The Critical Role of Health & Safety in Scaffolding
If you were to ask most people what scaffolding is, they would probably say it’s a structure used to gain access for working at height. That’s correct, but a key element of the definition is missing: scaffolding is a structure used for working at height safely.
At HD Scaffolding, we believe that safety has to be the first priority of any project at all points in the project process. That means we need to embed it in the design and delivery of each job, from the very first briefing to the moment our vehicle leaves site with the last of our equipment.
Safety it not only integral to the job for our own skilled and experienced team, but for all others on site, occupiers of the building and any members of the public who may be nearby. The scaffold itself must be safe and we must ensure that it does not pose any safety threats to the building by putting any undue stress on the structure.
To ensure that all these factors are considered in the scaffolding solution and the way we operate on site, we begin each job with a site survey and a full risk assessment. A method statement follows, which outlines how we will erect the scaffold and the safety protocols that will need to be followed by all those using it.
Our teams follow our strict health and safety procedures, which are regularly reviewed and rigorously policed by our senior team, and our independent safety advisors are on hand to advise on any additional safety needs. As a CHAS-registered company, we are accountable for delivering health and safety best practice and quality across everything we do, and ensuring our staff are safety-trained and attend regular toolbox talks on health and safety are part of that commitment.
Our method statement not only demonstrates to our customers that we have considered the most appropriate and safety-conscious approach to the job for our own team, it also provides them with a safety framework for utilising the scaffold. We ensure operatives have read and understood the safety requirements of our installation before we hand it over.
Above all, our philosophy is about avoiding unnecessary risk and we will never compromise on that goal. As a result, if we believe a project to be inherently unsafe, we would prefer to walk away rather than put our own team or others at risk.
