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A Beginner's Guide To Scaffolding Boston, MA

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New England Scaffolding
A Beginner's Guide To Scaffolding Boston, MA

The construction industry is prone to incidents that may lead to more than just personal injuries. To avoid such issues as loss of life, it is paramount that a construction site has scaffolding equipment to help ease access while providing a safe working environment. You may have tried scaffolding, Boston, MA, but if you are doing it for the first time, you can have the following guide with you.

Scaffolding Standard Highlights

For starters, you must understand the standards of scaffolding. They can be found on the OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) website and include:

  • Fall protection and fall arrest systems must be in place for everyone working on heights.
  • Guardrails should have a height of between 0.9 meters (38 inches) and 1.2 meters (45 inches).
  • If you are using cross bracing as a toprail, ensure it is between 0.97 and 1.3 meters.
  • You should install midrails approximately halfway between the platform's surface and the toprail.
  • Support footings for scaffolds should be level and be able to support loaded scaffolds.
  • All the supported scaffolding platforms need full decking and planking.
  • The installed equipment should carry at least four times its weight.
  • Each employee should undergo thorough training on the safe use of scaffolding and what hazards beware.
  • Before any use or after an occurrence that may affect the structures, a competent person must inspect all the structures.
  • Only professionals should erect, modify, or dismantle the structures.

When Competent Personnel are Essential for Scaffolding

A competent person, according to OSHA's definition, is someone who is able to identify and correct existing and looming hazards. When using scaffolding, such personnel are essential for:

  • Selecting and directing anyone who will be setting up, erecting, modifying, and dismantling scaffolds.
  • To determine when it is or not safe for workers to use scaffolding.
  • To train construction site workers on the safe erection, modification, dismantling, and usage of scaffolding equipment.
  • Inspecting the structures before any use or after an occurrence suspected of having a negative impact on the structures.
  • Evaluating direct connections to support any load.
  • Evaluating the need for two- and multi-point scaffolds.

Generally, the OSHA guidelines guide scaffold users on everything they need to follow to prevent hazards while using them. As a site manager or contractor, if you are not sure about the advisable capacity, platform construction, and access requirements, ensure to ask an expert for help or visit the OSHA website.

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