Despite the fact that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) created and enforced a well-defined standard for the use of scaffolds, scaffold-related incidents continue to happen in the workplace, causing severe injury or death for a large number of construction employees. As such, it is recommended for scaffolding inspections to take place more frequently than the basic minimum set out by OSHA. A scaffold inspection might be the difference between life and death. Read on to find out the importance of scaffolding inspections and how it is performed.
How A Scaffolding Inspection is Performed
To begin with, it is critical that scaffolds be examined exclusively by someone who is knowledgeable about scaffold safety. Before being handed such a critical responsibility, this person must obtain sufficient training and experience. If this employee discovers a problem with the scaffolding, it is critical that they have the power to insist that the necessary safety precautions be performed.
Scaffolding Construction
Scaffold safety is jeopardized from the start if the scaffold is not correctly constructed to begin with. The scaffold must be designed by a professional engineer who goes above and beyond OSHA rules. Scaffolds constructed from non-scaffold grade materials must be rejected at once, as employing unsuitable objects such as bricks and barrels to construct a scaffold will result in poor composition.
Hazards
It is absolutely crucial to ensure that any power lines around the scaffolds are de-energized during a scaffolding inspection. Another thing to keep an eye out for is secure access. Never use the scaffold as a ladder, and all ladders used to reach the scaffold must be strategically placed since inappropriate placement might jeopardize the structure’s stability. Ladders must be securely secured to the scaffold. Overhead risks should not be neglected, and scaffolding work should be discontinued immediately if persistent rain or strong winds arise. Any spills that might cause a slide must also be cleaned up very away.
Tagging
Scaffolds must also be labeled after every scaffold inspection to demonstrate how safe they are. Green tags indicate that the structure is totally safe to use, whereas yellow tags are placed on scaffolds that were originally dangerous but have been repaired and are now safe to use. These yellow-tagged scaffolds may be dangerous, but they should be safe enough to work on. When the tag is inspected again after permanent fittings, it might be changed to green or red based on the inspector’s decision. The significance of red tags cannot be overstated as these scaffolds are no longer suitable to be used and need to be removed immediately.
Choose Starr Industries
Starr Industries is a respected provider of custom platforms, scaffolding, hoists, sidewalk shed, shoring, enclosures, and other construction solutions. We offer a wide range of services and have extensive expertise in a number of sectors. Our devoted team also includes professional scaffolders who have worked on installation, modification, fabrication, and design projects. You can rely on us to provide exceptional solutions that adhere to the most stringent safety regulations.
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