Scaffolding Safety Advice for Home Improvement Projects



Instead of hiring a contractor to paint their house or do some renovations, many Australians are opting to perform these home improvement projects by themselves. Not only do they save a considerable amount of money, but they also get to funnel their creative impulses and be rewarded (ideally!) with the finished product. One of the most important pieces of equipment that is frequently used in home improvement projects is scaffolding.



Scaffolding is widely used throughout the construction industry for a variety of reasons, but its key use is to support people and equipment when working from heights. Safety is always a concern when operating at heights, so there are stringent regulations that must be adhered to when working with scaffolding. If you're preparing a DIY job and will require the use of scaffolding, here are some crucial safety facts and issues to remember.

Scaffolding can only be used up to 4m in height without a license

The most important point to bear in mind is that if you don't possess a high-risk work license for scaffolding, you can't work with scaffolding that is above 4m in height where a person or equipment can fall from. The term 'working with scaffolding' means the assembly, altering, or dismantling of scaffolding equipment, in conjunction with performing any work on the structure. For any work that mandates the use of scaffolding more than 4m in height, you won’t be able to complete the project by yourself unless you carry this license.


Check your insurance coverage

Most property owners have insurance to protect against any losses that are incurred, including liability insurance to cover you in case a person gets injured on your property. It’s paramount that you don't start your home improvement endeavours without first checking if you are appropriately insured, as you may find that using scaffolding for a home improvement project will fall outside the scope of your policy.


Look into hiring a specialist to erect the scaffolding

One of the main safety concerns with scaffolding is the assembly phase, where the structure needs to be inspected to ensure it can safely support the maximum load. Normally, if you are renting scaffolding from a trusted provider, they will arrange for an accredited professional to erect and disassemble your scaffolding equipment, along with the necessary inspections and paperwork.

On the other hand, if you purchase scaffolding yourself, look at employing a professional to assemble the scaffolding. Irrespective of how experienced you are with DIY home improvement jobs, scaffolding erection is incredibly important for the safety of you and those around you, so it's highly recommended that you hire an accredited professional to erect and inspect your scaffolding before use. If you really want to assemble the scaffolding yourself, it’s best that you obtain a high-risk work license for scaffolding.


Understand the most common causes of injuries

It's pivotal that you are aware of what you're doing before you start your home improvement venture considering that human error is the most common cause of scaffolding injuries. It is widely known that the majority of scaffolding accidents can be averted, so do some groundwork by watching educational videos online or perhaps attending a training course that will teach you the basics of scaffolding use. Recognising the most common causes of injuries associated with scaffolding will give you a greater understanding of the fundamental risks, hence, the top three causes of scaffolding related accidents are:

●     Being struck by airborne items (for those beneath the scaffolding structure)
●     Scaffolding platforms or structure failing and collapsing
●     Falls related to unreliable scaffold assembly

Having knowledge of how scaffolding functions and operates is vital for the safety of you and those around you, so it's absolutely necessary that you carry out adequate research before undertaking any project that involves scaffolding.

Summary

Thousands of Australians enjoy undertaking home improvement projects each year with the help of scaffolding equipment. There's no doubt that these DIY projects are an affordable and fulfilling solution, however safety must always be prioritised when working from heights, and the above facts and considerations must be taken into account before any work is started. If you're interested in hiring or purchasing scaffolding equipment for your next project, consult the professionals at Uni-Span by phoning 1300 822 825.



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