7 Tips for Access Equipment Safety

Access equipment is very useful and essential to every efficient construction project. They allow workers to work in different places and heights, taking their equipment with them. Due to this, work is done more quickly and efficiently.

Most access equipment comes with rigid, stable construction with safety features. However, it still isn’t the safest place to be, especially at a height. Imagine being on a platform working on the 23rd floor of a skyscraper, you may think you’re safe, but it can all go wrong with one vital mistake.

Access equipment is safe if you know how to use it safely and properly, and here are some of the best tips to help you get the job done safely.

Frequent Inspection

As we said, access equipment is built with strong materials and can last a long time, but you can’t go wrong with the regular quick inspection before using the platform. While this may seem like a pain, it’s the safe thing to do that can potentially save your life in the long run.

Access platforms and ladders designed for construction use are durable, but they can also be damaged by corrosion, overuse, carrying too much weight, and other potential safety risks. So, the next time you send people on access platforms to work on a construction project, always remember to check if it’s safe enough for use.

If you see something wrong, then it’s best not to use it and have it checked by an engineer if it’s still safe for construction use.

Use Strong Railings

When working at a height, a simple misstep can result in a serious injury, which is why you need to make sure that you have railings to guard you in case of these kinds of situations.

Railings are a form of passive protection, which is a term used for safety systems designed for use without the need for human intervention.

While they can keep you safe, that won’t happen if your platforms have weak railings. To ensure safety and prevent freak accidents, look for strong railings when buying access platforms.

Don’t Forget About Training

While the purpose of access equipment is easy enough to understand, it’s almost always not as it seems. The design and purpose are simple, but these equipment are used in a high-workload and intensive environment, which can force mistakes even from the most experienced workers.

So, if you want you and your team to be safe doing your construction project, don’t forget that there are specialist training programs for different access equipment. Some of the training that your workers will need include:

• Training for working at height
• Low-level access training
• Static platform training

There are many other types of training that you can undergo, and it mostly depends on the equipment you’re using.

Choose The Right Equipment

To ensure safety and help boost your workers’ efficiency in doing their jobs, you need to make sure that you have the right access product for the tasks at hand. Manufacturers design access equipment with safety in mind, but some are designed for specific purposes and will be better in terms of safety.

For example, having a ladder that’s too short or too long will not only slow your workers down, it also comes with some unnecessary and highly preventable safety risks.

If you want to know if the equipment you currently have is safe, you can try reading the manufacturer’s manual on how to use the product and its restrictions.

Don’t Take Ladders Lightly

You might think that ladders are very safe and simple because you’ve been using them at home for a long time now. While that may be a bit true, it’s not the same when you talk about ladders in a construction setting.

Too many times, construction personnel take ladders lightly and don’t use them safely. Of course, too many times, it also results in injuries. Ladders, when taken lightly and use in an unsafe manner, can be dangerous.

To prevent injuries because of ladders, make sure to think about the task and if you need a ladder to do it. Also, make sure that your ladder has some extension past the point you need to reach, as it can give you extra space and also adds to ladder stability.

Most importantly, make sure to hold on to them properly. Always have three points of contact while climbing. It can be two feet and one hand or two hands and one foot, so you won’t get out of shape and fall.

Forget About Multitasking

When you’re doing a construction task, you don’t need to multitask. Focus on one job alone and do it with the best efficiency that you can. While multitasking may be tempting, it can lead to errors in judgment.

Also, when you’re doing multiple things at once, you get tired much easier. Fatigue and stress can negatively affect your mindset, and this can lead to misjudgments, which then can lead to freak accidents.

Don’t Take Access Equipment Safety For Granted