Scaffolding Do’s and Don’ts
Millions of workers in the construction industry work on scaffolds with an estimated number of 5,000 workers being injured yearly. And while some of these accidents could not be avoided, most of them would.
Because you’ve worked with scaffolding for many years, don’t guarantee you know a lot about them. After all, those that get too comfortable with the beast, get the most shock when hurt.
To ensure safety while working with scaffolds; proper training is essential.
Identifying the Hazards
In any scaffold safety training, identification of hazards should be the first thing noted which includes;
• Fall from elevation
• Overloading or instability causing collapse of the scaffold
• Workers struck by falling tools or work materials
• Electrocution
The Do’s and Don’ts
Skills from most scaffold erectors tend to be acquired through hands-on experience. Of course, this may not work for many workers. Scaffolds need to be erected and used correctly by trained workers or a specialty scaffold subcontractor. Some scaffolding dos and don’ts include;