The importance of Health and Safety in Scaffolding

Scaffolding is an essential tool in construction and maintenance work, but also poses multiple health and safety risks if incorrectly designed, erected, dismantled, modified, and ultimately misused. This guide covers essentials you need to know about health and safety in scaffolding, including risk assessments, training requirements and equipment checks.

Understand the risks

There’s no secret that improper scaffolding practice poses many risks, with falls from height being one of the most common causes of injury and death in the construction industry. Other risks include scaffolding collapse if not correctly erected/secured and being struck by falling objects. Undertaking a suitable risk assessment and producing a compliant plan of work, Inner City Scaffolding is able to identify potential risks and mitigate or eradicate them.

Training & development

One of the most important aspects of health and safety in scaffolding is ensuring all workers have relevant training and competency. Commonly known as “cards”, Inner City Scaffolding identify during the pre-planning stages a suitable resource of labour, and what level of training is required. Identifying the type of scaffolding system used is essential as some require specific training to correctly erect and dismantle. Being a member of the Scaffolding Association and following the BuildUK and CAP 609 Training Standards, Inner City Scaffolding are committed to raising the standard of health and safety within the scaffolding industry, this ensures our staff are continually developed with industry-leading training.

Inspection & Maintenance

Once the scaffolding is erected, continuous inspections and maintenance are required to ensure it is safe for use. This includes all scaffolding components, tubular framework, bracing, guardrails, decking, beam work and ancillary items before each use, with all defects, reported immediately. These defects then need to be rectified before continued use. Should there be adverse weather, such as heavy rain or snow, then inspections should increase.

PPE

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is an essential component of health and safety in scaffolding. Hard hats, safety boots, gloves, hi-viz vests and harnesses are just some of the essentials needed to work on-site. Each site will also have a site induction, showing workers why and how to use their PPE correctly. Again, PPE should be inspected before use, with any damaged or worn equipment replaced immediately. Inner City Scaffolding ensures all employees have appropriate PPE to undertake their job efficiently and safely.

Response Planning

In addition to implementing safety measures, it’s important to have an emergency response plan in place. This will include plans and procedures in response to accidents, injuries, and any other emergency that may occur on scaffolding, including falls by scaffolders.