Scaffold Towers – Few steps to Using a Scaffold Tower Safely

Scaffold Towers have recently seen a sudden rise in popularity in the D.I.Y market, possibly due to the current economic climate of the world, cheaper to ‘do it yourself’ than hire a builder.

Many budding do it yourself builders view the purchase of a scaffold tower as a good investment not just in financial terms but also in safety, and at face value this would seem a reasonable assumption, however as the use of scaffold towers increases so to does the amount of serious accidents and deaths associated with their use

With that in mind here are my top 4 tips for using a scaffold tower safely.

When erecting the tower use the advance guard rail system, fit guard rails to the upper levels from the platform below, this will ensure you never access part of the scaffold without handrails, lack of handrails are the biggest cause of falls from scaffolding towers.

Never use a ladder propped up against the side of the tower, use the built in ladder, moving up and down the scaffold within the frame, this will keep your weight within the towers centre of gravity avoiding the possibility of it toppling over.

Never use the tower scaffold on soft or uneven ground and always apply the brakes if it’s fitted with wheels.

Always check for overhead cables before you erect the scaffold, if the tower has wheels and you intend to move it, make sure you check that there are no cables in its path.

Before you undertake to use a scaffold tower please get professional advice and training, never underestimate the dangers involved in using such equipment.

Scaffolding