Proper Scaffolding Inspection: Your Guide to Scaffolding Tags

Safety is paramount when it comes to scaffolding. As with any large construction project where scaffolding is involved, there are various safety procedures and inspections that must take place before any work is carried out.

Following the installation of scaffolding and before first use, it is integral that the scaffold users or hirers ensure that all scaffolding has been inspected properly. The scaffold users or hirers must also make sure that scaffolding is inspected regularly at ‘an interval of no more than 7 days thereafter’ and ‘following any circumstances liable to jeopardise the safety of the installation (e.g. high winds)’, according to guidelines and regulations set out by Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

One of the scaffolding inspection systems in place to ensure safety for all those using scaffolding comes in the form of scaffolding tags, otherwise known as safety tags.

 

What is a scaffolding tag?

A scaffolding tag is signage that is placed onto erect scaffolding and used to indicate whether it is compliant with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations. OSHA is a public health agency that sets and enforces workplace safety regulations.

There are two main types of scaffolding safety tags; these are commonly categorised as ‘red tags’ and ‘green tags’ – we’ll get into their individual meanings a little later on, but feel free to scroll down if you’re eager to find out more about these exciting little labels.

Scaffolding tags are primarily used to show workers when scaffolding is, and is not, safe to use. A scaffolding safety tag is placed onto key points of the scaffold and used after a scaffold inspection has taken place. Scaffolding safety tags can be used on any type of scaffolding, occurring at any access point. 

As scaffolding can be the source of multiple different hazards in the workplace – including falls and objects falling. By tagging equipment, workers know if the scaffolding is safe to use and that it has been inspected and to a high standard.

On these safety tags, they can also record information about the last inspection, such as the date, as well as any modifications that have taken place to the scaffold structure. This lets users know when another inspection is due, as well as inform them of any changes.

 

Why use scaffolding safety tags?

The main reason why we use scaffold tags is to provide a world-leading visual indication that the scaffolding has been inspected and improve scaffolding safety. It is part of the scaffold inspection system that helps prevent working at height hazards for scaffold users and efficiently manage scaffold inspection procedures. You can ensure safe scaffolding use with scaffolding safety tags.

 

What are the different types of scaffolding tags and why are they important?

Most commonly red tags are used for unsafe or incomplete scaffolds, and green tags are used when a scaffold is safe and ready to use.

• Red Tags
  This indicates that the scaffold is unsafe or that it is an incomplete scaffolding structure and therefore it should not be used
• Green Tags
  This indicates that scaffolding is safe and ready to use, so construction work and repairs can go-ahead

 

Contact Safeway Scaffolding

If you’re interested in learning more about scaffolding safety and inspections, or health and safety in general, please feel free to contact our expert team by calling 01675 465593 or through filling out our online contact form and we’ll be in touch.

Which Cities Have the Most Skyscrapers?

Throughout the world different countries are reaching new heights. As different countries grow in population, we’re all building upwards as well as outwards in our urban landscapes and city spaces to accommodate everyone, with different homes and workplaces.

As of January 2020, these cities below all have at least 10 completed skyscrapers that are taller than 150 metres (492ft) – however, like the constantly evolving and developing world we live in, this list of cities with the world’s tallest buildings is subject to change.

• Hong Kong

In Hong Kong, at the time of writing this article, there are currently a magnificent 355 skyscrapers.

• New York City, USA

New York City is closely following behind with an incredible 282 skyscrapers.

• Shenzhen, China

Followed by Shenzhen in China with an amazing 270 skyscrapers.

• Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Dubai in the United Arab Emirates has an impressive 199 skyscrapers.

• Shanghai, China

Shanghai, another Chinese city, has a jaw-dropping 163 skyscrapers.

As you may be able to see from our top 5 list, China is building skyscrapers across all their major cities at a phenomenal rate. With at least 25 Chinese cities making the ‘top 100’ list of cities with the most skyscrapers in the world. 

 

How Tall Could We Build?

With the world getting a little bit taller everyday in our quest to reach new heights, and build upwards to cater for an ever-aging and growing population, the question on everyone’s lips remains the same: how tall can we build? 

Currently, the tallest skyscraper (Burj Khalifa in Dubai) reaches a height of around 2,716ft, but can we safely build any higher? Or more sensibly, should we build any higher?

Heights for the World’s Tallest Buildings:

• Petronas Towers, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – 1,483ft (88 floors)
• One World Trade Center, New York City, USA – 1,776ft (94 floors)
  
• Taipei 101, Taipei, Taiwan – 1,667ft (101 floors)
  
• International Commerce Centre, Hong Kong – 1,588ft (108 floors)
• Shanghai Tower, Shanghai, China – 2,073ft (128  floors)
• World Financial Center, Shanghai, China – 1,614ft (101 floors)
• Ping An Finance Center, Shenzhen, China – 1,965ft (115 floors)
• Makkah Royal Clock Tower, Mecca, Saudi Arabia – 1,972ft (120 floors)
• Lotte World Tower, Seoul, South Korea – 1,819ft (123 floors)
• Burj Khalifa, Dubai, United Arab Emirates – 2,716ft (163 floors

 

Related Content

• Top 3 World’s Biggest Scaffolds
• Building for the World’s Tallest Buildings

 

Contact

If you’re interested in our scaffolding services, including domestic, commercial and bespoke scaffolding options, you can call our expert and friendly team today on 01675 465 593. Alternatively, you can fill out our online contact form and we’ll be in touch.

4 Jobs That Are Easier With Mobile Scaffolding

When we see, hear and think of the term ‘scaffolding’, we often picture this scene: a high rise building towering over a busy urban landscape below; under-development and decked with steel ladders, timber or steel poles crossing and weaving around the building. We envisage construction workers based at all levels of the site, carefully carrying out jobs on this exciting project, or new architectural feat of human design and engineering. All to ensure that it is delivered on time, in budget and to brief. In essence, we picture big construction projects. However, scaffolding does not solely have to cater for big projects and structural builds. 

Previously, we have discussed the different types of scaffolding options available for both large and small projects – including, mobile scaffold and static scaffold – and briefly touched upon their specific uses within the construction industry. Today, we’d like to focus upon the uses of mobile scaffold. 

Why use mobile scaffold? Here are the 4 main uses for mobile scaffolding:

 

• Cleaning Gutters and Repairing Fascia

With mobile scaffold you can easily clean out the gutters or repair the fascia on your home. Mobile scaffolding provides a great platform to carry out tasks, allowing you to stand just below where you need to get to.

• Painting

Often, we tend to use a ladder for this task, however you can instead utilise a scaffold. This allows you to take all the essentials up with you. Meaning that you can carry out the task effectively and minimise potential falls and paint spills which are greater with a ladder. Through utilising mobile scaffolding, it also limits the amount of times you need to head back to the ground – which means you don’t need to constantly climb up and down a ladder. Win, win for productivity and efficiency.

• Cleaning Windows

When you combine height and cleaning windows, there are lots of hazards (e.g. falls & slippery surfaces) to consider. Mainly because you are high off the ground holding a bucket with water and detergent inside. Mobile scaffolding can help minimise these hazards as it provides a sturdy platform to place equipment, and yourself on.

• Repair Work

Whether you’re repairing a roof or a wall you want to be standing on something stable and secure. It is much safer, when operating and working at height, to carry this out from a stable platform (such as a scaffold) that is detached from the damaged building itself.

What is mobile scaffold?

Mobile scaffold is a type of scaffolding system that is mobile and portable; basically, it can easily be moved from one place to another. This type of scaffold provides a secure and stable working platform. With this in mind, you may be asking yourself: what are the advantages of using mobile scaffolding? One of its key benefits, compared with other types of scaffold, is that you can move it around, and relocate it, with ease. 

Mobile scaffolding is great for domestic and commercial DIY jobs – whether you are doing some jobs around the house and making home improvements, sorting out the gutters and windows, or carrying out painting and cleaning. This type of scaffold is very much ‘does what it says on the tin’. Alongside the benefit of being easy to move, it is also convenient, handy, spacious and lightweight. When working at height you want and need scaffolding to be safe and secure. Mobile scaffold improves efficiency and perform tasks with precision, aiding you to move onto the next job quickly.

Need scaffolding? Contact us

If you’re interested in finding out more about the different types of scaffolding, including domestic, commercial and bespoke options, you can call our expert scaffolding team today on 01675 465 593. Alternatively, you can fill out our online contact form and we’ll be in touch.

Construction Site Hazards During Winter

Every year winter weather in the UK has the potential to hit hard with freezing temperatures, strong winds, snow, ice and rain. All these environmental elements can cause hazards for those working on a construction site. The weather during the winter is out of our control and completely unpredictable, that’s why it’s important to take necessary precautions on-site and ensure construction workers stay safe during these months.

What are some construction site dangers in winter?

 

Cold stress

Cold stress is a serious condition that happens when the body can’t maintain its temperature. As temperatures fall near or below freezing, it becomes increasingly dangerous to a person’s health, and the likelihood of cold stress occurring increases.

During the winter, skin and internal body temperatures drop, and wet weather can make the skin damp. Increasing an individual’s chance of heat loss and not being able to warm up, particularly if there are no warm areas. Some serious illnesses that can happen this time of year include: trench foot, frostbite and hypothermia.

 

Falls

This is one of the most common accidents to happen on a construction site. It’s not exclusive to the winter and can happen all year round. However, there is an increased risk this time of year due to wet, icy and slippery surfaces. Surfaces such as scaffolding, ladders, walkways, stairs and work platforms become cold. If not treated correctly, these can present a hazard to construction workers and cause them to fall or slip, sometimes from height. This can lead to greater injuries such as fractures, broken bones, serious injuries and even death.

 

On-site driving accidents

By this we don’t just mean accidents that happen on the roads, driving accidents can also happen on construction sites. Not only is there winter weather conditions to contend with, but also it can be easy to forget that winter driving rules still apply. Construction vehicles aren’t as agile as cars due to their size and weight.

 

How to prevent winter hazards?

As with most hazards, it is always advisable to limit your exposure, shield certain work areas from the harsh winter weather and try to protect construction workers wherever possible.

• Keep updated on weather reports
• Shield areas that could be hit badly by the weather
• Create warm break areas for workers
• Schedule outside work to be carried out in short durations
• Provide the correct gear so workers are well insulated and protected
• Educate staff on working safely in bad weather
• Continuously check the site for any new hazards

 

Contact

If you’d like to find out more about our scaffolding services, please call our expert team on 01675 465 593 or fill out our simple online contact form and one of our team will be in touch.