Work Site Scaffolding Safety

The majority of scaffold accidents on the construction site are caused by falls, slipping or being struck by an object from above. All of these accidents can be prevented by taking the proper precautions. Here’s how.

General Safety Tips

• To prevent slipping hazards, conduct a daily routine inspection to ensure that all walking and working surfaces are free from potential hazards. If you spot a hazard, remove it.
• Never move, dismantle or alter a scaffold unless under the supervision of a competent person qualified in scaffold erection, moving, dismantling or alteration.
• Unless allowed by regulatory specifications, never move a scaffold with employees still on it.
• Keep scaffold loads below maximum capacity and remove equipment when the scaffold is not in use.
• Be alert for bad weather. High winds and driving rain and snow can be dangerous when working at high levels.

Protection for Those Below

• Always hoist up heavy tools, equipment and supplies with adequate means, rather than carrying up by hand.
• There must be a 3½” high toe board to prevent items falling off a scaffold. If items on the scaffold are taller than 3½” (above the toe board), other systems, like debris nets, must be used to catch falling tools or materials.
• Always wear a hard hat when working on and around a scaffold.
• Never walk under or near the scaffold if roped off when work is being performed above.

Fall Protection Basics
To help protect employees against potential falls, fall protection is needed when working ten feet or more above a lower level in most states or (7.5 feet in California), and typically consists of either a personal fall arrest system or guardrail systems, depending on the job. If using a fall arrest system, consider:

• Always attach lanyards to a vertical lifeline, horizontal lifeline or scaffold structural member designed or engineered for such use.
• If you using a vertical lifeline, make sure that employees are fastened to a fixed safe point of anchorage, independent of the scaffold. This includes structural members of buildings, but not standpipes, vents, electrical conduit, etc. They may give way under the force of a fall.
• Clean and test gear regularly, and never tamper with the fall protection system.

When working on scaffolding, make employee safety the top priority!

Contact your Alliant producer to help your business prepare for the unexpected by implementing work site safety. Visit Alliant Safety & Loss Control for more information. 

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