Scaffolding Accidents are Preventable!

Nearly 40% of injuries caused by falling are related to scaffolds and/or ladders. It's a sobering statistic that approximately 4,500 workers are injured every year in scaffolding falls - and some 50 of those injuries result in death.

There are many ways workers can be injured while using scaffolding, including planks that can give way, equipment or debris that can fall from above, and ladders or other structural components that can fail. Safety devices such as guardrails and fall arrest systems are particularly important to scaffolding work since in these systems significantly reduce the incidence of injuries and deaths related to scaffolding falls. In addtion to safety devices, there are other actions that can be taken to prevent accidents involving scaffolding. Here are some tips for working safely on scaffolds:

• Set up scaffolding on a secure, stable area.
• Do not attempt to support scaffolds with unstable objects such as loose bricks or boxes.
• Ensure there is safe ladder access to the structure. Install ladders incrementally as the structure is built to allow workers to safely access multiple levels of the scaffold.
• Never climb on braces or structural members/frames.
• Use scaffold-grade lumber when creating platforms.
• Be sure the structure can support 4 times the maximum intended load (as prescribed by OSHA guidlines).
• Avoid working on a scaffold in strong winds, snowy/icy conditions, or during a storm.
• Be sure guardrails are strong enough to withstand up to 200 pounds of force.
• Be sure to have the appropriate fall protection.