As opposed to hiring 3rd parties to perform renovations or repair works at home, many people are opting to undertake these home improvement projects on their own. Being able to funnel your artistic talents into something practical is not only rewarding, but it also saves a lot of money. One of the most valuable pieces of equipment that is typically used in home improvement projects is scaffolding.
Scaffolding has been used in the construction industry for thousands of years, mainly to support workers and materials when working from heights. Safety is continually a challenge when working at heights, so strict rules and procedures have been implemented to ensure the safety of workers when using scaffolding equipment. If you’re organising a DIY project and will need to use scaffolding to assist you, there are some critical safety facts and issues to keep in mind.
Scaffolding can only be used up to 4m in height without a license
Whenever scaffolding is being used where a person or materials can fall more than 4m in height, a high-risk work license for scaffolding is required by Law. The term ‘working with scaffolding’ means the erection, altering, or dismantling of scaffolding equipment, along with using the structure to undertake any type of work. For any task that requires the use of scaffolding more than 4m in height, you’ll need to obtain this license or you won’t have the ability to accomplish the project yourself.
Look into hiring a specialist to assemble the scaffolding
Among the biggest safety considerations with scaffolding is in the assembly of the equipment and ascertaining that it’s safe to support the maximum load. If you chose to rent scaffolding from a trustworthy company, they will typically arrange for a qualified professional to assemble and dismantle your scaffolding equipment, coupled with the required paperwork and inspections.
Alternatively, if you purchase scaffolding, you should seriously consider employing a professional to erect the scaffolding before you start any given project. Irrespective of how experienced you are with DIY home improvement projects, assembling the scaffolding is exceptionally important for the safety of you and those around you, so it’s strongly advised that you hire a qualified professional to construct and inspect your scaffolding equipment. If you really want to erect the scaffolding yourself, the best suggestion is to acquire your high-risk work license for scaffolding.
Check your insurance policy
It’s very common for homeowners to have insurance that covers any losses that are incurred with home ownership, including liability provisions to cover you if someone is injured on your property. It’s essential that you check your insurance plan to see if any accidents caused by home improvement undertakings are covered. Don’t start your home improvement project without first checking if you are sufficiently insured, as you may find that using scaffolding for a home improvement project is not included in your policy.
Understand the most common causes of accidents
Sadly, human error is the most common cause of scaffolding accidents, so it’s crucial that you have a decent understanding of how to complete your project before you start. Most scaffolding incidents can be prevented, so it’s essential that you perform adequate research and watch educational videos on the web to improve your understanding of working with scaffolding. Recognising the most common causes of injuries with scaffolding equipment will give you a greater understanding of the inherent risks, hence, the top three causes of scaffolding related accidents are:
- Falls associated with incorrect scaffold assembly
- Being struck by airborne items (for those beneath the scaffolding structure)
- Scaffolding platforms or structure failing and falling over
Summary
There are many Australians that are currently pursuing various home improvement projects using scaffolding equipment. There’s no doubt that these DIY ventures are a cost-effective and gratifying alternative, however safety must always be prioritised when working at heights and the above facts and concerns must be considered before any work should start. If you’re interested in hiring or purchasing scaffolding equipment for your next project, talk with the specialists at Uni-Span by phoning 1300 822 825.
Formwork and Scaffolding | Uni-Span 