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What Kind of Scaffolding Do You Need?

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scaffolding

What Kind of Scaffolding Do You Need?

Scaffolding is temporary support that is assembled for the uses of construction work, to help underpin the original building or structure. Types of scaffolding can vary, depending on the kind of job, building and material you are working with. The majority of scaffolding is made up of steel and timber, being a stable and strong candidate to work with and support structures, materials and workers.

Steel Scaffolding

Steel scaffolding is made up of steel tubes, creating a strong and sturdy support for workers and materials to be loaded on to. Steel scaffolding can competently reach great heights without affecting the safety of the scaffold, and withstand strong winds and harsh weather conditions whilst carrying heavy loads, making it an efficient and time-saving option within scaffolding.

Mobile Scaffold

Mobile scaffolding is a very similar form of standard scaffolding, however, it has its added benefits such as being capable of being moved with the help of wheels that are mounted to the bottom of each support pole. Mobile scaffolds are perfect for transporting equipment and materials spread over a large area.

Trestle Scaffolding

A builders trestle scaffolding system offers an easy and inexpensive way of creating an uprising platform that is suitable for activities such as painting and decorating. This type of scaffolding is designed to help with light-duty work, where the ceiling is not higher than the height of this scaffold can reach.

Cantilever Scaffolding

Cantilevered scaffolding is a form of scaffolding that is normally used to overcome obstacles that prevent a scaffolding tower being erected or reduce the chances of damage occurring to the structure beneath. Cantilever scaffolding uses needles to support the work platform. These scaffolds are used for situations where the ground surface cannot support a scaffolding standard.

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If you require any further information on different types of scaffolding, or you would like further information on the services we provide, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us by filling out an online enquiry form, or give us a call today on 01675 465593

What is Bamboo Scaffolding? And what are the benefits?

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bamboo scaffolding

What is Bamboo Scaffolding?

Bamboo scaffolding is a type of scaffolding made from bamboo and is used extensively across the world, particularly in Hong Kong. It is renowned for its strength, flexibility and innovative prospects, and has proved to be a beneficial alternative to steel.

For some countries, bamboo scaffolding is relied upon as a resource to be used within construction projects. Countries that have tropical climates harvest the bamboo as it can grow strong and quick to be used as scaffolding material. Hong Kong has supported the forward-thinking ‘up-cycling’ approach in using bamboo scaffolding, which will help to avoid unnecessary landfill.

Strength and Durability

Bamboo scaffolding is extremely strong and resilient. It has a tensile strength of 28,000 per square inch, in comparison to steel which is 23,000 per square inch. (Which is the preferred material in westernised countries.) Bamboo could be grown in western countries as a replacement for steel and a way of forward-thinking within construction, as it is an eco-friendly material. It is the strength and durability that makes bamboo scaffolding a success in the construction industry and why it has helped to build so many modern structures across the world.

Cost and Time

Bamboo scaffolding is cheap to resource in places such as Hong Kong as it is available and grown locally. Despite this material being light-weight, its durability proves otherwise and has a strength-weight ratio that is far greater than steel, due to the material being lighter to construct than steel, bamboo scaffolding can be assembled faster and more efficiently compared to steel, being 6-times quicker to erect and 12 times quicker to take down.

Safer

Although scaffolding, in general, could be up there as one of the most dangerous jobs (if your company doesn’t have the safest and up-to-date safety measures) Bamboo scaffolding could be less dangerous than steel scaffolding, due to it causing less damage if a pole was to slip and fall, as iron rods could cause more damage than lighter materials. Bamboo scaffolding has also proved to be safer for countries and regions that are prone to earthquakes as they’re light-weight but durable.

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For more information on scaffolding, and the services Safeway Scaffolding have to offer, please feel free to get in touch with our friendly team by filling out an online enquiry form, or giving us a call today on 01675 465593

Construction Hazards In The Summer

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construction hazards and scaffolding

Construction Hazards In The Summer

Safeway Scaffolding encourages safety measures and protection all year around, whatever the month or weather may be. However, we have sectioned these safety measures into segments that will be seasonally appropriate for you to follow. Whilst the winter brings the dreaded dark and icy conditions, the summer can be just as problematic for working in scorching conditions that can be restricting and a danger to your health. Let’s explore the potential construction hazards there are within the summer months within the scaffolding industry and know how to stay safe when working in these conditions.

Sun Exposure

Sun exposure may be the most obvious, however, the most dangerous construction hazards that you need to be aware of, and keep yourself protected by the sun’s UV rays. Sunburn has been recorded to be the highest complaint in scaffolding from workers during the summer months. Even if you are not visibly burnt, the suns UV rays can damage the skin without you realising, causing a lifetime of unhealthy skin and can result to serious consequences in the future with the possibility of skin cancer. Here at Safeway Scaffolding, we will always advise construction workers during the summer months to always wear sun cream containing at least SPF15-SPF30 that has UVB protection.

We would also advise that you wear a comfortable scaffolding helmet whilst you are working. This helps by safeguarding the head and skin as well as providing cooling protection with a breathable material that is comfortable enough to wear all day. We also provide and encourage that you wear UV eye-protection and loose-fitting clothes that can protect you as well as keeping you cool.

Hydration

Working within the scaffolding industry during the summer months can often lead to dehydration, especially on the unbearably hot and sticky days. The NHS recommends you should be drinking at least 6 to 8 glasses of water a day. However, when you’re working in the heat, we would recommend drinking up to at least 2 litres of water per day. Your construction site should be able to store bottled water, and plenty of it on the long and hot days over the summer months. Make sure you are taking regular breaks from the sun and into the shade is equally as important to avoid dehydration and headaches occurring. For more advice, read the NHS article on sunburn for more assistance.

Hand Protection

The inevitability of clammy, sweaty hands in the summer and working in scaffolding construction tends to go hand in hand with an accident. Make sure you are prepared for the sweat by wearing scaffolding protection gloves that can keep your hands cool, as well as providing protection and safety when handling tools and equipment that can slip easily. These gloves will help to provide a strong grip and are made from a lightweight material that is breathable and comfortable to wear.

Look Out For Your Team

Finally, it is important as an employer, to look out for your workers and other colleagues within your team. Make sure you all have a fair work router so the hottest point of the day is equally spread out. You need to make sure you all understand the early signs of sunstroke and be vigilant of colleagues that might be showing them as they work. Actively practising these simple and effective steps will help you and your workers to stay safe over the summer. If you think you have any other helpful suggestions, we would love to hear from you!

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We hope that this has helped you understand some of the dangers and construction hazards the summer months can have on your safety when working in the scaffolding industry and that this information has been useful. For more information on this or our services, please call us today on 01675 465593 or fill out our simple contact form.

Health and Safety for Scaffolders

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Health and Safety for Scaffolders

It goes without saying that health and safety is extremely important when working as a scaffolder. Thankfully, years of working at height have taught us the best ways to ensure we remain safe in our working environments. Here, we’ve put together a list of the most important considerations from a safety point of view.

Necessary training

The most important aspect of scaffolding health and safety is arguably the training that the workers in question have had. Without the necessary experience and knowledge, workers should never attempt to assemble or use scaffolds of any kind; it is absolutely essential that only qualified people attempt to put together scaffolding. The structural integrity of these constructions is the difference between remaining safe and not. If you’re in any doubt as to whether a scaffolder is qualified or not, see whether they’re accredited by organisations such as CHAS and NASC. If they are, you can be more confident they’ll do things properly.

Safety equipment

There are a number of PPE items that every scaffolder needs to ensure they wear while working on any job:

    • An approved hard hat
      Hand protection, such as thick gloves
      Protective, steel-toe-capped boots. Must also be anti-slip
      Safety harness (necessary for any workers functioning 6 feet above the ground)

Code of practice

For a full overview of everything health and safety-related, you can read the Health and Safety Authority’s code of practice. That document provides a full overview of the appropriate (and safe) conduct on a scaffolding site.

Obviously, if you’re a scaffolder yourself, these are all basic points that you should already know. If, however, you’re keen to know more about the industry then we hope we’ve given you an overview of what’s required.

Why Bespoke Scaffolding Is so Important

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Why Bespoke Scaffolding Is So Important

An image showing scaffolding assembled up a muddy hill, providing stairs up the steep slope
We offer bespoke scaffolding as one of our core services here at Safeway Scaffolding Limited, but why? In our latest blog post, we explain why bespoke scaffolding is so important, and why it’s necessary.

One size does not fit all

Scaffolding is tailored. It has to be. Every project is unique and, therefore, requires a unique scaffold to be assembled alongside it. Rather than trying to apply a formulaic approach to different scaffolding projects, a more tailored, considered assembly is often required.

Sure, you can use standard scaffolds for a number of residential and commercial properties, but often the shape, size, and circumstances of scaffolding projects mean that you need to adapt. Doing so can often be difficult, too. In one of our previous blog posts, we discussed the challenges of bespoke scaffolding, which really helps to underline just how different every project is.

What can go wrong

Having established that different projects require different scaffolds, it’s also important to point out what can go wrong if bespoke scaffolding isn’t used. It’s pretty obvious, but using a scaffold that isn’t right for any given structure or property will compromise its structural integrity. Doing so causes serious health and safety risks to anyone working on the site, but also threatens to damage the building itself immeasurably.

Our bespoke solutionsBesp

We pride ourselves on our bespoke scaffolding solutions here at Safeway Scaffolding Limited. We’re adept at tailoring our work to suit the unique requirements of all our customers, while our experience over many years on a great number of projects means we’re perfectly placed to deliver what’s needed.

Give us a call on 01675 465593 or fill out one of our online contact forms to find out more about our services.

3 of the World’s Biggest Scaffolds

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3 Of The World’s Biggest Scaffolds

At Safeway Scaffolding, we take pride in our ability to provide bespoke scaffolds to our customers. What we can’t do, however, is replicate any of the world’s biggest scaffolds (although we’d definitely give it a crack if required).

Here, we’re taking a look at 3 of the world’s most striking scaffolding projects.

Burj Khalifa

This is the tallest building in the world. The Burj Khalifa is a staggering 2 717 feet high, and has been the world’s tallest building since 2008. Need we say much more? The scaffolding required to assemble this absurdly large structure was pretty much unprecedented. In a bid to keep the world guessing when it came to the building’s final dimensions or design, the scaffolding was actually assembled as the tower grew.

The Eden Project

You want truly bespoke scaffolding? You’ve got it. In 1998, the Eden Project was constructed to help educate the public about conservation, sustainability, and how to make our world greener. To do so, 230 miles of scaffolding was required, and it wasn’t your average shape or design, either.

The nature of the construction, featuring two huge biomes, meant that an abnormal amount of reinforced scaffolding was required for the project to be successful.

Statue of Liberty

One of America’s most iconic landmarks, the Statue of LIberty was renovated in 1984. Approximately $2 million was required to assemble what was, at the time, the world’s biggest free-standing scaffold. Wrapped in this aluminium maze from head to toe, the statue’s restoration was considered a great success. Take a look for yourself at the pictures, too, as they’re pretty impressive.

Safeway Scaffolding

As we’ve said, the sort of work we carry out doesn’t really compare to that undertaken on the Burj Khalifa. It does, however, still cater to our customers’ every requirement. For more information on our bespoke scaffolding solutions, call us on 01675 465 593 or fill out one of our online contact forms.