Forest Electric has a major job at 811 10th Avenue. The job has a maximum manpower of around 20 workers, who are replacing indoor lighting on multiple floors. There is also work on the roof. One of the major hazards on the roof is the GC installed a multi-level supported scaffold. The lighting on each floor has us working from ladders and lifts to reach some of the work areas. We must inspect our ladders and lifts prior to use and sign off on tags.
There are three types of scaffolds: supported, suspended, and other types of scaffolds. Supported scaffolds are one or more platforms supported by rigid, load-bearing members, such as poles, legs, and frames. Unstable objects or devices may not be used in supporting the scaffold at any time. The GC has installed guard rails and toe board throughout the scaffold. The floor is fully planked with metal studs through the scaffold as well.
We will be running conduit and installing lights on multiple levels on the scaffold. In some areas, we will be working from ladders on the scaffold because there is no other way to access the work area. In cases where we must work on the scaffold from the ladders, we must use fall protection. We set our workers up with a beam strap and retractable harness to ensure our workers don’t fall from the scaffold. We also must inspect the scaffold prior to use each day and sign off the inspection tag.
Contributed by John Lambertson, Forest Electric Safety Manager, CSP, DOB SSM