The Dangers Of Scaffolding And Ladders

When we work with a construction client, one of our first tasks is to assess the risk involved in every aspect of the client’s operations. If your company does construction work, then you use ladders and scaffolding in some way. Whenever you put up scaffolding on a job site or get into a situation where your workers need to use ladders, you are creating several types of risk that need to be addressed. As part of our risk assessment for any construction company, we like to create a list of ways that scaffolding and ladders present risks that could cause your company financial problems.

Falls

Scaffolding and ladders are designed to raise workers to various heights so that they can work on different parts of a project. Because of the sometimes dynamic nature of a construction worksite, some workers fall from their ladder or scaffolding and are injured. Some of the injuries can be very serious, and the company is scrutinized after an accident because of possible safety violations.

While falls can be serious events, they can also be prevented. We always recommend that our construction clients invest in the proper safety gear for their workers, do comprehensive safety training for each project, and engage in regular safety inspections to prevent falls.

Falling Debris

Tools, materials, and equipment that are not properly stored or secured on a scaffolding or ladder can fall to the ground and injure unsuspecting people down below. One of the major reasons why hardhats are required on most job sites is the possibility of injury from falling debris.

We treat the damage or injuries from falling debris on an individual basis. In some instances, the unpredictable nature of demolition work can make it difficult to prevent all injuries due to falling debris. But we work closely with our customers to create safety programs that attempt to prevent any type of dangers that can come from the items that fall from ladders and scaffolding.

Faulty Equipment

Construction workers will often attach ropes, pulleys, and other types of equipment to scaffolding and ladders to make it easier to transport tools and materials up to the workers, or back down to the ground. The use of these types of systems represent a strong dedication to safety on the part of the construction company, but there are ways to enhance the safety these devices offer.

Prior to each work day, the additional equipment used on scaffolding and ladders should be inspected to make sure it is ready to be safely used for the day. Any repairs should be made prior to work starting, and equipment that needs to be replaced should be replaced before the day begins. Construction companies should also limit foot traffic under areas where additional equipment is located to help reduce the possibility of someone on the ground getting hurt.

When you visit any construction or demolition site, your chances of finding workers using scaffolding and ladders is very high. While these types of equipment make jobs easier to do, they also represent additional areas of risk that your company needs to be aware of. As a professional risk assessment company, we work hard with our clients to help reduce the issues that come with using scaffolding and ladders, and try to create the safest worksite possible.