Winter’s almost here. And, with freezing temperatures, strong winds and lots of snowfall, weather during this time of the year has the capability to hit the UK hard. Each of these elements can cause hazards for the construction workers on a site. Taking adequate precautions to ensure you, your workers and site stay safe is thus essential! Whether you are a self-builder or someone who works on larger construction sites, safety should be your top priority all throughout the year. But, with the nights getting longer, it’s time you hire reliable scaffolding in Crawley and prepare for the additional risks. Low temperatures, falling ice and snow simply represent a small sampling of the many problems construction workers face every day. Ensuring your site stays safe in unpredictable weather is thus important.
Wondering how to get your construction site winter ready? Check out our brief guide below to learn everything you need to know!

Scaffolding in Crawley: 5 Aspects to Keep in Mind for Ensuring a Safe Construction Site in the winter

1. Check The Weather Forecast

No matter how much obvious it may sound to you, this is one key aspect you should definitely take into account for keeping yourself, your workers and the site safe. Check the weather forecast of your area for the days ahead and start taking preparations beforehand. Being prepared will save you hassle, time, money and possible injury.

2. Keep Your Structures Secured

Experts recommend you to check all your scaffolding and site structures more frequently. This is because with winter setting in, hoardings, security fencing and the like can take a real battering over the next few months. Not only can damaged structures take a toll just when you need them the most, but also affect your safety and security.

3. Lower Risks When Working At Heights

Poor visibility, cold weather and high winds can make working at heights very difficult and dangerous for your staff over the coming few months. If you know that the weather is expected to be bad as per the forecast, make sure no one works at height. Even if you work on a normal winter day, ensure you take precautions like-

• Make sure mud-free platforms and ladders along with access gates, toe boards and guardrails are kept all in one frame
• Check the towers and scaffolds regularly, make sure nothing is left on the structures

 

4. Get A Grip On Safety

During the winter season, expect lower temperatures and wetter conditions along with shorter daylight. Owing to early morning frost, slips become more common. Since wooden planks can be very deadly even with the slightest bit of frost and mud, getting sturdy structures can be a vital consideration.

5. Be Warm And Safe

As an employer, you must provide extra personal protection equipment to keep your workers safe and warm is a must. While additional gloves, socks, fleeces and hats will surely help, they shouldn’t get in the way for the necessary safety and health equipment like hard hats, ear protectors and high-visibility jackets. So, what are you still here for? It’s time to hire scaffolding from a reputed company and get your construction site winter-ready!

Since the right scaffold can enhance the safety of every construction site drastically, hiring the right equipment is a must. When you are assured about the durability and functionality of the structure you are hiring, you can carry on with your construction project with complete peace of mind. Though a new one is quite sturdy and reliable, their quality deteriorates with the passage of time.

This is why it is your responsibility to ensure that the scaffold they are offering is new or well-maintained. The best you can do is to approach an experienced company offering high-quality scaffolds as their focus is always on making the components last longer without compromising its safety or functionality.

3 Cool Tips To Make The Components Of Scaffolding Last Longer

• Store Them Properly

Even if you are in a hurry to disassemble and stack the components after the construction work is completed, makes sure you rack them up in such a way so that they don’t bend due to carelessness or rushing. All of this can lead to expensive repairs and replacements which is quite time-consuming. The scaffolders shouldering the responsibility of storing the components should be well-trained, experienced and try to store the items with wedge positioned.

• Change Faulty Parts

Since the primary objective of using scaffolding in Chichester is to enhance the safety of the construction workers, replacing the worn out or faulty parts within the shortest span of time is a must. Since the components have to endure heavy loads and traffic on a regular basis, they have a tendency to suffer wear and tear. Using scaffolds whose parts have split or bent is not a wise thing to do.

• Keep Them Dry

Since almost every part of a scaffold is made of metal, try to keep the moving parts covered and protected from rain and moisture. This will prevent them from getting rusted which break the structure gradually. Even the wooden parts should be kept dry as moisture can turn out to be the worst enemy of Scaffolding in Crawley. The lifespan of the structure enhances automatically when the components are kept away from the rain. Change a component quickly if it has rusted to prevent any sort of mishap. Since you are now aware of a few tips to make scaffolding last longer, it’s time you start looking for a company offering the ideal structure which suits your construction needs.

Do you know that working on scaffold platforms can be just as safe as any other elevated technique? Well, using sturdy support structures becomes obvious in every project which demands access to high buildings and structures. The use of scaffolds becomes all the more important since the lives of several workers are put at risk.

But, are you wondering about the places where the use of scaffold is important? Read on.

Scaffolding is a temporary platform which is used for providing support to workers working at great heights. Usually, it is erected just before the commencement of the maintenance and construction work. Scaffolds carry great importance, mainly due to the factor that they can be demolished easily and re – constructed for several uses. Available in different sizes, dimensions and grades, scaffolding in Worthing are widely used in residential, commercial and business areas.

Below are a few situations when hiring scaffolds are of utmost importance!

Scaffolding in Chichester : Situations Where Use of Scaffolds are Vital

• Painting

Painters need to work at great heights often and the support of scaffolds is vital. Without the appropriate support of scaffolding, severe injuries can take place. Using ladders can be risky, especially when you attempt to reach for the finishing patch.

Building proper frameworks to support the weight of workers is thus important so that the risk of a spiteful fall to the bottom can be avoided. Scaffold platforms can even help you ensure that you reach those difficult – to – reach areas where a ladder cannot provide adequate support.

• Civil Engineering

When it comes to the construction industry, civil engineering is undoubtedly one of the most important jobs. The job involves the task of arranging, planning, enforcing and upholding the safety of the entire workplace. Even if a small aspect is unplanned for or overlooked, it can lead to disastrous results. Thus, providing a proper support mechanism for the entire workforce is essential for ensuring a smooth construction process.

• Cleaning Windows

Cleaning windows is an essential part for every big firm and hotel which takes pride in the aesthetics of architecture. Since window cleaners have to work at great heights, the risk of suffering from severe injuries and death is a primary concern. Using scaffolding in Chichester is a necessity to avoid such potential hazards. With the right support and advanced equipment, window cleaners can not only perform their job safely, but even be able to do their work with great ease. Hiring scaffold platforms can thus be the key to success for many businesses.

• Building Repairs and Maintenance

Opting for scaffolding in Crawley can prove beneficial if you have building repairs and maintenance project coming up. Scaffolds are widely used for the repairing and maintenance work of several buildings. When repairing the preserving buildings, it’s important for managers to prioritise on the safety of their workers. Use of scaffolds can guarantee that the workers aren’t at direct risk from the structure of the building.

Now that you are aware of everything, what are you still waiting for? It’s time to avail reliable scaffolding services!

There are certain rules and regulations related to using scaffolding. Let’s have a quick look at them.

When is it required to use scaffolding?

It all depends on the trader to evaluate the risk level and accordingly use proper equipment. Of course, the risk of fixing a broken tile on the low roof is not same as installing solar panels 10 stories up. So it depends on the job and the risk associated with it. The traders also require ensuring that their staffs remain safe while working on your property. It is good to work from the ground, if feasible. But if they need to work at high altitude, it is absolutely required to lower the risk of falling by using scaffolding.

Everyone from the construction industry will agree to the fact that it is one of the most hazardous sectors. Neglecting their safety can turn out to be deadly for the workers. A majority of the deaths in the construction sites were due to falls, electrocution, struck by an object, and caught between/ in. Since every worker has the right to work in a secured workplace, erecting scaffolding has almost become mandatory.

Irrespective of the reason for which you are erecting the structure, you need to involve several trained individuals for specific tasks. So before you start looking for a reliable company offering scaffolding in Horsham, getting acquainted with the role of the trained individual involved is highly recommended.

Role And Responsibility Of A Competent Person

The basic task of a competent person is to identify whether there are any hazards (existing or predictable) in the surroundings which can turn out to be dangerous or unsanitary for the employees. They also have the authority to make prompt actions so that those hazards can be eliminated. Other competent people having years of industry presence can offer them training. The trainers should have adequate knowledge about the structure, skill set, and experience in providing training. Few of the responsibilities of a competent person are as follows,

• Design and pre-plan the weight limitations, scaffold type, tie-offs, fall protection, and supports of the structure.
• Oversee how the structure is being erected.
• Inspect the structure before scaffolders start working on it.
• Inspect and document its condition on a regular basis.
• Inspect the structure after it has undergone some alterations or changes.
• Supervise and inspect mobile scaffolds.
• Train scaffold erectors and another competent person.

Role And Responsibility Of A Scaffold Erector

 

They are designated by the scaffolding company in Horsham to shoulder the responsibility of erecting and maintaining a scaffold. The type of structure they can erect is generally dependent on their training and experience. It is your responsibility to ensure that the scaffold erector shouldering the task of erecting the structure in your property is authorised. Though they can ask for materials and components from others standing on the ground, the ultimate task of adding or subtracting those is their responsibility. They need to undergo refresher training at frequent intervals to keep themselves updated about the latest development in the industry. Few responsibilities of a scaffold erector are as follows,

• Erect the structure abiding the local, state, and federal law.
• Erect it under the guidance of a competent person.
• Inspect and ensure the safety of each component before adding them to the structure.
• Maintain fall protection requirements while working.
• Erect a structure which is free from any preventable hazards.
• Ensure stability of the structure by using adequate anchorage.
• Maintain adequate distance between the structure and any electrical hazard.
• Inform the competent person that the structure has been erected and ready to be inspected before a scaffold user starts working on it.
• Offer training to other erector or scaffold users if required.
• Coordinate with the competent person to solve any issue that might arise when the structure is being erected.

Role And Responsibility Of A Scaffold User

The primary job of a scaffold user is to work on a temporary elevated platform (scaffold) in the construction site. They should undergo training so that they can recognise any hazard that might occur while working on the scaffold. They need to ensure that the structure they are working on is safe and protect themselves from any electrical hazard or falling object. They need to stay aware of the carrying capacity of the structure they are working on. They undergo refresher training after every 5 years to keep themselves updated about the industry. Few other responsibilities undertaken by a scaffold user are as follows.

• Examine the scaffold tag to ensure that the structure is safe enough to work.
• Can get in touch with a competent person to discuss any safety concern related to the maintenance, erection, and conditions of the structure.
• Notify the competent person if any safety issue arises.
• Follow all state, federal, manufacturer, institutional, and local rules and regulations while using the structure.
• Use adequate and proper fall protection equipment.

Now that you are aware of the role of each trained individual working on a scaffold, it’s time you start looking for a company offering the structure on hire and make the most out of it.