Scaffolding in High Winds

Every scaffolder in the UK knows that our lovely British weather can be unpredictable, inconsistent and frustrating! Storms, heavy rain and high winds can happen at any point throughout the year and it makes an already dangerous job even more hazardous.

To help you, your team and your scaffolding remain safe, we have put together this quick and simple checklist to go through whenever you are working in bad weather.?

Safety Checklist

• Have you checked the weather forecast before work starts? If the weather is too severe, you may need to postpone work – the safety of your workers and the public should be your main priority.
• Are all the necessary health & safety and evacuation procedures in place? Should the weather get worse, can you quickly and safely secure the site and evacuate all workers?
• ?Have you tested all scaffolding fittings and anchors to confirm the necessary holding power? (Anchor & Pull Tester Kits are great, quick ways to do this)
• Does your scaffolding require sheeting to protect the work site and those working on it? (Remember it should conform to BS795)
• Do you need to use Board Clamps to secure any scaffold boards that could become loose and cause a hazard?
• If a storm is imminent, are extra ground anchors required to secure scaffolding and temporary structures to the ground?
• Do your scaffolders have the right workwear to protect them when working at height? When was the last time you checked that all fall arrest lanyards and harnesses are fit for purpose and in good condition??

There are sadly many stories around the world of scaffolding collapsing and workers getting injured because of high wind and an unsafe worksite. The Work at Height Regulations 2005 requires scaffolding to be inspected by a competent person every seven days, as well as immediately after extreme weather events such as storms or high winds, to ensure they are safe to use going forward.

At Leach’s, we are focused on finding solutions to help you, your scaffolding and your team stay safe and work efficiently. We have a team of experts that are on hand to help answer any questions that you have about keeping scaffolding safe.

If you have a question or want to know more about what tools and equipment could help keep your site and team safe, please contact us today.?

Call: 01432 346800 Email: [email protected]

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