How to Prevent Scaffolding Accidents

How to Prevent Scaffolding Accidents

How to Prevent Scaffolding Accidents?

The main purpose of using a scaffolding system is to provide a safe and comfortable working environment during works such as construction, repair, demolition and maintenance in high and hard-to-reach places.

Since the area of use is usually construction sites where a large number of people work together and many jobs are carried out at the same time, the safety of the people working on the scaffolding should be ensured as well as the safety of the work area and the people around it. The fall of people and materials working on scaffolding can cause serious injuries and even deaths.

In order to minimise accidents in this regard, controls should be carried out regularly and the people who will work on the scaffolding should undergo the necessary training. The Occupational Health and Safety Implementation Guide for Work at Height in Construction Works published by the Ministry of Labour should be examined.

When should scaffolding systems be checked?

a-After external influences affecting the structure such as strong wind

b-Before the reuse of the scaffolding system that has not been used for a certain period of time

c-Certainly at certain intervals during continuous use

The scaffolding system should be checked by the safety expert in the specified cases and when deemed necessary, and the scaffolding system that is not deemed safe should not be used.

Which Scaffolding Trainings Should Be Taken?

All workers who will work in the scaffolding system must be given the necessary training.

1-Safe working at height training

2-Sector specific rescue trainings

3-Safe scaffolding erection and dismantling training

4-Scaffolding supervisor training

5-Working in confined spaces and rescue training

6-Personal protection equipment control and maintenance training

7-Vocational education

Who Provides Scaffolding Trainings?

1-Occupational safety experts who carry out health and safety services in the workplace

2-Occupational physicians

3-Labour and Social Security Training and Research Centre

4-Universities and public institutions and organisations

5-Professional organisations in the nature of public institutions

6-Employee, employer and public officials organisations or training foundations established by these organisations and training centres established jointly by them

7-Training institutions authorised by the Ministry

8- It can be given by foundations established for educational purposes, which provide free training services to employees and have the status of a public benefit organisation.

These trainings and all similar trainings are documented and kept in the employee's file.

What is the Equipment Required for Working on Scaffolding?

The personal protective equipment required to protect the employee against accidents and injuries arising from the current work must be provided in full and the importance of using equipment must be explained to the workers and its use must be controlled. The standards and equipment names that the equipment must meet are given below.

1- Braking System on Vertical Line - EN 353-1

2-Braking System on Flexible Line - EN 353-2

3-Safety Rope- EN 354

4-Sudden Fall Prevention Energy Absorber- EN 355

5-Waist Type Seat Belt and Safety Rope- EN 358

6-Sudden Fall Prevention, Rewind and Inertia Reels - EN 360

7-Parachute Type Seat Belt- EN 361

8-Safety Hook- EN 362

9-Protection for Protection-Anchorage Devices Specifications and Tests - EN 795

10-Personnel Protective Equipment Seating Belt for Fall Prevention- EN 813

11-Rescue Equipment-Rescue Belts- EN 1497

12-Rescue Equipment-Rescue Rings- EN 1498

What should be done for the organisation of the scaffolding system?

Keeping the working area tidy and clean, not leaving the materials used in random places greatly reduces the fall of materials and people. To ensure this, it should be visually checked after each work. It is necessary to clean the elements such as mortar that employees and equipment can get stuck, which can disturb the balance during work.

In cases where work is interrupted, necessary precautions should be taken against the danger of falling of tools and equipment and should be kept in a safe place.

Environmental Conditions for Working on Scaffolding;

Inclement weather conditions may cause the tools used to be thrown around and the balance of the employee to be disturbed. In case of inclement weather conditions, work must be stopped. The system must be rechecked before starting work again.

Reminder!

As Oğuzhan Scaffolding, we must say that; Maximum attention should be paid to safety precautions while doing the work, human health should not be risked for the work to be completed in a shorter time, quality equipment should be used. Worker health and safety should always be the first priority