If it isn’t already apparent on this website, when remodeling your home, it’s crucial to get the job done right. It’s highly recommended that you book the services of a professional contractor that knows what they’re doing. However, choosing the wrong contractor can be disastrous. Problems that typically arise often include shoddy work, miscalculated placements, failure to achieve the desired vision, and missed deadlines. But one of the biggest issues that cannot be overlooked is safety, including proper scaffolding.
Safety is one of the most important concerns where construction and renovation are concerned. Working on property generates several risks for residents, workers and the general public in the near vicinity. Due to this, governments generally heavily regulate the sector to ensure proper planning and operational procedures are implemented to safeguard health and safety. Hazards can include anything from slips and moving objects to machinery and asbestos. Accidents can lead to serious consequences including personal injury, death, financial loss, and reputation ruin.
If your renovation project involves working at height, then one of the biggest risks to take into account is the possibility of a person falling. There are several measures that can reduce the risk, including the installation of scaffolding systems. You should look to hire a scaffolding contractor that values safety and goes above and beyond to protect people. Intelligent Scaffolding is a provider of scaffolding hire in Liverpool and they have years of experience working on projects that involve a great deal of verticality. Intelligent has provided us with some tips on the dangers to be aware of and the types of essential safety equipment that you should use while working at height.
What Are the Dangers of Working at Height?
As briefly mentioned above, there are several risks associated with property renovation but perhaps none more so than working at height. The most common work-related accidents usually involve slips, trips, and falls. The consequences are far greater if an accident occurs at height. In fact, according to UK workplace accident statistics, around one-third of fatal accidents on construction sites involved working at height.
A lot of renovation work will often require working at height. It doesn’t matter whether you are two floors up or 100 floors up, the risk is present as long as you are above ground level. There are two hazards to consider: falling from height and dropping an object from height. Both of these risks can be serious for the person working at height and people below them. Examples of common accidents include falling off a ladder or scaffold, dropping equipment, standing on an unstable surface, or slipping. Injuries can range from life-changing fractures to death.
Safety Equipment You Should Use
When working at height, workers should utilise a range of safety equipment to protect themselves and others against risks. These measures will go a long way to preventing people from falling and equipment from dropping. In this section, we will provide a summary of some of the most commonly used safety equipment for working at height.
Scaffolding
As an experienced scaffolding contractor, it makes sense that we start by talking about our speciality: scaffolding! Scaffolding systems have a range of benefits that make them the perfect solution for working at height. Whether you use fixed scaffolding or a tower scaffold, these systems provide a stable platform for workers to carry out their duties from height. The scaffolding also secures renovated walls and uses guard rails to prevent workers or objects from falling. Scaffolding is highly recommend, but it doesn’t come without its own risks. Poor design or installation can be extremely dangerous. When hiring a contractor, make sure you read our tips & warnings guide to avoid a remodeling disaster. Not to mention, scaffolding is often most effective when paired with other essential equipment.
Ladders
A ladder is, in essence, a very simple form of scaffolding. It provides a platform where you can reach a higher position. There are a range of different types of ladders. A stepladder is perhaps the most common and a piece of equipment that can be found in most households. Stepladders don’t need to be positioned against a wall but they are quite limited and only allow capacity for one person. For basic tasks, a stepladder may be all that you need. Another example is the extension ladder. Extension ladders only support one person but they can be extended, allowing you to easily adjust the height based on the specific scenario. For jobs that require two people, you can look at a trestle ladder. Trestle ladders are portable and can be combined with a platform to ensure safe working.
Safety Harness
When working at height, you should be equipped with a safety harness. This type of protective clothing includes several features that improve the safety of working at height. With a safety harness, you can attach yourself to a stationary object. Should you fall or slip, the harness will prevent you from hitting the ground and seriously injuring yourself or someone else.
Hardhats
A head injury is always one of the most problematic types of injuries that can be sustained, and this is particularly the case on construction sites. If you fall and bang your head, you can suffer serious life-changing injuries. Likewise, you can suffer a serious injury if you are below and an object hits your head. A hardhat should be worn at all times to protect against head injuries and cushion impact.
Powered Access Platform
A powered access platform can be a highly effective way to safely reach high points without requiring a ladder or scaffolding. This type of platform can come in various formats, including boom lifts, scissor lifts and truck mounts. Using an electrical control, you can adjust the platform to reach your desired height. These platforms typically allow multiple people to work at height at any one time.
Bio: Mark Boyle is a content executive at Intelligent Scaffolding, a specialist scaffolding firm that offers a range of scaffolding services to personal and commercial customers across the UK.