Construction Site Risks That Scaffolding Protects Against

There are a number of different needs that may come up within various industrial construction sites, and a common one for many larger and taller structures is the need to perform work at varying heights off the ground. Scaffolding is one of the single most important products for these needs, and will often be a key part of construction planning for these jobs.

At Redi, scaffolding services are one key piece of the wide-ranging industrial construction solutions we offer to clients - with additional services ranging from site setup and excavation to site maintenance, site cleanup and dozens more in between. When scaffolding is used on a job site, what are some of the key risks it's helping protect workers and materials from? Here are some of these chief risks, plus how quality scaffolding keeps everyone on the site safe and confident.

Fall Risks

At its core, the primary purpose of scaffolding is to provide a stable and secure platform to work from. It serves as an elevated base of operations that allows workers in many cases – particularly when working with taller structures – to perform their duties without having to worry about the potential for a fall.

There are a few specific fall-related risks that scaffolding helps protect against:

• Unstable platforms or boards: Without scaffolding, workers may be at risk of using boards or platforms that are not safe for elevated work. These can be prone to wobbling, rocking and other potential hazards.
• Unsecured ladders: For workers who are utilizing ladders for access to elevated areas, there is always the risk that those ladders will not be properly secured or anchored – particularly if they are leaning against a structure. Scaffolding helps provide a secure platform in place of ladders, eliminating this risk.
• Slip prevention: With other methods of elevated work, there is the risk that workers may slip or lose their balance while they are on the ladder or platform. Quality scaffolding helps reduce this risk by providing a secure and stable platform to work from, minimizing the chance of any slips or falls.
• Fall distance: In any rare cases where someone does fall from scaffolding, the fall should be limited in distance, as they will only need to go two or three feet as opposed to a potentially much greater distance if they were falling from ladders or other elevated work platforms.

With the right kind of scaffolding in place, you reduce or even fully eliminate many of these potential risks, protecting your workers and keeping your projects on track.

Weather Risks

Another way scaffolding helps protect workers is by providing shelter from the elements. For outdoor projects, having this sort of reliable and secure space helps keep everyone safe in case of storms or other inclement weather events that can occur suddenly on a job site.

Scaffolding also provides a more consistent working temperature, as they tend to be better insulated than ladders or other methods of elevated work. This means that workers won't be as subject to extreme temperatures or sudden changes in temperature, helping promote greater comfort and safety on the job site.

Material Hazards

Scaffolding helps protect not just people but also materials – which can be especially important for certain jobs like painting a flat surface on a tall structure. Scaffolding sets up a secure platform that prevents any materials from falling down and causing damage or injury to workers on the ground, or creating further hazards or obstacles for those working on the scaffolding itself.

Scaffolding Usage Tips

While our team of scaffolding experts will be happy to assist you with the detailed ins and outs of any scaffolding selection and setup, here are a few of the general themes that should be considered when setting up scaffolding on any industrial construction site:

• Quality materials: First and foremost, make sure that you are investing in quality materials. The last thing you want is for the scaffolding to fail or be subject to any weakness, so buying quality is a must.
• Proper setup: For scaffolding to work properly, it needs to be set up with the appropriate level of care and attention. This includes making sure that all pieces are securely fastened and that the whole structure is stable enough to accommodate personnel.
• Inspect: Make sure that you have a clear system in place for regular inspections of the scaffolding, both during setup and throughout its use. This helps ensure that any potential issues or weaknesses can be addressed before they become a problem.
• Signage: In many industrial construction sites, there must be appropriate signage to indicate what areas are off limits due to scaffolding. This helps workers and other personnel onsite know where it is safe to go and where extra caution should be taken.
• Ladder use: We touched on ladders above, and they're still a necessary part of many job sites. That said, scaffolding should always be the first option when it comes to any elevated work – ladders should only be used when absolutely necessary and with the full understanding that they present a greater risk.

Ultimately, scaffolding can help make any industrial construction site safer and more efficient – but only if the necessary steps are taken. Following the tips and guidelines above will help ensure that your scaffolding keeps everyone on site safe, allowing you to complete projects quickly and efficiently.

For more on the important realm of scaffolding, or to learn about any of our other industrial construction solutions, speak to our team at Redi today.