When scaffolds are not upright or used properly, falls can occur. Protecting workers from scaffold-related accidents would prevent many deaths and more than 4,000 injuries each year.
Willie's Story
Willie, a construction worker, fell 20 feet from an unsecured scaffold. He had been helping to install metal frames on the outer wall of a residential building when the accident happened. The leaning scaffold was not tied off and had been moving away from the building while Willie was working. He fell to the ground, hitting his head on the second story, and died.
- Why did this tragedy happen? How could it have been prevented?
- Have you ever fallen from scaffolding and been injured, or have you heard of anyone who has?
Remember This
- Make sure scaffolding is properly tied off before beginning work.
- Always access the scaffolding using ladders, stair towers or ramps.
- Use only scaffold-grade lumber as scaffold planks.
- Make sure guardrails and toeboards are installed on all scaffolding 10 or more feet above the ground.
- Check with your supervisor to make sure the scaffold is able to support four times the maximum intended load (including the weight of the scaffold).
- Check with your supervisor to make sure the scaffold is level and plumb by using screw jacks on base plates and mudsills.
- Keep scaffold within 14 inches of the building.