One of the most common pieces of equipment you’ll find at a construction site is scaffolding. Scaffolding is integral to construction operations, because it provides a sufficient space for construction workers to do their jobs at height, often when needing physical stability to move around and keep their equipment nearby and handy.
When setup properly, scaffolding is a great platform for any jobsite, but if it’s setup improperly or used incorrectly, it’s a risk not just for workers, but for the general public who may be walking by or underneath it. A number of dangers, including falling debris, worker slip and falls, and bad planking are the cause for approximately 4,500 injuries and 60 deaths yearly related to scaffolding. In the worst cases, complete scaffolding collapses have injured nearby workers and pedestrians.
OSHA has created “A Guide to Scaffold Use in the Construction Industry”, which breaks down the scaffolding safety standards that all construction site managers and workers should follow to eliminate as many risks and hazards as possible. United Safety Professionals is ready to help break everything down for you to make sure that you and your employees know how to build, use, and maintain scaffolding safely. We offer both 10-hour and 30-hour OSHA construction training programs that will give you a full understanding of all the steps to take to create a safe and productive work environment, including scaffolding safety standards. You can also find a number of online training programs that allow you to learn about relevant and related guidelines at your own convenience.