Scaffolding Organization

If scaffolding equipment is a regular part of your worksite or job, and storing it is an issue, think about implementing an organization system. Most types of portable and regular scaffolding are able to break down to very manageable parts and pieces.

1 – Before Breakdown

It is important to clean and maintain your scaffolding equipment as you break it down for storing each time. This will protect and preserve the life of your equipment and will enable you to follow your local safety and code precautions.

2 – Cleaning

Depending on the size of your scaffolding and the build-up of dirt, paint or grime, cleaning could take anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour.

Do not use harsh chemicals that may cause the metal to rust. If you use a pressure washer, follow by thoroughly wiping down to reduce the chances of rust or rotting. If there is rust or paint already present, use a power sander or sandpaper to remove it.

3 – Maintenance

As you break down the scaffolding, take inventory of any bent, broken, loose or missing pieces. Part of your organizational system should include a procedure that tracks information concerning necessary repairs and parts that need to be replaced.

Tracking the maintenance will ensure that safety is the prime concern. This will also be a source of records kept for all equipment.

4 – Organization System

Label each piece with duct tape, painter’s tape or some other color-coded system (electrical tape comes in a variety of colors). This will make it easy to keep all similar pieces together, like screws of a certain length.

Whatever your organization design, it should be easy to locate the items needed for each scaffolding unit. Make a special space for tools so they will be easily accessible during assembly and breaking down.

5 – Storage

The best thing you can do as for organizational storage of your scaffolding equipment is to install utility shelving or something similar. The best method for storage is to either group items by type (all the planks, all the bolts) or keep the pieces of each scaffolding unit together.

In addition a shelving system for the large pieces, you can use bins, cubbies, tool racks and drawers for smaller pieces. Don’t forget that a place for the bolts and screws is just as important as a place for the poles and planks.

A storage area does not have to be large or complicated. In fact, cleaning, maintaining, repairing, organizing and storing your scaffolding equipment should make doing your work easier and safer, not more difficult.