Scaffolding – Safety First

by Scott Kahle 12. November 2010 19:17

No construction worker wants to find themselves on the job with scaffolding they can’t trust. Scaffolding is the structure or structures that are used along side of a construction project or building to help support both the workers while they do their job, and the construction tools they use to do their job. Without proper scaffolding there could be damage to the workers, loss or damage of products and construction buildings. The key for most successful construction jobs is keeping the workers and the products safe from harm.

scaffolding section

 

Scaffolding has been around since the ancient years where they were used in Greece and Egypt to put together the tallest of structures. Today much  of the scaffolding used is made of metal pieced together on the job. This is not to say that other materials are not used, such as in Asia where they often use Bamboo as it is very strong. There are many variations of scaffolding that have been used over the years. Scaffoldings are typically anchored to the building being worked on in an effort to make them as strong as possible. The scaffolding is put together layer upon layer as they work their way up the building side.

 

When put together scaffolding seems much like a puzzle and is interlacing from row to row. Scaffold planks are placed through the scaffolding frames which are used for the workers to walk on. These are sometimes referred to as walkboards. The scaffold planks must be sufficient enough to hold the weight of the worker as well as his tools and the building materials or supplies he needs to perform his job. Often a pulley hoist is added to scaffolding to pull the supplies up the scaffolding to the workers so that they do not have to climb up and down the structure numerous times throughout the job.

 

Once erected and prior to any workers using the scaffolding, it should be fully inspected by an experienced individual to ensure safety. This is a vital part of avoiding potential dangers after the scaffolding has been put to use. Additionally, when the structure is removed caution should be taken in an effort to keep the process organized and in such a manner as to not cause the structure to completely collapse. Although the process is nearly the same every time the structure is erected and deconstructed it needs to be done carefully each time. One missed bolt or failed coupling and the entire structure could collapse.

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