In normal circumstances, a scaffold is extremely helpful, providing access to unreachable places for repair and construction purposes. So long as you follow standard safety guidelines and are attentive to your surroundings, there’s relatively little risk involved. Precipitation, cold and other weather phenomena complicate things, however.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 300 to 400 construction workers fall to their deaths every year, and many more are injured. Heavy rain, lightning and even wind make falls much more likely, especially if proper precautions are not taken. It’s vital and potentially lifesaving to know which conditions are safe to work in and what to do when unexpected weather rolls in.
Preparing for Storms
Perhaps the most common weather phenomenon construction crews have to navigate is storms. Regardless of type, they can significantly impact traction and scaffold stability. Slipping and falling or being struck by hail or lightning are all very real threats during a storm. Construction teams and others working with a scaffold must be prepared to deal with these situations.
As with all weather phenomena, there are steps you can take before and during the event to mitigate risk and keep people safe. However, these steps vary depending on the intensity of the storm and the nature of the precipitation. Always defer to the decisions of a competent person, often a site engineer, so long as they are carrying out their duties responsibly and prioritizing safety.
Safety begins far before the storm clouds form. The scaffold on your site should always adhere to Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards, and everyone using the scaffold should be trained and equipped to interact with it properly. To avoid injuries, you should:
- Stabilize and secure the scaffold before use.
- Know how much weight the scaffold can support.
- Be mindful of the weight of tools and personal protective equipment while climbing and working.
- Check the weather before working.
- Use handrails and guardrails.
- Maintain three points of contact with the scaffold while working, either two feet and a hand or two hands and a foot.
- Invest in fall arrest systems, like harnesses, to prevent injury or death due to falls.
- Monitor for lightning and inclement weather.
- Only use the scaffold for its intended purpose.
- Regularly inspect scaffold for damage and instability, especially after storms.
These precautions contribute to a safer work environment under normal circumstances, but more action is needed to deal with storms. Depending on the severity of the storm, it may be necessary to stop working until it has passed and the scaffold has been inspected.
Lightning and Hail
Every year, around 50 people are struck and killed by lightning. Construction workers utilizing a scaffold are particularly at risk. The exposed position necessitated by the work is a perfect storm for lightning strikes. This risk is compounded by the fact that a scaffold is partially made of metal components, which can conduct and attract lightning, especially when in an elevated position.
Because much construction work is conducted outdoors, hail also poses an enormous problem. Personal protective equipment may offer some level of protection, but it is not enough to prevent injury or even death in some cases. You’re also far more likely to be struck by multiple chunks of hail than you are by multiple bolts of lightning, decreasing the efficacy of protective equipment.
If lightning or hail occurs in your area, all operations should cease immediately. OSHA regulations regarding lightning state that it can strike outside the range of precipitation and even after a storm seems to have passed. If possible, you should retreat inside a building. If none are nearby, getting into a metal vehicle with rolled-up windows is preferred to standing around outside or beneath something like a tent or tree. From there, defer to your company’s safety plan and the word of the competent person on-site.
Working in the Rain
Rain is perhaps the most deceptive product of storms. Relative to hail or flashes of lightning, it doesn’t seem like a big deal, but that is exactly what makes it dangerous. Slippery surfaces can easily catch workers off-guard if not taken seriously as a threat. Here are some ways you can fight against rain hazards in construction:
- Wear boots with enhanced grips for traction.
- Install nonslip boards on the scaffold.
- Prop the scaffold feet up on wooden boards to prevent them from sinking into mud when working on dirt.
- Always utilize handrails and maintain three points of contact with the scaffold.
- Wear a harness if you aren’t already.
- Make sure all employees are trained properly.
- Ascend and descend with caution.
- Stay up to date with storm warnings in your area.
- Cease work should rain escalate.
- Defer to the safety decisions of a competent person on-site.
Site safety should be the top priority of all workers and management. It is always preferable to avoid working under these conditions, and work should stop immediately should precipitation, wind or cold reach dangerous levels. Rain should not be confused with hurricane conditions. Should a hurricane watch or warning occur, be prepared to cease work immediately and follow your company’s evacuation plan and instructions from local authorities.
Staying Safe in the Face of Strong Winds
Like rain, wind can seem harmless, but it can reach speeds of 155 miles per hour in the worst conditions. OSHA advises that work ceases in high wind conditions unless a competent person says otherwise. The effects of wind can be mitigated through the use of scaffold containment and fall arrest systems, but no one should be working in high winds or storms. Wind screens and other containment methods should only be employed after the scaffold is secured to a structure.
Best Practices for Snow and Ice
Icy conditions present multiple challenges to scaffold work beyond just slippery surfaces. Snow and ice add extra weight to the entire structure, potentially compromising its stability and the total weight of workers and equipment it can accommodate. They also obscure the work, making it harder to see and interact with equipment and the structure itself.
When dealing with snow and ice, you should:
- Wear gloves, head warmers and extra layers to protect from the cold.
- Remove snow and ice from the scaffold wherever possible while being mindful of those below.
- Erect coverings to prevent snow accumulation.
- Utilize railings, three-point contact and fall arrest systems to mitigate slips and falls.
Cold temperatures are also a potentially deadly threat to consider, especially when working in the air, where wind speeds can pick up significantly. Hypothermia, frostbite and other conditions can easily take hold when working in cold and wet circumstances. It is important to consider how wind chills affect the temperature and prioritize worker comfort and safety.
Keep Your Scaffold Safer With Champion Scaffold Services Inc.
Safety is a serious business, and we know how important it is to you and those you work with. When you rent a scaffold from Champion Scaffold Services, you’ll gain access to our weather protection and containment services if requested. Our professional, OSHA-compliant team has been serving the Greater Bay Area, Southern California and Nevada since 2009, so you can trust that we have the experience to help secure your scaffold and protect workers in local conditions.
Call us at (510) 788-4731 or fill out our contact form to discuss a custom quote with an expert today.
