13 July, 2023
Any person who frequently does it will know that it is vital to stay safe when working at height. Whether you’re a construction worker, window cleaner, electrician or any of the countless careers that involve heights, certain measures have to be taken to ensure your safety and protect the company from any legal issues that may arise from accidents.
Here is how to stay safe when working at height.
Appropriate PPE
The first step when working at height is to make sure you wear the relevant Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). A hard hat and high-visibility clothing should be the basis of this outfit, but you might also benefit from eye protection, gloves, hearing protection and protective shoes, depending on what kind of job it is.
A hard hat is essential as work might be carried on above you and something could fall, or the hat can protect you if you slip and bang your head. High visibility clothing is key so everyone on site can clearly see you, reducing the chances of an accident. Non-slip footwear should be worn on a scaffold, especially if it is raining or cold.
Secure Yourself
One way to ensure you are safe while working at height is to secure yourself. This could either be to the scaffold or another solid nearby source. This way if you accidentally slip or something else happens, you won’t fall as far and will be caught by whatever you’re secured to.
The best way to do this is to wear a harness and secure yourself with a solid rope that can support your weight properly. Employees on scaffolds more than 10 feet off the ground must all wear personal fall arrest systems to ensure their safety,
A Reliable Scaffold
The best way to ensure you remain safe when working at height is by having a reliable scaffold. Scaffolds have specific requirements, which cover how it is erected, dismantled and altered. This type of work should only be carried out by trained staff who know what they are doing, as somebody with little experience could make a mistake which would make the scaffold unsafe.
Ensure it is braced and stabilised and know for sure what load can be supported on the scaffold. Overloading a scaffold could cause it to collapse. Make sure the scaffold is always kept as neat as possible, leaving nothing on it that is not essential. Scaffolds should have guardrails that are at least weight height and ideally higher to protect them from falling off.
Scaffolding Supplies From TJR Scaffolding
Stay safe when working at height by working with a company that will offer you reliable scaffolding solutions. TJR Scaffolding has over 20 years of experience in providing scaffolding services for both small and large projects.
We can design and install specialist scaffolds, as well as various features such as safety netting to make working from height a breeze. If you’d like to find out more about our total scaffolding solutions, get in touch today.
