Basic Safety Standards for Scaffolding Use

There is no doubt in the fact that scaffolding should be used very carefully. It is essential that the workers should only be allowed to use the scaffolding only after giving them proper training. More than 65 percent of the construction industries work on scaffolding but there is no such protection for those workers who actually deal with scaffolding. It is the duty of the employer to provide proper an adequate training to workers who actually deal with scaffolding. There should be specific type of training for different kinds of scaffolding. It is the responsibility of the builder or scaffolding hire company to get a license for any scaffolding that is put up on the highway.

It is important to check that no company is allowed to use scaffolding without having the license of using it. We just cannot play with others life for our own self interest. To use scaffolding properly these should always be assembled in accordance with the designer's instructions and the scaffold plan. If these are not assembled according to the engineer’s instruction then these can be risky for the workers. It is very essential that workers are very well aware of the risk hazards and problems they can come into while working in construction industry. Any person or worker doing scaffolding work must possess a particular training and certificate to work with scaffolding. If a person tries to deal with scaffolding without any proper training it can be very dangerous for him.

Also it is important to see that if a worker gets into some injury or problem while dealing with scaffolding then there is a loss to the company also. Employing qualified people to erect your scaffolding and carry out building work should help to make sure your building site is a safe place. The first thing to check out while dealing with scaffolding is that these should be erected on a firm level foundation. Scaffolding accidents mainly occur when people are not aware of or not properly trained how to use scaffolding. It involves people falling, incorrect operating procedures, environmental conditions and falling materials caused by equipment failure. The causes of scaffolding accidents include failures at attachment points, parts failure, inadequate fall protection, improper construction or work rules, and changing environmental conditions.

Another thing to take care of is that scaffolding structure should be checked weekly, and inspected after alterations, damage and extreme weather conditions. Its components should never be removed. A competent person must inspect ropes for defects prior to each work shift and after every occurrence that could affect a rope’s integrity. Emergency escape and rescue devices must not be used as working platforms, unless designed to function as suspension scaffolds and emergency systems. A qualified and experienced person must properly inspect all the construction material that the workers will be working with. These are very minor things that if we take care of these things accidents in construction industry can be avoided to a large extent.