Safety is the most important factor when it comes to construction sites. Scaffolding poses a huge risk to the safety of your employees, especially in the winter weather.
Rain can cause a number of safety issues with scaffolding. Wet weather can make the scaffolding slippery, increasing the likelihood of falls and injury. If scaffolders are going to work in the rain, there are a few things you’ll need to ensure to keep your team safe in all kinds of weather.
These are some of the top considerations you should keep top of mind if you have scaffolders working during rainy weather.
Regularly inspect your scaffolding
When it comes to keeping yourself and your employees safe, you should be regularly inspecting your scaffolding to ensure it is compliant and safe. Some things you’ll want to look out for are overall stability and any possible slipping hazards.
You want to check the scaffold fittings closely to ensure they aren’t loose. You’ll also want to keep an eye on any damaged components and make sure you secure your base plates correctly.
Keep an eye on the weather
If the weather is particularly bad, you may want to call off any work at height for the day. This may be the safest choice, especially if you are experiencing particularly harsh winds, heavy and persistent rain or heavy snowfall.
When it comes to your worker’s safety, calling off work may be the best option, even if it puts you slightly behind schedule.
Ensure it’s non-slip
One of the single most important things you can do for your scaffolding, especially in the wet weather, is to ensure there are non-slip surfaces. Ensure the flooring of the scaffolding is adequately prepared to deal with the rain by using flat, sturdy wood and non-slip finishes where anyone will be walking.
Ensuring that your scaffolding is non-slip means that in the rain or after the rain when your employee’s boots are wet, they will not slip on the scaffolding and injure themselves or others.
Waterproof gear is key
Something that is commonly forgotten when debating how to safely navigate scaffolding in the rain is the need for waterproof, warm clothing. Particularly when you’re in the UK, the rainy months tend to be the coldest, and keeping your employees safe extends beyond just structural safety.
Ensure your team takes extra precautions in the wet and the cold by encouraging them to layer up and wear waterproof gear so that they don’t get ill from the cold, wet, rainy weather.
Invest in safety harnesses
If your scaffolding is at a substantial height, or if it’s particularly poor weather conditions, you may want to invest in safety harnesses for your team members. While safety harnesses won’t protect your workers from slips in the rain, they can reduce the risk of falls, which needs to be taken incredibly seriously, especially when working at height.
Barricade the area
You want to ensure that there is no risk of anyone bumping, knocking or moving the scaffolding, especially during wet weather, so setting up barricades around the scaffolding base is always a good idea.
Doing this can add an extra layer of protection for your employees so that there is less risk of external factors causing the scaffolding to move or become unstable.
Most importantly, be careful
The number one most important thing for anyone undertaking any work on scaffolding during the rain is to be incredibly cautious. You want to make sure that you are climbing the scaffolding and walking along the scaffolding carefully and that you aren’t rushing – especially in the wet.
Make sure you use the handrails and guardrails at all times, as even experienced scaffolders can have mishaps when weather conditions aren’t ideal.
Ensure your scaffolding is safe and secure and that your staff are all up to speed on relevant safety precautions during the wet to mitigate any potential risks.
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