Scaffolding Hazards and Safety Measures

Four Major Types of Scaffolding Hazards

W hy Is Scaffolding Safety

Important

Scaffolding safety is crucial because working on scaffolds involves working at heights, which poses various risks for workers.

OSHA reports that approximately 2.3 million individuals, which is roughly 65 percent of construction workers, work on scaffolds. Preventing scaffold-related accidents among these workers could avert 4,500 injuries and 50 fatalities annually.

OSHA. (n.d.). Scaffolding. Website. [PDF]. https:// www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/notes.pdf

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that between 2003 and 2004, up to 4,500 individuals working on scaffolds were injured, and more than 60 were killed each year. Most of these accidents resulted from falls from scaffolds, being struck by falling objects, or scaffolding collapses caused by inadequate planking.

Four Major Types of Scaffolding

Hazards

Let’s find out the 4 main hazards that those individuals working on scaffolds may face.

Safety M easures:

Falling from Scaffolds

�� Wearing appropriate fall protection gear

�� Installing guardrails, mid-rails, and top rails in both suspended and supported scaffolds on all open sides

�� Not working on scaffolds covered with snow and ice

Struck by Falling Objects

Safety M easures:

�� Using PPE such as hardhats

�� Installing toe-boards or screens so that materials and objects do not slide off the scaffolding platform

�� Erecting debris nets, catch platforms, or canopies to stop or redirect the falling objects

�� Ensuring that hand tools and other objects are kept away from the edge of the scaffold

��

Electrocutio

n Safety M easures:

�� Maintaining distances between a scaffold and insulated powerlines as recommended by OSHA Standards

�� Following OSHA recommendations when doing welding and other types of electrical work on different types of scaffolding

Wearing PPE such as rubber gloves

Safety M easures:

Scaffoldin g Collapses

�� Following OSHA’s Scaffolding Safety Standard recommendations and guidelines related to building scaffolds, using scaffolds, and dismantling scaffolds

�� Ensuring the scaffold is designed by a qualified person

�� Ensuring the scaffold is inspected by a competent person daily before work begins

Scaffolding Hazards and Safety Measures

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