Latest News > Using Scaffolding Safely

When you need to use scaffolding for a building or decorating project, it is important to use a professional and skilled company with experience of building scaffolding in Leicestershire. This ensures that you have a safe platform to work from. However, this is only the beginning. Staying safe, and ensuring the safety of others also involves knowing how to work on the scaffolding and what to check during the time it is in use.

While scaffolding Leicestershire wide is being built, the responsibility for safety is primarily with the company in charge of the build. It is essential that they use the right type of scaffolding, ensure that the ground is level, and that there is enough space for it. They are responsible for ensuring that the boards that form the working platforms adhere to British Standards, and that there is suitable clearance from any nearby powerlines. The final build should be checked, and where necessary have a secondary inspection, before it is ready to use. Once the scaffolding in Leicestershire is complete, those that will be using it share responsibility with the initial company for both their own safety and that of passers-by. The scaffolding should be checked at regular intervals to ensure that nothing has moved or come loose. Any concerns should be reported immediately and checked by the scaffolding provider, before work commences. The same approach should be taken after severe adverse weather, such as high winds, to ensure that all remains safe to use. Similarly, if any alterations are made to the scaffolding during the project, then the build should be reassessed before it is used.

The dangers of working on scaffolding in Rugby are primarily slips, trips and falls. To prevent these, suitable work clothing and footwear should be worn at all times. Hard hats that conform to current safety standards should also be worn to reduce the risk of head injuries from falling or dropped items. High visibility jackets aid in ensuring that workers can see each other and plan routes around the scaffolding that do not involve the risk of knocking into each other, or placing too much weight in one place. Similar attention to detail also needs to be paid to the methods used to enter and exit the Melton scaffolding. Ladders need to be of a suitable height and stability, and be secured to stop them slipping or moving while being used. The areas around the ladder at the top should be surrounded with guard rails to reduce the risk of anyone falling down the space where the ladder is. The same level of attention needs to be paid to the safety of those passing close by, or under the scaffolding. Work taking place should ideally be limited to quiet periods, minimising the risk to passers-by. Signs should be present to inform people of the risk of walking under the scaffolding, and the lower levels are often made safer by covering them in foam sleeves.

There are numerous reasons why you may need scaffolding in Leicestershire, but regardless of the reason safety should be paramount. This also includes when the scaffolding is being removed. The lowering of the poles and connectors can pose its own set of dangers which need to be taken into account.