|
HSE
Tel 0870 803 2271
Construction
Two million people work in Britain’s construction industry, making it the country’s biggest industry.
It is also one of the most dangerous. In the last 25 years, 2,800 people have died from injuries they received during construction work. Many more have been injured or made ill.
Between April 2001 and March 2002, 79 workers died and thousands were injured as a result of construction work. The main causes were:
- falling through fragile roofs and rooflights
- falling from ladders, scaffolds and other work places
- being struck by excavators, lift trucks or dumpers
- overturning vehicles
- being crushed by collapsing structures
HSE deals with all aspects of construction work in England, Scotland and Wales. These pages:
Back to top
Working at height - Scaffold towers
How NOT to use a Scaffold tower!
This man was risking his life to finish off a window installation.
What’s wrong?
The scaffold tower is totally inadequate:
- It has nothing to stop him falling off from any side of the platform.
- there is nothing around the platform to stop things falling off it and hitting people below.
- there is no proper ladder for access.
- It isn’t vertical.
|
|
How could you do this work safely?
Think first! - about the risks and how to avoid them.
Use the proper tools – properly.
This scaffold tower should:
- have been built vertical.
- have a proper, built-in ladder.
- be built according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
- have proper handrails around the whole work platform.
- have toe-boards all around the platform (to stop things falling off).
Where can I learn more about scaffold towers?
Back to top
Working at height - Scaffold towers
|
This appeared to be a long ladder behind a van.
It wasn’t. |
The ladder was on the van where it could easily have slipped off. |
|
|
Just to make it even worse, the van was tilting away, making the ladder more likely to slip. |
What’s wrong?
Not only was the ladder totally inappropriate for this work, it was used in an extremely dangerous manner. The worker would probably have died if he had fallen off.
How could you do this work safely?
Think first! - about the risks and how to avoid them.
It is always tempting to use a ladder but you should always consider using a working platform first, for example, a properly erected scaffold tower or a mobile elevating working platform (MEWP).
Ladders are best used for getting up or down, rather than as a place of work.
If you do need to use a ladder make sure:
- it is suitable for the job,
- it is in good condition (check regularly for damage – especially the feet),
- you use it on firm level surfaces
- that you stop it from slipping – usually by tying at the top
- that you use it at the correct angle – one out for every four up.
Where can I learn more about ladders?
|
