More and more contractors are discovering that scaffolding equipment is versatile enough to be used on a large variety of jobs. Also, growing numbers of homeowners are renting the equipment for use on their own projects.
Today, scaffolding is widely used on jobs that traditionally were done with ladders, such as painting and exterior home repair. With this expanding market comes a need for increased emphasis on scaffolding safety.
"Unlike contractors, homeowners generally do not own scaffolding," says Marty Coughlin of Waco Scaffolding and Equipment, Cleveland. "Therefore, a rental center's sales staff should insist on providing complete systems, including all of the safety rails, full decking and adjusting screws."
Training of the rental staff is essential to ensure safety awareness in customers. Sales personnel should have a thorough understanding of scaffolding equipment and the safety procedures to follow when using the equipment to avoid any potential dangers. Rental staff should provide written safety instructions and warnings along with a detailed explanation of erection procedures. The sales staff should be comfortable that each customer fully understands the proper erection and safe use of scaffolding products.
Provide customers with an outline of OSHA's regulations for use of scaffolding equipment. While contractors are familiar with OSHA, it may be a new term to the unseasoned homeowner. Especially relevant to the untrained scaffolding user would be regulations on maximum loads and prohibited use during inclement weather. For certain jobs, rental staff will want to inform customers when additional safety equipment is required by OSHA codes, such as access ramps or stairways and guardrails.
Customers will look to sales staff for recommendations; therefore, rental centers must know where scaffolding is an appropriate alternative to other access equipment. Many customers, especially homeowners, need to be educated on the different jobs that would benefit from the use of scaffolding, as well as the cost-efficiency of the equipment. Ultimately, the more the customer knows about scaffolding equipment, its applications and costs, the more confident the decision-making process becomes.
The Scaffolding Industry Association and the Scaffolding Training Institute offer complete training programs that meet OSHA's regulations and safety codes. Contact SIA at 818/786-3027 for information or visit its Web site (www.scaffold.org).
