There are many safety concerns associated with scaffolding equipment that all employers must understand. Reducing the risks associated with scaffolding use is the most effective way of providing a safe working environment. Safe Work Australia recently published a report which revealed that the construction industry is one of Australia’s deadliest, having the third highest rate of fatalities and serious injuries.
There are many scaffolding safety measures that must be implemented on construction sites to reduce the risk of injuries to workers. While inspections and identifying new workplace risks and hazards are integral to the safety of workers, the most common cause of injuries related to scaffolding unfortunately result from human error. This suggests that sufficient training is equally important as providing a safe working environment when attempting to reduce scaffolding injuries. This article aims to identify the most common causes of scaffolding related injuries to give you some insight into what you need to understand about scaffolding safety. Appropriate training Studies have indicated that almost two-thirds of construction workers will use scaffolding equipment throughout the course of a construction project. This clearly highlights the need for formal scaffolding training for all workers. It’s currently a requirement that only workers with appropriate qualifications and training can use scaffolding equipment, as specialist knowledge is required in order to safely complete work on these structures. This formal training should incorporate all aspects of scaffolding use, including basic safety training, how to safely mount and exit the structure, and respecting load capacities. Load capacities Each scaffolding structure has a load capacity, or the maximum weight that each working platform can support. Naturally, these load capacities must never be exceeded with either workers or materials as the structure can collapse and cause serious injuries. Overloading working platforms is one of the biggest causes of injuries on scaffolding equipment. Load capacities must be understood and respected by all workers to ensure the scaffolding structure remains stable and safe. All workers should check the load capacity of a scaffolding structure before using it. Correct PPE Using the correct PPE, or personal protective equipment, is a critical safety issue when working with scaffolding. Protective equipment such as non-slip boots, head protection, and fall protection save countless lives every year on construction sites. Generally, each construction site will have unique risks and hazards, so workers will be advised on exactly what protective equipment must be used on site. Employers also need to actively enforce the correct use of protective equipment. Preparation of site and ground The degree of safety that a scaffolding structure offers is constantly changing due to ground conditions and other obstacles in and around the construction site. For this reason, it’s critical that all potential hazards and risks such as trees and electrical wires are identified and managed, along with routine ground inspections to ensure the soil hasn’t deteriorated with the weather. Obstacles that can’t be removed should be integrated with the design of scaffolding and risk assessments should be carried out every few days to identify any new risks that are presented to workers. Fall protection Another common cause of injuries on scaffolding equipment results from falls. Any scaffolding that is greater than three metres in height must have guardrails to ensure that workers can perform their job on a stable platform that is largely protected from falls. Both workers and materials are at risk of falling, so guardrails should be implemented on all three sides of the scaffolding that faces away from the building, and there should be three separate rails on each guardrail: a top rail, a mid rail, and a bottom rail (toe board). Inspections and maintenance Scaffolding inspections and maintenance must be performed regularly to ensure that scaffolding doesn’t present any further risks to workers. The weather can quickly deteriorate scaffolding equipment, so the structure, working platforms, and ground conditions must be regularly inspected for any wear and tear, corrosion, or damage. Inspections should be carried after the scaffolding has been erected and before it has been used, along with inspections every seven days until the scaffolding is dismantled. These inspections should be performed by a competent person, preferably an engineer or someone who has been has been approved in writing by an engineer. Housekeeping The wooden platforms that support workers and materials are relatively small, so there is very little room for error especially when there is more than one worker occupying a platform. It’s paramount that equipment and materials are organised on the working platform to minimise the risk of any equipment or materials from accidentally falling. Workers must be conscious about their surroundings when working on scaffolding, including materials, equipment, and other workers to reduce the risk of falling objects which poses a serious risk to those below the scaffolding structure. Weather The weather plays in integral role in the safety of workers on construction sites. Not only does certain weather conditions deteriorate tools and equipment, but it can pose serious risks to those working at heights. Wet and windy weather conditions pose substantial threats to all workers on construction sites, so the weather must be closely monitored to ensure that the construction site remains a safe working environment for everyone. The safety of all workers and visitors of a construction site is the number one priority for construction companies. Even though strict safety procedures and inspections may cause delays at times, ensuring that all risks and hazards are minimised is a key component in providing a safe workplace. Too many preventable accidents and injuries occur on scaffolding equipment, so adequate training, preparation, and inspections must be carried out along with ensuring that workers use the correct protection equipment and respect load capacities. Uni-Span understand the importance of safety on construction sites and ensure all our scaffolding equipment and accessories meet Australian safety standards. We also offer engineering services so you can be sure that your construction site is as safe as possible. If you’d like to learn more about our scaffolding products and services, feel free to contact us on 1300 882 825, or visit our website for further information: https://uni-span.com.au
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March 2019
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