When it comes to choosing a scaffolding company for your upcoming project, you should have various points on your checklist. However,there is one thing that stands head and shoulders above most other aspects in importance: safety. To safeguard your sub-contractors, your property and the public, you must choose scaffolding erectors with a proven safety record. Whether you have a basic access scaffold outside your Twickenham home, or a huge structure with temporary stair access and a temporary roof, ongoing safety remains vital.
If installed improperly by an inexperienced, unqualified scaffolding company,these structures become a genuine risk to health, and even life. Below, we have provided essential advice for safe scaffold use. As you will see, your decision to choose reputable scaffolding erectors sets a tone for strict safety for the duration of your project.
At AGB Scaffolding Services, we know how much you value peace of mind. We’re always happy to discuss our commitment to safe scaffolding practices. Call us on 01784 437 875 or 07951 590 094 to schedule an initial consultation in Twickenham or the neighbouring areas.
According to recent statistics, 72% of injuries suffered during scaffold use involved a structural malfunction, falling objects hitting workers or slipping. While accidents will always happen from time to time, the nature of these incidents suggests a safer approach could have prevented them.
The best way to reduce accidents is to follow basic steps that lead to safer scaffolds, from the foot of temporary stair access up to the temporary roof.
Use a Professional Scaffolding Company
Qualified, experienced scaffolding erectors design, assemble and alter structures in full compliance with current Health and Safety standards. They will inspect the scaffold at your Twickenham site before first use and then hand it over to you. From this point, you are responsible for the structure’s ongoing safety.
Schedule Regular Inspections
While your scaffolding company signs off your structure as safe, it needs regular inspections to ensure that it remains so. The workers using the scaffold must perform daily visual checks, noting any mishaps or signs of damage. Maybe the temporary stair access has started to wobble? Is there a leak in the temporary roof?
Most importantly, though, you must have your structure inspected professionally on a weekly basis for the duration of its use. The majority of scaffolding erectors, including AGB Scaffolding Services, are happy to perform inspections on their own structures.
Follow Safety Guidelines
In our role as your scaffolding company, we never leave your safety to chance. After the erection of your structure in Twickenham, we leave you with guidelines for safe scaffold use. These include maximum load capacities.
The structure and temporary roof our scaffolding erectors assemble for you has a maximum load capacity. This ensures that it won’t collapse. If you exceed this load, you run the risk of a serious accident.
Train Your Workers
The personnel you hire to use your scaffold are the people most likely to suffer an accident on it. You can safeguard their health by training them how to use it properly. This includes how to safely ascend the scaffold, be it via temporary stair access or ladders. You must also teach them how to use fall protection equipment and how to perform visual inspections.
Keep a log of your training and visual checks. This will cover you if an accident does occur.
Keep a Tidy Working
Space Depending on the size of your scaffold and temporary roof, you might have a large group of sub-contractors and tradespeople working on your Twickenham site at once. But even if you only have 2 or 3, you must always maintain a clear and tidy working environment. Our scaffolding erectors work to the same standards when assembling your structure.
This centres around the proper storing of supplies, tools and other equipment. By not leaving things in the wrong place, there’s less chance of trips, falling objects and subsequent injuries.
Be Diligent
As a scaffolding company, we sympathise with your need to meet deadlines and budgets. But you must never push for results at the expense of safety. In most cases, scaffolding safety is simple common sense. For example, don’t place boxes or free-standing ladders on the structure.
Likewise, if a liquid spill occurs on your temporary stair access or a working platform, make sure it’s cleaned up before work resumes. The same goes for clearing ice and snow or any other slip hazards.
