Scaffold Safety

BY KURT FIDDELKE SAFETY CONSULTANT

At CSSI, we have a proactive pursuit toward enhancing our expertise and knowledge in highrisk tasks through high level technical training, either through additional certifications or vendor partnerships. I was provided the opportunity to apply my 17 years of construction experience along with my 12 years of safety experience in the agricultural retail business by completing the STI (Scaffold Training Institute) five module scaffold train the trainer course in Houston, Texas.

STI has been around for over 25 years. John Palmer, STI’s founder, and owner, has been erecting scaffolds since 1969. He owned a very successful scaffold company out of Houston for over 25 years before he formed STI. He has designed and built scaffolds all over the United States and around the world. Today, STI not only trains scaffold trainers but also consults all over the world for different scaffolding projects. It was the combination of experience in the field, trainer and curriculum development that we at CSSI pursued STI as our provider for curriculum by completing their train the trainer course. Through completion of the training at STI, I was instructed how to design, assemble, assign load ratings, and inspect and dismantle the 3 most common scaffold types. I also learned the specific OSHA regulations about the 25 different types of scaffolds that can be used. We did 3 days of hands-on building of Frame Scaffold, System Scaffold, and Tube and Coupler Scaffold and the advantages and disadvantages of each. With 2 days of class, we also learned how to properly conduct an inspection, and calculate live loads and dead loads on scaffolds up to 125 feet tall. There are ways the scaffold workers do things because that is the way they were taught. It does not mean they are safe or stay within OSHA guidelines. These hazards can be eliminated with education and training.

32

OSHA Regulation 1926.454 outlines specific requirements for the different levels associated with the scaffold. Depending if you are an erector/dismantler, user, competent person, or any combination, there are training requirements that must be met. With the knowledge I gained from this class, there is an opportunity to provide proper training. I have talked to masons who have been in the business for years and who did not know some basic knowledge and erection principles. That could be a contributing factor to the 4500 injuries and 60 deaths in the United States. Workers need to be given the chance to work safely with education and training. Employers are required to provide the proper training so the workers can work safely. CSSI/MBI saw the need for the training. I am proud to now be an authorized scaffold trainer. As I stated above, OSHA requires certain things to be taught depending on your job with scaffold. We have classes for the erector/dismantler, users, and competent person inspection that will meet all of OSHA’s requirements. CSSI is pleased to be able to offer this specialized and important training to the industry. It’s not safety first, it’s safety always! And remember, your main job of the day is to go home safe at night. Everything else that gets accomplished is a bonus.

Iowa's Resource for Premium Safety Services

Construction Safety Specialists, Inc. (CSSI) is available to provide not only safety services, such as job site visits, but is also able to assess your company's overall risk management strategies. CSSI professionals believe that a safe worksite is only part of an overall safety equation. Moreover, CSSI is positioned to work with companies and clients to make institutional changes that impact company behavior. This is where CSSI can be most effective and beneficial to construction companies.

CSSI is unique to any other service in the Iowa construction safety market. The way CSSI approaches risk management first comes from its diverse make-up of a team of construction professionals with a wide array of past experiences in the industry.

JOE MELTON

Director of Operations Joe@IowaCSSI.com

BRANDON BLACK

Senior Safety Consultant Brandon@IowaCSSI.com

KURT FIDDELKE

Safety Consultant Kurt@IowaCSSI.com

KIM HODNE

Safety Consultant Kim@IowaCSSI.com

CHRIS PANKOW

Safety Consultant Chris@IowaCSSI.com

33 To learn more about the various safety services offered by CSSI, please visit: WWW.IOWACSSI.COM