Optimal safety within the construction industry

Safety in construction in full swing 
Increasing safety in construction has been in the spotlight quite a bit lately. And that is actually not at all remarkable, considering the large number of accidents that occur on and around construction sites. But do-it-yourselfers also get into accidents on a regular basis, due to unsafe use of machinery, falls or because they don't use or don't use enough protective equipment while doing jobs.

Falls and other rolling scaffold accidents 
Falls in particular appear to be a major cause of unsafety in construction. With the rolling scaffold in the lead. Rolling scaffolds are sometimes seen as harmless. But this idea is unjustified: mobile scaffolds can be up to twenty meters high and every year there are about 35 serious accidents with mobile scaffolds in the Netherlands, which unfortunately result in 1 to 2 fatalities every year. Reason enough to handle scaffolding carefully in the construction industry. Besides the danger of falling due to hasty and careless use, the toppling of scaffolding is a risk. Furthermore, accidents are caused by piles falling off scaffolds and hitting passersby or construction workers.

Be observant when using old rolling scaffolds and purchasing new ones
As a construction company or handyman, it is important to put existing scaffolding next to the new regulations. Sometimes they can be quickly converted to meet the new regulations. But that is not true for all mobile scaffold. Should you be planning to buy new scaffolding, always check carefully in advance that the scaffolding to be purchased complies with the new, stricter safety requirements of the Inspectorate SZW.

Since 2018, stricter regulations apply when erecting and using mobile scaffolding
Due to the dozens of accidents that occur every year with mobile scaffolding, the Inspectorate SZW introduced new, stricter rules for the use of mobile scaffolds starting January 1, 2018. Since then, mobile scaffolds must meet stricter safety requirements, both in terms of assembly and during use. The most important adjustment to the rules has to do with the edge protection of scaffolding. Before the construction worker moves to the next platform, edge protection - at least at hip height - must be in place. Furthermore, new erection instructions have been formulated to ensure that scaffolds are more stable on the ground and are always firmly anchored to prevent the scaffold from toppling over. Inspectorate SZW will use spot checks to check whether construction companies are following the stricter safety rules.