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3 WAYS TO IMPROVE SCAFFOLDING SAFETY AT A JOB SITE
June 28, 2019
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), more than 2.3 million construction workers
— or 65 percent of the industry — work on scaffolds. It is a dangerous job: 4,500 scaffold-related injuries and 60 scaffold-related deaths hit job sites in the U.S. each year. That adds up to $90 million in lost work days.
As a site manager, one of your main priorities – in addition to delivering customer satisfaction – is scaffolding safety. Once scaffolding goes up, it is not just a set-it-and-forget-it addition to the job site. So, how can you effectively protect your crew on your next job?
1. Use High-Quality, Properly Installed Equipment
Of the workers injured in scaffold-related accidents, 72 percent attributed the incident
to either the planking, support giving way, or to the employee slipping or being struck by a falling object.
What does that tell us? Well, for starters it indicates that the scaffolding in use may not be properly designed and deployed. A poorly designed scaffolding system can have disastrous consequences. If your job requires non-slick surfaces or special materials, any missing component could mean injury or worse for your team members.
Train your employees to recognize deficient, noncompliant and/or damaged structures, including missing essential safety components like Toeboards, Planks, or Guardrails. Also, consider working with a scaffolding manufacturer that provides application engineering to ensure you have the correct equipment for your project requirements.
2. Ensure Proper Training
A key scaffolding safety issue is whether or not the scaffold has been erected by trained professionals. Erection and dismantling must be done by competent persons to ensure a solid work space for overhead workers and a solid foundation to keep the scaffold stable.
In addition to being trained and up to date on OSHA requirements, all workers must be properly trained on setup, construction of scaffolding, how to handle materials and load capacities. Proper training should also be given on the type of scaffolding they are working on and the complexity of the scaffold being erected or dismantled.
3. Keep the Site Clean and Organized
You have likely heard the saying, “A clean job site is a safe job site. Still, “Housekeeping” is one of the most cited OSHA safety infractions. People who tend to leave a mess have a higher chance of tripping over equipment or slipping over messy work areas and causing accidents. Make sure all workers follow standard procedures to secure the job site before leaving for the day. This might include dewatering, removing debris, and ensuring all equipment is properly and securely stored.
4. Keep Your FLRA Updated
Refer back to your field level risk assessment (FLRA) on a periodic basis to identify hazards that may not have been previously documented. Review processes for material handling, power lines, inclement weather, and load-carrying capacity to keep these potential hazards top of mind and add to the list when needed. As workers get accustomed to a job site, they are less likely to be on alert to potential safety issues. A regular review of your FLRA can help prevent oversight and avoid simple mistakes that could affect job site safety.
No matter where you are or what job you are on, safety is nonnegotiable. If you need scaffolding that you can trust to get the job done while protecting the safety of your workers, please contact us
online today or call the branch office closest to you. We’ll begin the process of finding a scaffolding solution that meets your unique needs.
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Atlanta, Georgia, USA AT-PAC is excited to announce the appointment of Mr. Allan Hazzard as Managing Director Canada. This appointment reinforces AT-PAC’s commitment to strengthening its local management structure to support the continued investment and future growth of our Canadian business. AT-PAC has operated its Canadian branch in Edmonton, Alberta since the year 2000, which has more recently operated alongside the U.S operations under a single North American regional structure. As part of Mr. Hazzard’s appointment, Canada will transition to its own local management structure to further support our recent and anticipated growth into new markets in Eastern & Western Canada. Josh Dundon, CEO shares “The appointment of Mr. Hazzard is a strategic step forward and will enable us to build off the existing talented team and our almost 25-year history in Canada to expand our presence and better service our customers in important markets across Canada”. Based in Calgary, Mr. Hazzard brings over 20 years of leadership experience, including the past decade in the modular building industry with WillScot and contributes a wealth of expertise in scaling businesses across Canada. His executive roles in commercial leadership and general management, both in Canada and the U.S., have equipped him with deep knowledge of asset intensive businesses servicing the industrial & commercial sectors. Mr. Hazzard added “I am truly honored to step into the role of Managing Director for AT-PAC Canada at such an exciting time in the company’s journey. Having spent much of my career in roles focused on scaling businesses across diverse markets, I am thrilled to now lead a talented team in driving AT-PAC’s continued growth and innovation in the Canadian market.” As Managing Director Canada, Mr. Hazzard will be responsible for leading and driving AT-PAC’s next phase of growth in Canada. This includes leading the existing Edmonton based team and implementing our Canada wide strategy ensuring a strong sales, commercial and operational structure to support our customers and continued growth into new markets.
AT-PAC, a world leader in the supply of industrial scaffold products, is proud to announce its partnership with Habitat for Humanity. AT-PAC is thrilled to announce their partnership with Habitat for Humanity , a leading non-profit housing organization dedicated to creating and advocating for affordable homeownership. AT-PAC is partnering as a National Sponsor, contributing $100,000 of funding along with strong volunteer support to work towards the goal of affordable homeownership for all. This is a significant step towards enhancing AT-PAC’s corporate social responsibility efforts and will make a tangible impact on the lives of future Habitat homeowners, helping them realize their dream of owning a home and building a brighter future for their families . To kick off this collaboration, AT-PAC has committed to help as a “Roof Raiser” sponsor for Habitat for Humanity’s 2024 Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project in St. Paul, Minnesota, this October. This event will bring together an estimated 2,500 volunteers, community members, leaders, and future homeowners to build more than 35 new homes in five days! This annual, large-scale building event raises awareness of the critical need for affordable housing — the heart of Habitat’s mission. "This partnership reflects our shared commitment to building a better future, and I am excited about the positive changes we can achieve together" said Josh Dundon, CEO of AT-PAC. In addition, AT-PAC teams in both Atlanta and Houston will be participating in Habitat construction sites in their local communities, building alongside each other and future Habitat owners. Volunteers will see firsthand how affordable homeownership helps families build strength, stability, and self-reliance through shelter. About Habitat for Humanity Driven by the vision that everyone needs a decent place to live, Habitat for Humanity found its earliest inspirations as a grassroots movement on a community farm in South Georgia. Since its founding in 1976, the housing organization has since grown to become a leading global nonprofit working in local communities across all 50 states in the U.S., Puerto Rico, and more than 70 countries. Families and individuals in need of a hand up partner with Habitat for Humanity to build or improve a place they can call home. Habitat homeowners help build their own homes alongside volunteers and pay an affordable mortgage. Through financial support, volunteering or adding a voice to support affordable housing, everyone can help families achieve the strength, stability and self-reliance they need to build better lives for themselves. Through shelter, we empower. To learn more, visit habitat.org.
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