Scaffolds unsafe

The need for metrics is particularly important in process safety, in no small measure because the hazards may not be readily evident. Unlike some other safety risks where dangerous situations are more apparent—such as unsafe scaffolding, unsecured cables, trenches, and other excavations—information on the status and safety of hazardous containment systems (e.g., internal corrosion, an improperly sized relief valve) is not generally visible. Without a constant and reliable flow of information on process safety performance and management systems, leaders may, in essence, be flying blind. 

The training section of the scaffold rule ( 1926.454) adds to and clarifies the training requirements in 1926.21(b)(2). That standard, which applies to all construction work, requires employers to instruct employees in the recognition and avoidance of unsafe conditions and the regulations applicable to their work environment to control or eliminate any hazards or other exposures to illness or injury. 

Prefabricated mobile scaffold towers Mobile scaffold towers are frequently used throughout industry. It is essential that the workers are trained in their use since recent research has revealed that 75% of lightweight mobile tower scaffolding is erected, used, moved or dismantled in an unsafe manner. 

The brick falling was an undesired event. When it missed the worker, it is classified as a near miss incident as there was a flow of energy, but it caused no loss. It was caused by unsafe stacking of bricks on the scaffolding. If the brick had fallen three times with no damage or no injury, we would have had three similar near miss incident events. 

Inspections should be carried out by people who are competent to do so. In this context, competent means knowledgeable - the person needs to know what safe conditions look like, have experience of a range of potentially unsafe conditions and know how to convert the latter into the former. This does not mean that the physical ability to make the change has to be possessed by the person - it is not necessary to be or have worked or trained as a scaffolder in order to inspect and comment on the safety of a scaffold structure, for example. 

Just as unanimously, unsafe behavior was evaluated as an important cause of incidents. Underestimating hazards (especially with scaffolding assemblers, tile-layers, and carpenters) was seen as a further important behavior-related factor. 

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