Working at such heights is always going to be at risk, and it is a risk. With all the added challenges and threats, every individual working on-sites must be extremely careful, sometimes these jobs can be fatal too. You can’t deny the fact that there are so many scaffolding risks, and every contractor or builder or the construction company must prepare for better precautions. Scaffolding systems does allow employees to work over heights, which is quite significant for many construction projects to work upon.
However, these tasks and projects come with inherent risks of falling, slipping and even being injured to a fatal level. There are many scaffolding risks that one needs to look out for and take the necessary precautions accordingly, like https://www.altascaffolding.com/.
Here we have mentioned five biggest scaffolding risks that one should keep an eye on and take preventive measures as well. Take a look!
5 Biggest Scaffolding Risks to look out for
Sure, the risk is high, but many scaffolding companies are ensuring to provide maximum security and safety to the workers. The more and more construction companies adapt to proper preventive measures, the better the health of your workers and employees would be.
1. Falling or slipping from the height
Apparently, one of the most recognized dangers with scaffolding is slipping or falling from height, and such an accident could cause serious injury and in most cases it’s fatal. However, the cause could be missing guardrails, failure to use and manage the personal fall systems and improper installation of scaffolding. To prevent hazards, you have to take preventive measures such as maintaining the installation, and having proper equipment – ladders, bench and stairs.
2. Scaffold collapsed
Yes, it does happen- often! The scaffolding should be assembled properly, and there are different factors that need to be considered before erecting the scaffold on-site. You need to figure out the overall weight that the scaffold would hold, which includes workers (body weight), the equipment, and the materials that have to be held. Make sure that you are accounting and measuring up the foundation stability, placing the scaffold planks, the work surface etc. Pre-plan your workings and then go ahead with building one!
3. Ineffective equipment
Of course, you are providing your workers with equipment, but they need to have personal equipment of their own. It is also known as Personal protective equipment (PPE), which can include hard hats, strong non-skid boots- work boots. If you are not accompanied by these essential equipment, then it raises the injury and accidents to a higher level. You also have to consider other additional safety equipment for the workers to avoid hazards and accidents, completely.
4. Weather and Climatic conditions
Yes, even climate and weather could be the reason sometimes! Of course, we cannot control mother nature, can we? But we sure can control the risk of fatal injuries and accidents that happen on-site. A proper use of scaffolding in weather conditions can prevent such enormous risks on the lives of workers. You have to check your scaffold, whether it’s properly assembled, installed and tied with maximum support required. However, it is necessary to avoid work during extreme weather conditions such as sleet, ice, snow, strong winds, and heavy rains, because such weather can make the plank slippery, and it’s too much of a risk!
5. Electrocution
Electrical hazards are often one of the major dangers that happens on-site under scaffolding. We have to pre-plan efficiently and ensure that there are no such electrical hazards present in, during the scaffold usage. However, one has to maintain around 10’ of distance between electrical hazards and scaffolds. If you cannot maintain such a distance, then you at least have to de-energize the power and ensure that it’s properly insulated.
Conclusion
Scaffolding can prevent many accidents and hazards on-site, only if you work it out efficiently. Once you provide your workers with more safety equipment and tools, then these accidents could be prevented, just like that. However, many construction companies have opted to train their employees and on-site workers to help protect themselves from such types of accidents overall. Well, we all know, a company stands still, when it’s employees are healthy, happy and fine!