Hazards Faced by Scaffolders in Eltham & Ways to Avoid Them

“You can’t test courage cautiously”

Do you think it is right? Wrong!

When you are hanging down from a multi storey building just by the ropes or normal bamboo shafts, you might imagine “such is life” as stated by Ned Kelley. The absurdity of life comes to an end if the rope is tied loosely or any of those various factors that can cause a fall or an accident, work against your favour. In such situation, after surfing the rate of accidents, the experts have come with the blessing in disguise.

Scaffolding has been a great blessing in the world of construction from the time it was invented. The technical ways of building and dismantling it has made it a common usage for every construction process. The new way scaffolding and its methods, if used properly can easily reduce the accident rates that are recorded in the past times.

The OSHA rules if followed and training when giving to the workers in the construction world, then it can be of great help. Many scaffolders prove to be those who follow the rules and regulations of OSHA and report the most efficient piece of work in their genre.

Even after restrictions and regulations, there can be accidents, as they don’t come knocking at the door. So, one must know and be aware of the most common falls and the ways to avoid them, too. Here goes the list:

Falls from Great Heights

Being a scaffolder one has to work with heights, and falling from heights is the most common hazards faced by the workers, hence one can avoid them by:

1) A guardrail can be of great help. A number of good guardrail must be present in every space along with the top of the scaffolding, then lowering down to the mid rails and finally the cross braces.

2) Graded planks must be used and they should be tightly sealed and planked.

3) One must use the scaffold by the ladders to access it.

Slipping Down

Often, it is seen that accidents occur due to the workers slipping out from the scaffolding. Ways to avoid them:

1) Workers must avoid working under slippery condition or even when there is ice everywhere.

2) Customised boots must be provided where there is slope.

3) The stair ways should be made slip resistant.

Electrocution Problems

One of the major life taking risks about scaffolders in Eltham is when the workers face the perils of electrocution. Ways to avoid them would be:

1) Power lines should be kept at least 10 feet away.

2) One must check for the power lines which are just above the head.

3) One must also check whether there are any loose wires or faulty electrical wirings left or not.

Collapsing of the Entire Structure

It might so happen that scaffolding can collapse entirely if not tied properly.

• Base plates should be secure and tightened nicely.
• The scaffold itself should be strong enough to carry the weight it that it is meant to for the work purpose.
• One must avoid using any weakened or damaged items for the scaffolding.
• There should a competent inspector present who can judge the former mentioned factors.
• The ropes that will be used must be heat resistant

 

When the Objects Fall from Heights

People are injured or even face fatal accidents when objects from a height suddenly fall on them. But, how to avoid such a situation?

 

1. A protective canopy should always be used with the barricade along with it.

2. There should be toe boards along with the edges of platforms

3. Wearing hard hats can also be a protective measure.

So, from now on, you can be extra cautious and then can you test your courage! Happy and safe working!

How to Make Scaffolding in Eltham a Safe Tool to Work on

It is much easier to work on scaffolding while constructing a high rise building than to do it with a ladder. The plain surface on which the scaffolding rests reduces the chances of toppling down. Eltham has the best of scaffoldings in the local area, so let’s just view the steps to work with the scaffolding safely while putting it up:

Step 1:Rent scaffolding for those high jobs

It is advisable that you rent scaffolding the next time you have a work up high, rather than struggling with the ladders. Working with scaffolding provides you with a stable platform where you can stack all your materials and tools and go to and fro for the construction purpose.

Step 2: Assemble the frame and base

The frame and the base are the important things serving as the foundation of scaffolding. Start beginning with the assembly by laying both the frames almost 7 ft. apart from the working area. Start putting up the screws and base plates or casters so you will be saved from the extra hard work that you have to put up with scaffolding to put them in for later use.

Even though the basic setup procedure is the same, scaffold hardware varies slightly from one manufacturer to the next. Adjusting screws make the leveling of all scaffolding in Eltham easy and safe.

Step 3: Add planks and guardrails

Now to add the planks and guard rails, you have to lift the scaffold planks from the middle and place the frames and adjust until they are above the frame. Now secure it with the swivel catches.

Always remember that you should not use ordinary wooden planks because they are not strong enough. They can anytime take their last breath and your life will be in danger. Therefore, it is suggested that you do not get tempted by the idea of saving money and use good quality planks.

Step 4: Scaffolding accessories and tips

Once it is set up, speed up your work and start working on it. Though the casters give the allowance to the scaffolders to move easily but still a few precautions should be remembered.

• Ask the supplier to place a horizontal plate diagonally between the two outside frames to make them a square.
• Do not roll on the scaffolding with heavy load
• Be sure to lock the casters before climbing up
• Be careful of the electric wires while you are moving upward.
• Never roll the scaffolding on steep slopes or near to any holes.