When we talk about constructions, façade repairs, restoration of buildings, assemblies of events, cleanings or special maintenance, we are referring to the work in heights, because this type of activities are commonly developed at distances exceeding 2 meters and in which the Implementation of tools or structures such as certified scaffolds are indispensable.
Companies like Construction Safety Albury are concerned about providing efficiency and safety to perform any type of work at heights, complying with the technical standards and corresponding accreditations.
To reach places where access is limited in terms of height, the most appropriate thing is to talk about certified scaffolding because they play a key role, since they greatly facilitate the work of the collaborators, without neglecting the multiple benefits that guarantee the work at heights with this type of structure, for this reason we have dedicated this space to mention a few that can be very useful for you:
- Its structural components are certified elements and designed with high quality materials, which guarantee safety and anticorrosive protection.
- They are multifunctional structures put into practice in different sectors and industries, they can be used for the assembly of events, the washing of tanks that are suspended at high altitudes, also as load scaffolding, façade, among others.
- They are easily accessible structures, thanks to the stairs that allow reaching the top of the scaffold safely.
- Certified scaffolds are versatile thanks to the modular systems that generally compose it, adapting easily to any environment.
- Significantly reduce the risks, dangers and accidents that commonly occur thanks to the security and rigidity it provides to workers.
- The certified scaffolds have levelling possibilities, that is, they are easily adapted to irregular surfaces thanks to their levelling bases.
- The service life of certified scaffolds can exceed 5 years of use.
- The assembly system is simple, which saves you a lot of time, however it is important to bear in mind that the person in charge of assembly must be an expert or professional in the subject.
- They reduce the execution time in the works, providing profitability and effectiveness.
The variety of scaffolds is adapted to the needs of your projects, as they are divided into two important types:
– Multidirectional scaffolding: or also known as ring lock system scaffolding, it is one of the safest when developing construction projects, since its versatility allows it to be adapted to different heights and load capacities.
– Hanging scaffolding: it is one of the most effective and safe systems, when it comes to outdoor painting, glass maintenance, and façade cleaning, as its structural form allows to develop this type of activities without any complications.
We could be mentioning many more benefits when implementing this type of structure, however it is important to highlight that work at heights is one of the causes that generates more work accidents, for this reason it is important to think beyond the economy, in the safety and quality of life of employees and bystanders.
The dangers of a bad scaffold
Certified scaffolds are auxiliary elements possibly used in any construction work. They are used to be the most effective way to generate work surfaces at considerable heights, but how safe are the practices related to their use? By definition certified scaffolds are useful and safe, but unfortunately many workers who use them, or the companies that hire them, are not completely aware that it leads to an incorrect assembly of them.
The first important issue to determine if a scaffold meets safety guarantees is that the work platform is large enough to allow mobility without risk of falling, although these will always be present. The danger of not guaranteeing an optimum work surface in terms of its dimensions lies in the extreme reduction of the mobility of workers, who are not the only elements that must climb the scaffolding but will have tools that will also reduce the clearances.
The next point regarding the insufficient workspace at heights due to an inconvenient scaffolding is that the reduction of mobility generates greater potential dangers of falling tools from the heights, if these remain without assurances. The little control of this issue is aggravated when the movements in the heights become juggling to try to ensure balance, turning a work session into a complete care of life reducing the effectiveness of work, and raising collateral risks.
Another characteristic of a bad scaffold consists of the total absence of lifelines or anchors thereof to a reference structure. Work at heights is always an activity with a high level of associated risk, however it depends on the assurance precautions that this risk is kept at the minimum possible.
Lifelines ensure that the integrity of workers is kept safe, even if a possible fall is not a cause of human wrongdoing. A strong sight or an earthquake can cause involuntary falls of the worker, and for this type of circumstances the lines of life are fundamental. On the other hand, the anchors of the scaffolding guarantee that the structure maintains the structural consistency to allow safe work.
A third characteristic causing imminent dangers is the poor design of the access or ascent to the scaffolding. It is often the case that the access roads to the scaffolding are in a difficult position with respect to the workplace, with inconvenient corner locations, unsafe stairs or simply poor condition of this section of the scaffold due to wear related to the use. This evidently leads to an increase in the risk of accidents when the worker has not even taken a job position.
Although we have seen that we walk in poor condition, its poor assembly or the lack of tools related to its use are characteristics that potentiate the generation of accidents, it must be considered that the low training of workers helps the risk in the work activity, increase. This is complemented by the fact that the lifelines, the anchors, the training and the good quality of the tools used are of no use if the workers lack the main companies in this type of activities: common sense and the search for conservation of security.
Contact us today to learn more about top quality scaffolds. Here at Construction Safety Albury you will find all the information needed.