Dos and Don’ts to Follow On-site to Ensure Construction Safety

It is regardless to say that fall hazard is the main cause why construction workers are facing accidental death, and it counts 40% of construction site accidents. To avoid such unwanted incidents and to ensure safety, the construction workers have to be informed and trained according to the safety measures. 

Well, if someone wants to pursue their career in construction that involves scaffolding and other equipment on construction site, an effective basic scaffolding course is mandatory to maintain the safety. The situation worsens when the scaffolding structure is affected by the weathering.

Before erecting a scaffolding structure, a professional inspection is necessary that only a trained one or a person having hands-on experience can provide. In this content, you would find the dos and don'ts to follow for maintaining site safety-

The dos to follow: 

To match the safety according to the OSHA standard, it is a quite complex to cover all the rules for different types of scaffolding structures. Well, here you would find a general list of dos to follow-

1. Being properly trained is the primary requirement to ensure the basic safety standard. The training must be received from a reputed organisation, which will train you on important aspects of on-site safety. 

2. A trained person should know to identify electrocution, falling situations or objects likable to fall. Moreover, the training must include the learning the proper way to handle scaffolding structure while bearing the load.

3. Due to changes in the job site, the additional hazards may come across. Or sometimes the changes in the scaffolding type that a worker is not used to may cause the hazards. In such cases, intermediate scaffolding course may educate you to take precaution according to the severity of the risks.

4. Before you get onto the scaffolding structure, make sure it has properly been checked by the professional or competent person to ensure safe use and proper working or scaffolding structure. 

5. You should bear in mind that the scaffolds are erected, dismantled and altered under expert’s supervision. If you somewhere feel unsure regarding the safety of the scaffolding structure, try it under the guidance of the supervisors. 

6. Always use protection helmet when working on around a scaffold.  You must not forget to use the non-skidding pair of boots that also come sturdy to resist the uneven surface. If you see any improper use of the scaffold, don’t forget to notify the supervisors. 

Don’ts to follow:

1. Don’t leave anything after using the scaffold at the end of your shift.

2. Don’t try to overload the scaffold.

3. Don’t use ladders or stack boxes to increase the height.

4. Spare using the scaffolding structure that looks damaged or has already been tampered. 

5. Never attempt to work or walk on the scaffolding covered with the ice. 

6. Don’t ever climb on any portion of the scaffold structure that is not intended to climb.

OSHA defines a person competent only when the person can identify the existing or likable hazards that are dangerous to the site workers.  Upon taking basic scaffolding courses, you can ensure work front safety for you and others on-site.