Rob Coppola Senior Account Executive – Construction Insurance Practice Group View Bio

Work Site Scaffolding Safety

The majority of scaffold accidents on the construction site are caused by falls, slipping, or being struck by an object from above. All of these accidents can be prevented by taking the proper precautions. Working at heights of any level increases these workers’ risk of injury from falling and in 2020, 3,250 workers suffered injuries due to scaffolding.

Review this guidance to learn more.

General Safety Tips

  • To prevent slipping hazards, conduct a daily routine inspection to ensure all walking and working surfaces are free from potential hazards. If you spot a hazard, remove it.
  • Never move, dismantle or alter a scaffold unless under the supervision of a qualified person while doing such activities.
  • Never move a scaffold with workers still on it.
  • Keep scaffold loads below maximum capacity and remove your equipment when the scaffold is not in use.
  • Be alert for bad weather. High winds and driving rain and snow can be dangerous when working at high levels.
  • Be aware of your proximity to overhead power lines that could potentially lead to electrocution.

Protection for Those Below

  • Always hoist up heavy tools, equipment and supplies, rather than carry them up by hand.
  • There must be a 3½”-high toe board to prevent things falling off a scaffold. If things on the scaffold are taller than 3½” (above the toe board) other systems, like debris nets, must be used to catch falling tools or materials.
  • Always wear a hard hat when working on and around a scaffold.
  • Never walk under or near the scaffold if roped off when work is being performed above.

Fall Protection Basics

To help protect you against potentially deadly falls, fall protection is needed when working 6 feet or more above a lower level, and consists of either a personal fall arrest system or guardrail systems, depending on the job. If using a fall arrest system, keep the following in mind:

  • Always attach your lanyard to a vertical lifeline, horizontal lifeline or scaffold structural member.
  • If you are using a vertical lifeline, be sure you are fastened to a fixed safe point of anchorage, independent of the scaffold. This includes structural members of buildings, but not standpipes, vents, or electrical conduit. These items may give way under the force of a fall.
  • Clean and test your gear regularly, and never tamper with your fall protection system.

Falls are the leading cause of death for construction workers, and 86% of deaths in the construction industry are due to scaffolding. Other factors that contribute to injury include:

  • Lack of fall protection for the worker and no fall protection program in place
  • Inexperienced or untrained workers who cannot identify common fall hazards
  • Unstable work surfaces with no guardrails or wheels left unlocked before a worker climbs the platform
  • Workers left alone on scaffolding during off hours

OSHA Regulations and Employee Training

OSHA also offers training courses on scaffold safety. In 1996, when OSHA revised its scaffold standards, the Bureau of Labor and Statistics found that 25% of workers received no training on scaffold safety. Training is key in protecting workers from debilitating accidents due to scaffolding.

When working on scaffolding, your safety is our top priority. For more safety tips, talk to your supervisor.

This Safety Matters flyer is for general informational purposes only, and is not intended as medical or legal advice. © 2009-2010, 2014, 2019 Zywave, Inc. All rights reserved.