Building Work

Falling from heights is often the worst hazard when building or doing maintenance work existing building.
People may fall from roof edges or through fragile roof materials ; from scaffolds, if guard-rails are not provided; from ladders, usually by over reaching or because the ladder slips; and through holes in covered or fenced.
Other hazards include being struck by falling materials; contact with electricity, exposure to harmful substances such as asbestos, paints, glues or cleaning materials, striking buried electric cables or gas pipes; burial by excavation collapses; and using lift trucks as temporary working platforms

Ladders

You must have:

1. ladders are often used when it would be safer to use other equipment, e.g. mobile tower scaffolds.
2. ladders may be used for short jobs. This can still be dangerous however, and many ladder accidents happen during work lasting 30 minutes or less.
3. longer ladders are harder to handle. They flex more in use and are harder to “foot” effectively. Do not use a ladder longer then 6 m as a workplace unless fixed or tied.
4. when choosing a ladder, you must make sure it is strong enough for the job and check that it is in good condition, e.g. that no rungs are cracked or missing. Do not user makeshift or home-made ladders or carry out makeshift repairs to a damaged ladder.
5. when placing the ladder, rest its foot on a firm level surface. Do not place it on a material or equipment to gain extra height. Ladders must extend at least 1 m above the landing place unless there is a suitable hand hold to provide equivalent support.
6. angle the ladder so that the bottom will not slip outwards – four units up to each one out from the base.
7. rest the top of the ladder against a solid surface. Equipment such as ladder stays can be used to spread the load if the surface is brittle.
8. ladders used for access or as a place of work should be secured or footed to prevent movement.
9. extending ladders need an overlap of at least three rungs.
10. never paint ladders – this may hide defects.

Mobile Tower Scaffolds

When erecting the tower:

1. follow the manufacturers instructions – do not exceed the maximum height allowed for a given base dimension.
2. it must be on firm, level ground - securely fix any wheels to the scaffold.
3. tie the tower rigidly to the structure if it is likely to be exposed to strong winds, used for grit blasting, or water jetting, if heavy materials are lifted up the outside of the tower, or if the base is too small for the height of the tower needed.
4. provide a safe way to get to and from the work platform, e.g. by an internal ladder. It is not safe to climb up the outside.
5. you must provide guard rails and toe boards at platforms from which someone could fall more than 2 meters, or less where there is still risk of injury.
6. you must not overload the working platform. Do not apply pressure which could overturn the tower e.g. by working off a ladder placed on top of the working platform. Lock any wheels and extend outriggers.


When moving the scaffold:
1. check that there are no power lines in the way or obstructions, holes etc in the ground.
2. do not allow people or materials to remain on the tower
3. beware of towers “running away with you” when being moved down or across slopes.


General Access Scaffolds

When providing a scaffold you must make sure:

1. it is erected, altered or dismantled under supervision by competent person.
2. it is based on a firm, level foundation, with vertical supports normally not more than 2 to 2.5 meters apart.
3. it is properly tied, normally at least every 4 meters vertically and 6 meters horizontally, and braced.
4. platforms more than 2 meters from the ground have guard rails and toe boards. Brick guards or similar will often be needed to provide extra protection to prevent material falling.
5. platforms are wide enough to the work to be done there and they are fully boarded.
6. boards are properly supported and do not overhang excessively.
7. there is safe ladder access onto the scaffold and between each level or lift.
8. the scaffold is inspected at least once a week, or whenever it is substantially altered or after very bad weather.
9. the person doing the inspection fully understands scaffold safety and records the results.

If you are going to work on a scaffold someone has provided for you, don’t start work without checking the above points.

Roof Work

When working on a roof you must:

1. have safe access onto and off the roof e.g. by a general access scaffold.
2. have safe means of moving across the roof. On sloping and fragile roofs you will need purpose-made roof ladders or crawling boards. Do not use home made ladders or boards as these have caused many accidents. cover openings or roof lights, or provide barriers.
3. use edge protection at the open edge of a roof to stop people and materials falling off it.
4. not throw scaffold materials, old slates, tiles etc from the roof or scaffold where this could cause injury. Use enclosed debris slide or lower the debris in skips or baskets.

Ground Work

1. trench sides can collapse suddenly whatever the nature of the soil. Any excavation deeper than 1.2 meters must have the sides sloped or supported.
2. dig well away from underground services such as electricity cables, gas pipes etc. if you have to work near services, use service plans, locators and safe digging practice to avoid danger.