How to use scaffolding safely?

Scaffold towers are valuable equipment that facilitates working at a height for an extended period. Using a ladder for hours at a stretch is not practical, as it can get uncomfortable, so not recommended. Nonetheless, the use of scaffold towers should be done with care; and if used carelessly, they can expose their users and those in the nearby area to greater physical risk.Use the scaffolding process to avoid operational errors and ensure that your production activities are safer

Here are the five blunders you or your workers should avoid when using scaffold towers:

Don’t Fall into Temptation to Buy Cheap or Substandard Scaffolding Towers

It is human intention to save money wherever possible; however, you should not compromise the safety of the scaffold tower. Remember, you’re entrusting your workers’ life to it, so don’t go for a budget or inferior product.

You may have to pay a bit more for acquiring quality scaffold supplies, but it is a worthy investment.

Never Use Other Objects to Increase the Height

Climbing up or getting down from a scaffold tower or a ladder can be somewhat laborious. So it can be tempting to use nearby objects, such as a plastic box or chair, to add extra height. Furthermore, even reliable access equipment, such as a robust stepladder, is designed for ground use only and not atop the scaffold tower.

Using these items atop a scaffold tower can put you or your workers in a dangerous position. Thus, it is not prudent to take the risk of putting the lives of your workers in danger.

Don’t Neglect Scaffolding Tower’s Safe Workload

Similar to ladders, scaffold towers have their safe workload, so you need to see that you don’t go beyond it. Never use the scaffold tower to store material or equipment for long periods, as it can slowly deteriorate the platform. If any material or tool falls from the platform, it can expose those below the scaffold tower to injury.

Don’t Use a Scaffold Tower When Strong Winds Are Blowing

Scaffold towers are designed and built to stand against strong winds, but it is not safe to work at height when strong winds are blowing. When the winds become too strong, it’s only prudent to delay your task and resume when the weather gets favourable. The intensity of wind can likely hit you or your workers, shaking the balance, and it could send small objects like branches, stones and gravel flying at you during a critical moment. The most common reason for lethal injury to workers over the last decade was, falls from height, so ensure you keep away from these stats.

Move with Caution On the Top of Scaffold Tower

Though scaffold towers are more sturdy and stable than ladders, never take it for granted that scaffold towers can endure too much thrashing. Intended to support the weight of a standing person who makes careful movements, never expose scaffold tower to any sudden impacts such as dropping anything onto them from any height or jumping on them while climbing up or down.

Scaffolding is to better ensure that the whole process of construction of each project is carried out smoothly and erected work platform, as the basic essential content of the project construction, its erection work for all new projects are vital. Today to tell you about scaffolding erection and use of safety technical measures:
Listed below are some safety points in scaffolding operations, which must be helpful to you

1, scaffolding should be checked in detail, and shall not use steel pipes, bowl buckle steel pipes, fasteners, etc. that have rust and corrosion and are seriously distorted.

2、Foundation bearing capacity should meet the construction requirements, otherwise reinforcement measures should be taken (ramming or refilling).

3, according to the construction season, scaffolding should be anti-scouring or anti-freezing and other safety measures.

4, support scaffolding rows to be constructed according to the requirements (generally should be erected to do static load test), should have sufficient bearing capacity and stability, and to connect firmly to prevent uneven settlement, instability and deformation.

5, between the rows of shelves to be connected with scissor brace, and cable wind rope and anchor connection, to prevent swing instability.

6, bridge construction more heavy-duty frame (supporting the gravity of the beam, cover beam, cover plate and other external loads), this structure of the scaffolding to take a smaller vertical distance between the uprights (0.9m ~ 1.2m), step distance (0.6m ~ 0.9m) for heavy-duty operations or as a high-level external scaffolding, at the top with brackets to hold up small I-beam or large square wood, and then adjust the top bracket to make it horizontal, and then store then lay small square wood and formwork both to form the construction work platform. Bowl buckle scaffolding design load as follows.

7, the erection of steel pipe scaffolding and bowl buckle scaffolding the same, the connection of the upright rod must use butt fasteners connected, horizontal cross bars must be lap each other with right angle fasteners or rotary fasteners and upright rod firmly connected to form a whole, longitudinal, step distance and bowl buckle scaffolding the same.

8, scaffold plate to be spread full, tied firmly, no probe plate, and to be firmly fixed in the scaffold or bracket. No part of the scaffolding shall be connected to the template.

9、The top of the scaffolding should be set up with railings. The safety facilities laid should be checked frequently to ensure the safe passage of operators and small machinery.

11, scaffolding materials and tools should be stacked neatly, snow and debris should be removed in a timely manner. Scaffolding with slope, to add non-slip planks, if necessary, should add handrails to ensure safety.

12, overhanging scaffolding application railing or bracing wood fixed properly, firmly, to prevent swinging and shaking.

13, scaffolding erected in the water, should often check the water wash situation, found loose, deformation or sinking should be timely reinforced and stable. The personnel working on the scaffold should be equipped with life-saving equipment.

14, scaffolding height in 10 ~ 15m, should be set (4 ~ 6) cable wind rope. Cable wind rope and the ground angle of 45 ° ~ 60 °. The anchor of the cable wind rope must be secure, and should be set up fence to prevent collision damage.

15, the erection of the bracket, scaffolding from 2 meters above the part every 2 ~ 5m high must hang protective safety net and fall protection facilities, construction section must be set up protective fence and work platform, conspicuous position hanging protective signage.

16, high work personnel (construction personnel) must wear safety belts, helmets, strictly prohibited to wear slippers, hard-soled shoes and alcohol on the shelf operation.

17, the removal of scaffolding, around the guardrail or warning signs should be set up, and should be dismantled from the top down, not up and down double operation. Removal of scaffolding poles, boards should be manually passed or lifting, and strict inspection, must be lifted stable before lifting, is strictly prohibited to throw.

18, according to the provisions, where suffering from hypertension, heart disease, epilepsy and other unsuitable for high work shall not be engaged in high work.

19, the meaning of work at height and the level of classification should be in line with the current national standard "work at height classification" (GB 3608-83), that is: "where in the fall height datum above 2m (including 2m) may fall from a high place to work, are called work at height.