Initial Setup

• When setting up scaffold for the first time, great care must be taken to make sure that the first setup is done correctly. The first inspection should occur before the equipment is set up. Then once the scaffold units are properly installed, the scaffolding is inspected again. This means that all upright pieces are plumb (they need to be checked with a four-foot level) and all horizontal planking is in good condition ( no cracks or damaged boards). Of utmost importance are the feet that the entire scaffold network rests on. The metal feet must sit squarely on wood blocks that are secure and will not move while workers climb up and down the scaffold. For added safety, scaffold units that are adjacent at right angles can be wired together so that they act as one unit. All these things must be in order before workers can ascend the scaffolding and begin their job. For a complete list of safety items, consult the checklists listed in the Reference section.
  
  

Daily Inspections

• Every morning the whole scaffold needs to be inspected for places where the scaffold may have shifted or moved to create an unstable situation. One of the most common trouble spots are the blocks of wood located at the base of the unit. Check to make sure each metal leg sits safely on a block of wood that will not crack or move. These need to be double-checked not only first thing every morning but throughout the day, as well.
  
  

Heads-up All The Time

• Throughout the duration of the job all components need to be looked at from time to time. One of the most overlooked areas of concern and sometimes the most prone to cause major accidents are not the metal scaffold units, but the wood planks which span the individual eight-foot units that make up the scaffold. All planking should 2-by-10 or 2-by-12 in size and be without any visual signs of damage. Also, all workers need to be aware that they are safest when they work from separate boards.
  
  In reality, working from a scaffold is much safer and efficient than working off a ladder and with a good sense of awareness by all workers, major accidents can be completely avoided.