According to the statistics, approximately 2.3 million construction workers frequently work on scaffolding system. Scaffold-related accidents cause about 4,500 injuries and 50 deaths every year. They also result in $90 million in lost workdays. Statistics also show 72% of workers injured in scaffold accidents attributed the accident to the scaffolding planks or scaffolding couplers giving way, or to the employee slipping or being struck by a falling object.

These situations could be prevented with proper compliance with scaffolding safety operation standards. Taking steps to ensure compliance with the scaffolding standards could help employers protect workers and prevent significant costs. The following points are common scaffolding hazards:

1) Falls from elevation, due to lack of fall protection;

2) The collapse of the scaffold, caused by instability or overloading;

3) Being struck by falling tools, work materials, or debris;

4) Electrocution, principally due to the proximity of the scaffold to overhead power lines.

5) Scaffolds that are not fully planked,

6) A lack of portable or hook scaffolding ladders to access scaffolding platforms,

7) Scaffolds loaded in excess of their capacity, and

8) Failing to protect employees from fall hazards on scaffolds.

So what can we do to keep our employees safe while working on scaffolding?

TRAINING

The employee who performs work on scaffolding should be trained. Training should be focused on teaching workers to recognize the hazards associated with the type of scaffold being used and to understand the procedures to control or minimize those hazards.

The training shall include these areas: operation, maintenance, storage, assembly, disassembly, and capacities. All exposed employees should have a clear understanding of his or her responsibilities.

RETRAINING

When a competent person/supervisor has reason to believe that an employee lacks the skill or understanding needed for safe work involving the erection, operation, or dismantling of scaffolds management should provide additional training until knowledge is demonstrated.

FALLING PROTECTION

There are several ways fall protection can be implemented on scaffolding systems. The most common is a guardrail system. The personal fall arrest system is also used in situations that don't allow the use of guardrails.

Fall protection for scaffold systems is a bit different from provisions in the general fall protection standard. Each employee on a scaffold more than 10 feet above a lower level shall be protected from falling to that lower level. Additionally, there are specific types of fall protection to be provided to the employees on each type of scaffold.