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Employers Can Protect Their Employees from Scaffolding Accidents by Following These Dos and Don’ts

If you are an employer or workers who regularly use scaffolding, there are a few dos and don’ts you can follow to keep everyone as safe as possible. Keep reading to learn what they are and then contact The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker at 800-333-0000 if you are a worker who has suffered a workplace accident.

Do: Follow OSHA Guidelines

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is a non-profit group that is in charge of creating guidelines about worker safety. When it comes to scaffolding, they have guidelines that involve how high and wide it can and should be, as well as other guidelines that should be followed when scaffolding is bought and installed.

Don’t: Use Any Damaged or Bent Parts

If your scaffolding is not in top shape, then it should not be used. We recommend checking the scaffolding each day to see if anything is bent or damaged. If it is, then it should be replaced or returned to the manufacturer right away.

Do: Read Manuals and Follow Local Codes

The scaffolding supplier should offer manuals and instructions. Read these and follow them. You should also be sure that they at least meet – if not exceed – the state and safety codes regarding the use of scaffolding for your purposes.

Don’t: Use the Wrong Lumber for Scaffolding

If there is one thing that most construction sites have, it’s plenty of lumber. That said, you cannot just pick up any piece of lumber to create scaffolding. You should only use lumber that has been properly inspected and graded as appropriate for scaffolding planking.

Do: Make Sure All Workers Using Scaffolding Have Complete Training

Any worker that is involved in using the scaffolding should have property safety training. They should inspect the scaffolding daily both at the beginning and end of their shifts and should know what to look for when they do so. They are looking for issues like debris, ditches, and power lines.

Don’t: Use Makeshift Devices

If you need to increase the height, do so properly – not be adding a ladder or other makeshift devices. It might seem that it will “just take a second” if you use an improper tool, but in reality, it could cost someone their life.

Do: Provide Appropriate Rails on All Scaffolding Platforms

The specific type of scaffolding platform will determine the right rails. This could include guardrails, mid-rails, toe boards, and others. There is no cookie-cutter rule to follow here, just make sure that the right rails are used.

If you are injured in an accident in which you were on scaffolding for your work, contact The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker at 800-333-0000 for a free legal consultation from a personal injury attorney.