Many construction jobs require work that is done at a height - either on scaffolding or on tall step ladders. That safety is a real concern is an obvious fact. Apart from the risk of employees falling off of scaffolding or ladders, there is also the risk of objects falling from height and injuring people working below. Plus, South Africa has strict safety regulations regarding construction, and you don’t want to get yourself into trouble by not paying attention to safety.
One of the most important safety precautions you can take, is to use high quality equipment that is well maintained and not old or broken. Scaffolding hire from a reputable company such as Talisman ensures that all parts are in perfect condition and will not fail at a critical moment.
Scaffolding should always be erected by someone who has experience in this type of work. The scaffolding used should also include parts from the same system as these are designed to fit together, and using multiple systems for one scaffolding can cause structural instability. When you rent scaffolding from Talisman, you can be rest assured that all of our scaffolding systems are hired out as complete units with no parts missing.
If a person falls more than 2 meters, this can cause very serious injury. In addition to being good quality and properly erected, scaffolding should include edge protection in the form rails. Any tools and equipment (such as paint tins) should also be properly secured to prevent them from falling and inuring someone below.
As with scaffolding, ladders should be in good condition with no parts that are broken or deteriorating. For the best stability, the ladder should be placed at an angle of 4:1 (a ratio of 4 parts vertical, and 1 horizontal). This applies to both step ladders and conventional ladders. All ladders should be properly secured (step ladders at the bottom and traditional ladders at the top) and always placed on a stable, even surface.
The best way to prevent accidents in the workplace, is to ensure that you have a safety policy in place and educate your employees about the different safety measures that are essential. Maintenance should include regularly checking that workers are abiding by safety rules and not taking “short cuts” that can put themselves and others in danger.
For information on scaffolding and ladders for hire from a reputable and experienced tool rental company, contact Talisman Plant and Tool Hire today.
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