A lot can go wrong when working on scaffolding. We talked to safety
experts about some safety essentials when working from heights. Here are
your top 10 tips for scaffolding safety.
On Christmas Eve 2009, four migrant workers fell to their death from
a suspended scaffold 13 storeys high after the platform they were
standing on snapped. A fifth worker suffered severe injuries. The
incident resulted in both criminal and OHS charges being filed against
three men and Metron Construction Corp.
Despite the dangers it
poses, however, working on a scaffold can be straightforward and safe if
everyone involved follows procedures.
Provincial and federal
occupational safety laws outline specific duties and responsibilities
for employers, supervisors and workers. Knowing the rules and
regulations is in everyone’s best interest.
1. Ensure everyone is properly trained.
Safety regulations require that workers be trained in the design and
operation of scaffolding. Training covers important safe work practices
such as how to safely get on and off the scaffold (using an access
ladder, not the scaffold frame — unless it is specially designed to be
climbed and both hands are free to grab the rungs). It should also cover
comprehensive fall protection training specific to the type of
scaffolding, erecting and dismantling procedures for anyone involved in
these activities, and a host of other lifesaving details.
2. Take the time for prep work.
Before using scaffolding, make sure the base is sound, level and
adjusted; that the legs are plumb and all braces in place; that locking
devices and ties are secured; that cross members are level; and that
planks, decks and guardrails are installed and secure. Check the
location for ground conditions, such as slopes, and stay clear away from
hazards such as overhead wires, obstructions and changes in surface
elevation.
3. Keep it legal. CSA standard
committees have identified “rogue employers” as a significant obstacle
to scaffold safety. “These are employers who fly under the radar and
operate without a license,” says Jeet Tulshi, a CSA project manager.
“They get some pick-up truck, rent a unit and hope they don’t get
caught. They might import material from offshore and put it together
without having it surveyed or reviewed by a professional engineer.” That
was the case on Christmas Eve 2009, he says.
4. Know and respect the load capacity. According
to the Ontario Ministry of Labour, failure to consider all the loads to
which the scaffold may be subjected is one of the top things that go
wrong at the design stage. The scaffold must be strong enough and
capable of holding the desired weight, otherwise it could collapse.
Don’t try to fit more workers on the platform than it can handle; don’t
overload it with equipment and materials; and don’t rest anything on the
guardrails.
5. Ensure the scaffold is properly secured.
The scaffold must be adequately braced or tied to the building. If it
is wrapped in a tarp for protection from the elements, it could blow
over if it isn’t secured. According to the Construction Safety
Association of Manitoba, “Bracing must be properly secured in place,
otherwise scaffold movement may dislodge an end, reducing the stability
of the scaffold. There are several different brace retention or locking
systems found on scaffolds. These devices must operate freely for ease
of assembly and dismantling, and also lock securely to prevent a brace
from dislodging. Nails and other miscellaneous odds and ends should not
be used in place of proper retention parts supplied by the
manufacturer.”
6. Use guardrails. The design of
the scaffold must incorporate guardrails on at least the three sides
facing away from the building if the scaffold is more than 10 feet above
ground. There should be a top rail, a mid rail and a bottom rail (toe
board). If you must remove any guardrails while hoisting materials,
replace them promptly. Wear fall protection at all times.
7. Inspect and maintain. Scaffolding
must be routinely inspected by the supervisor and by a competent person
— ideally a professional engineer or a person designated in writing by a
professional engineer. In the case of a suspended platform, inspect and
test all components including welds, stirrups, connecting pins,
connecting plates, trusses, beams and working surface. Check that the
lumber is of good quality. If any pieces get broken or damaged, replace
them right away. Inspect frames, braces and other components for damage,
bends and excessive rust or wear. Also check motors, platforms or wire
ropes for damage from chemicals or corrosive material.
8. Good housekeeping. There
isn’t much room on a scaffold, so it’s important to store tools and
materials in an orderly fashion. Keep the platform free of obstructions.
Place debris and waste material in a container or remove it from the
platform immediately.
9. Keep your balance. A
scaffold and its platform must be perfectly level (CSA standard says it
mustn’t deviate from the vertical by more than 12 millimeters per three
meters of height) to minimize the risk of workers losing balance and
falling off. Particularly on swing stages, there must be an adequately
weighted counterweight. Pay attention when working on a scaffold. Any
sudden movements, or reaching too far from the platform, can cause a
loss of balance.
10. Use appropriate PPE. This
includes head protection, non-slip protective footwear and fall
protection as required, in the form of a safety harness tied off to a
solid structure, such as the building.
With all of these safety practices in place, working on a scaffold can be a high without the dangerous lows.
Article Credit - Michelle Morra is an award-winning freelance journalist based in Toronto. You may contact Michelle at
writemorr@yahoo.ca
