Scaffold Safety – Frequently Asked Questions

By understanding the components to scaffold safety workers could actually prevent 4,500 injuries and 50 deaths every year. And can you guess what this would save the American employers? A whooping 90 million dollars in work days lost. If it is important to you to remain safe while using scaffolds at your work place or if you are a business owner and intend to keep your employees and money safe then it is vital to thoroughly understand scaffold safety. In this article we will examine and address some of the most frequently asked questions relating scaffold support, the plane of the scaffold, access and railing.

In what ways can I secure the scaffold?

Scaffolds require support in order to be secure. There are actually three main categories of scaffolds so in result there are three different types of support systems. The first is a suspended model in which it is suspended in the air by ropes or other resources from an overhead structure. The next type is a supported foundation that is made of one or more platforms with beams, poles, or frames. And the last grouping is aerial scaffolds. This type needs shackles in order to achieve scaffold safety and further prevent accidental disengage of the aerial lift.

What kind of plane do scaffolds require in order to be reliable?

It's essential that your scaffolds maintain the proper plane when seeking scaffold safety. If you do not retain the perfect level in your platform you have more than the possibility of creating hazards for yourself and your team. Having an uneven platform will cause workers to become off balance and fall off of the scaffold. Or objects could even slide from the platform running into the worker or striking someone below.

How should I examine the ladders on my scaffolds?

It is so important that in addition to inspecting your platforms you also perform upkeep on your points of access. Your ladders should be inspected prior to every use for scaffold safety. Remember that your scaffolds must be located in a place so that workers do not need to step more than 1 ft. from the ladder to the platform. Make sure that your way of access is free of oil spills or grease and do not use if there is any form of structural defect.

What are the correct measurements for guard rails?

In scaffold safety the last main component is guard rails. It is vital that they possess the correct measurements as well as being firmly secured. Scaffolds that are higher than five feet above a surface or any distance above a body of water must have railing. The top rail must be 42-45 inches high, midrail must be half way between the top rail and platform, and must consist of 2×4 lumbers, flat bar, or pipe.

In this article we have addressed a few different components In order to better understand scaffold safety procedures. By incorporating your new knowledge of scaffold support, the plane, access, and railing you will be more capable of keeping yourself and workers safe.