Follow These Best Practices to Ensure Optimum Scaffold Safety

by PSC Marketing October 09, 2018

Falls present the greatest danger when it comes to construction work and are currently the leading cause of accidental death in the industry, accounting for half of all workplace injuries. To prevent serious and potentially life-threatening injuries from occurring, workers must take all practical steps to prevent danger when working at height. It’s important to note that there is no distinction between low falls and high falls: these precautions must be taken when working at any height.

When work at-height is not carried out through rope access, such work necessitates a working platform. Working platforms are virtually any surface from which you carry out work, including but not limited to a roof, scaffold, gangway, or trestle. Such a surface then becomes a safe working platform when you cannot fall off or through it or when measures have been taken to mitigate falls.

Besides falls, other hazards of working on scaffolds include struck-bys, wind, and electrical hazards (when in proximity to power lines). You can mitigate these hazards and create a safe work environment by following these best practices for scaffold work.

Scaffolding Safety Tips

(1) Conduct risk assessment

Before you start doing any work on a scaffold or other work platform, it’s important to conduct a proper risk assessment. This is a careful examination of any potential harm that could occur as a result of the work activity. Understanding the risks allows you to take necessary precautions to prevent any harm from occurring.

How to conduct a risk assessment:

Look at all potential hazards.
Decide who might be harmed and how.
Evaluate risks and existing precautions—are these adequate or do you need more?
Keep record of assessment.

Other things to consider:

Equipment to be used.
Location, duration, and environment of work.
Condition and stability of work surfaces.
Capabilities/experience of workers.

(2) Inspect scaffold prior to use

All working platforms must be inspected by a competent person prior to use. A “competent person” is defined as someone who is able to identify hazards and has the authority to eliminate them. A scaffold inspector must ensure the following is true:

Access on and off the work platform meets Health & Safety Authority Code of Practice for Access and Working Scaffolds
All work areas are fully planked and decked with scaffold boards.
All guardrails are installed OR adequate alternative fall protection is provided.
The scaffold is secured to a permanent structure correctly.

Because scaffolds are not permanent structures, care must be taken by workers both constructing these temporary work platforms and those that will be working on and around them.

When building scaffolding, it is of the upmost importance to use the best building tools and materials. Doughty Engineering is at the forefront of rigging, suspension, and lifting equipment.

Doughty Double Coupler Forged Doughty Coupler

Their scaffold pipe couplers, such as the popular swivel coupler, are built for the rigorous conditions of scaffold work.

Additionally, Doughty’s scaffold spanner is designed to suit their entire range of scaffold clamps. While it was originally designed for roofing applications, Estwing’ German-Style Latthammer is the perfect tool (and preferred hammer) for erecting scaffolding that meets safety requirements.

Scaffold Spanner Estwing German Style Latthammer

(3) Use fall protection and guardrails

As stated above, there is no distinction between low falls and high falls. No matter how high or how low you are off the ground, falls can be serious, both in terms of workers and their tools. Platforms with toe boards and guard rails provide a safe work environment as they mitigate the risk of falling.

In addition to guardrails, workers at height should also use a personal fall arrest system. Checkmate’s scaffolder kit, for example, includes a full body harness, a shock-absorbing lanyard, and a storage bag.

Checkmate’s scaffolder kit

You can view our full range of fall protection gear here to find the right fall arrest system for you.

(4) Secure scaffolding tools and work materials

Besides keeping yourself secure, it’s also important to keep your tools secure at all times. Dropping a hammer from any height, for instance, puts anyone on the ground at risk. Drop prevention products add an additional layer of safety to your scaffold work.

For lightweight tools, the slim pull away wristband keeps your gear close at hand. For heavier tools, Python Safety’s Hook2Loop Medium Duty Bungee Tether is a durable option for gear up to 15 kilograms.

slim pull away wristband Hook2Loop Medium Duty Bungee Tether

(5) Adhere to the scaffold’s load limits

Scaffolds are highly engineered products that are specifically designed to support a specific load when constructed in a certain position. Overloading, along with improper assembly or faulty parts, puts the structure at risk for collapse/overturning. When working, be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions regarding loading. You must consider the weight of both the workers and materials. It’s also important to consider buildings or structures that may be used to support the scaffold.

Additional safety tips

Unique work conditions may call for additional safety measures. Those working in winter conditions, for example, face different challenges than those working in the heat. Anyone working in whiteout conditions or in the dark can benefit from high visibility clothing.

For gear that will keep you safe while working on scaffolds, view our full range of products at shopmtn.eu.