. Invest your time in getting to know safe scaffolding procedures; they could save your life one day!

A Competent Inspection before Scaffolding Use

First thing’s first; the scaffolding being used in any situation must be inspected before employees can make use of it. OSHA suggests that a “competent person” be the one to perform the scaffolding inspection. OSHA defines a competent individual as, “one who is capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards in the surroundings or working conditions, which are unsanitary, hazardous or dangerous to employees, and who has the authorization to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate them.” Inspections of scaffolding should be done before the start of each new day and before the use of the scaffolding. An inspection must make sure there are no damaged parts of the scaffolding or anything out of place that could place a potential threat to worker safety. Inspections must also identify any potential hazards like live wires that could pose a threat for electrocution.

Employee Scaffolding Training

It may seem like a no-brainer, but employees that use scaffolding should know how to use it properly. It’s a simple suggestion, but having employees that adhere to safety rules and regulations will provide peace of mind for everyone on the construction site. All employees that intend to utilize scaffolding equipment must be trained by a competent individual in safe scaffolding procedures including:

• Installing, tearing down, and transporting of scaffolding equipment
• Proper use of fall arrest systems when scaffolding reaches heights of 10 feet or more
• Proper handling of materials and equipment while utilizing scaffolding
• Proper procedure for dealing with potential and imminent scaffolding hazards
• Weight load capacity of scaffolding equipment
• Proper design of scaffolding installation for assurance of safety

For any employer or employee that wants to freshen up on their scaffolding safety knowledge, all OSHA requirements for scaffolding use are listed on their website. If you aren’t sure about a safe scaffolding requirement of OSHA, the internet is a great source to freshen your memory to be sure that you are providing a safe work environment for your employees or working in a safe environment yourself.

Wear the Proper Gear

Although OSHA’s rules and regulations can be looked up on the internet for anyone who is curious or interested in making their workplace more safe, but the rules that are most overlooked seem the most obvious. Many of the injuries and deaths on construction sites are a result of head trauma. To reduce this risk, wear a hard hat at all times on the construction site. Additionally, if you are going to be scaling scaffolding equipment, it’s a good idea to invest in a pair of non-slip sole shoes. This reduces your risk of slips and falls while trying to retain balance on a high scaffolding tower. Additionally, a fall arrest system can prevent injury or death if a fall were ever to occur over 10 feet in the air. Invest in a harness, available at Industrial Ladder’s website, to keep yourself and other employees safe while working from great heights on scaffolding equipment.

The Opposite of Safe Scaffolding Procedures

This article could be hundreds of pages long if it provided the list of things that you should do while utilizing scaffolding. Sometimes, it is just easier and more to the point to list what you shouldn’t do when it comes to safety in the construction industry. Above all else, while using scaffolding, keep in mind to never:

• Lose sight of practicing common sense
• Take unnecessary risks
• Use scaffolding equipment once the weight capacity is exceeded
• Move scaffolding equipment while someone is utilizing it
• Store materials or equipment on scaffolding equipment as they pose a threat for falling objects

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