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Winter Construction Site Hazards

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Construction Site Hazards During Winter

winter weather on a construction site

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.

 

A Guide: What To Send Scaffolding Contractors

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Submitting a project design brief on a laptop

A Guide On What To Send To Scaffolding Contractors In Your Scaffold Design Project Brief

In order to keep everyone on the same page, and before commencing any construction or maintenance project which requires scaffolding, it is important that scaffolding contractors receive key information from their clients. This is sometimes referred to as submitting a project design brief or a scaffold design brief. A project design brief ensures an accurate and proper design process is followed.

By sending your scaffolding contractors a design brief, it also ensures the end result of your scaffolding meets health and safety requirements, standards and working at height regulations and laws. Alongside this, all scaffolding, in some way, is bespoke. This is because it all depends on the unique requirements of different buildings and structures. Scaffolding must also be designed to have adequate strength, rigidity and stability while it is erected, used and then subsequently dismantled.

Here are 12 key things you should provide to scaffolding contractors at the very start of the planning process:

[Read more…] about A Guide: What To Send Scaffolding Contractors

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.

Contact

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.

Contact

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!

Contact

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.