If you are planning to undertake a residential, commercial or industrial construction project, look for a company offering scaffolding service. The scaffolds have nowadays become an integral part of every construction project. The temporary structure is widely used for construction, maintenance and repair of buildings. Construction work becomes easy if workers can get access to the parts of the system.
Though scaffolding systems can make your construction site safer, make sure you are aware of its right height and load capacity. You will be surprised to know that a majority of the accidents occur because the structure is unfit for the purpose, overloaded or there is a lack of scaffolding safety equipment. Know the right height and load capacity of the scaffolding system if you don’t want it to become dangerous for workers or bystanders.
Why Hire A Competent Person To Work With Scaffolding?
Though a scaffolding structure looks quite easy, the construction equipment is not easy to work with. Not only should you get in touch with a reputed company offering professional scaffolding service but also hire a competent person for the task. They have adequate knowledge about the scaffolding system, access system and the rules one has to follow when working from height. Working with scaffolding involves numerous dangerous risks. If you want to keep your construction site protected, make sure you follow all the safety guidelines.
Two Primary Rules To Follow When Installing Scaffolding System
- Erect, alter and dismantle a scaffold only under the supervision of a qualified or competent person.
- Scaffolding work requires specialisation so you should hire someone who is fully trained to operate, handle and adjust the system.
Choose The Right Type Of Scaffold
The first thing you have to do to make construction work safer is to understand your construction needs and choose the right type of scaffold. Over the years, the structure has evolved drastically. Earlier, traditional tube and fitting scaffolds were used.
Cuplock and Kwikstage are modern-day system scaffolds which replaced the traditional structure. Currently, there are almost 30 types of scaffolds available in the market. Choose one which suits your construction needs and know its right height and load capacity. The formation and permit required to differ from one scaffold to another.
Know The Load Capacity Of A Scaffolding System
Scaffolds can be differentiated into 3 types depending on the type of load they can endure. The light-duty scaffolds are permitted to carry around 120 kg/square, you are allowed to carry about 240 kg/square in medium-duty scaffolds and more than 240 kg/ square in heavy or specialised duty scaffolds.
Relation Between The Height And Load
You can determine the load capacity of the scaffolding you have hired by using the height to base ratio of 4:1. It means that the height of a scaffold can be 4 times its base width. For example, if a scaffolding structure has a 3-metre base width, it can have a height of max 12 meters. Another vital thing to consider when determining the height of the structure is the wind factor. If you want to keep mobile scaffolds protected against heavy winds, it should bear a ratio of 3:1.
Ensure Your Safety By Maintaining Height And Load Capacity
Never compromise your safety when working on a scaffold as you won’t get a second chance when working at height. Instead of choosing any random company offering scaffolding service, ensure they are reliable and reputable. They will let you know the load capacity of the scaffold and access systems. You should follow all the guidelines if you want to make working at a height safe.
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