Falls from height are a top reason for workplace deaths, making up a fourth of yearly employee fatalities. Plenty of these tumbles might have been dodged with mobile scaffold towers and sticking to safety rules.

Mobile scaffold towers, sometimes called access or scaffolding towers, are tall constructs with at least one platform for high-up tasks. Frequently, people use them in building projects as a safer, self-stable choice instead of ladders for long-term height work.

It’s absolutely necessary to use mobile scaffold towers safely. It helps keep workers out of harm’s way and lowers the chance of accidents like falls.

Key Safety Points for Mobile Scaffold Towers

1. Assembly and Disassembly

The assembly and disassembly of mobile scaffold towers is a crucial task. It should be done by skilled and able people. You must follow the maker’s guide to make sure the tower is sound and safe. For instance, a big part of putting together a mobile scaffold tower is checking each piece.

You must look for any signs of damage or wear. It means looking out for frames that are bent, wheels that are damaged, or parts that are missing. It’s vital to use only the original parts from the maker. It helps keep the tower strong and secure.

Towers taller than a specific height (usually about 2 meters) might need expert setup. It is especially the case in places where steadiness matters a lot, like construction areas with different soil types. For example, a 6-foot aluminum mobile scaffolding tower made for challenging work can hold weights up to 950 kg, but the wrong setup could cause a terrible collapse.

A good instance of proper construction is the use of the 3T technique (through the Trap method). This technique ensures that the individual building the tower stays away from the edge during work. This method creates the tower from the inside, which makes it safer. Moreover, when taking it apart, always do it the opposite way it was constructed to keep it safe.

2. Stability and Weight Capacity

When using mobile scaffold towers, stability is critical. The tower should be set up on solid, flat terrain, and all wheels should be firmly locked. If a tower is erected on an incline, it might become unstable and fall over, which could result in severe injuries.

To boost stability, manufacturers usually suggest using balancing aids or extended supports, particularly for towers that are more than three times their base’s width. It’s vital to know how much weight a scaffold tower can bear.

Every tower comes with a predetermined maximum weight. It’s safe to carry. Let’s say a robust scaffold tower might handle up to 275 kg. If you overload it with equipment and supplies, the structure could collapse. Routine checks are crucial to confirm that all safety features of the tower, like lock systems and stabilizers, are working as they should.

3. Working Platform Safety

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A mobile scaffold tower’s work area needs careful attention for safe use. The platform should be kept free from tool pieces, rubbish, or any objects that may cause someone to trip. For instance, anyone who paints with a scaffold tower must ensure that their paint pots and brushes are kept tidy and aren’t strewn about the work area.

Before starting any work, setting up guardrails and toeboards is vital. These elements act as a physical boundary to stop falls. Checking the whole platform before use is a routine safety step. It confirms that all safety parts are working. After using access hatches, remember to shut them instantly. It avoids accidental falls.

4. Weather Conditions and Uneven Surfaces

Mobile scaffold towers depend heavily on the weather for safe usage. It’s vital not to use them in harsh winds or bad weather. For instance, when wind speeds go beyond 17 miles per hour, the danger of the tower tipping or rocking rises considerably.

There’s a need for extra care when you are working on surfaces that aren’t flat. If the floor isn’t straight or the tower’s height is more than triple its base, you must use {stabilizers or outriggers. It keeps the tower upright and firm.

5. Personal Fall Arrest Systems (PFAS)

Mobile scaffold towers should usually not be used with personal fall arrest systems (PFAS). Although PFAS, including harnesses and lanyards, are crucial for many high-altitude jobs, they can add more dangers if used on scaffold towers.

Mobile scaffold towers commonly have guardrails and toeboards. Their purpose is to stop falls without the need for a PFAS. Applying a PFAS to a movable scaffold tower may unintentionally raise the chance of getting harmed.

Say a worker is in a harness and slips while trying to shift or tune the scaffold; the unforeseen halt may put them in more danger of getting hurt. Hence, it’s advised that workers trust the innate safety aspects of the scaffold tower.

Conclusion

Sticking to safety rules and the manufacturer’s instructions is crucial for the secure handling of mobile scaffold towers. Employers are lawfully bound to look after their workers’ health, safety, and well-being.

It includes a thorough risk evaluation of high altitude work and instituting fitting precautionary steps. By putting safety first and using mobile scaffold towers, builders can lessen the hazard of falling from high places. This way, they shield themselves and their peers at the work location.

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