How to improve your scaffolding safety knowledge during lockdown

Every industry throughout the world is currently impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, not least the scaffolding industry.

When it comes to scaffolding professionals, both beginners and experienced, training is vitally important at every stage of a Scaffolders’ career. Current circumstances have effectively put a stop to any face-to-face training courses, but now is an ideal time for all workers to refresh the knowledge that is specific to their vocation.

Whilst practical training has been curtailed for the time being, there are many resources available that will allow you to continue growing and refreshing your scaffolding and general safety knowledge.

Online scaffolding guidance

We’ve listed below a few of the freely available online resources that are available, Not only will they help alleviate the lockdown boredom, they’ll keep you refreshed and ready to resume when the lockdown is relaxed.

SIMIAN

As the UK’s leading providers of scaffolding training and consultancy services, here at SIMIAN we have an ever-growing variety of free training resources available to Scaffolders and others working in the industry, at the resources section of our website. These include videos, toolbox talks and briefing documents, covering topics ranging from scaffold design and weather considerations to scaffolding hand over and anchor tie testing.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, we have been busy producing a series of virtual training courses and these are available here.

HSE

The Health and Safety Executive website provides a treasure trove of guidance for many different aspects of health and safety, including extensive work at height guidance. Visit the HSE’s scaffolding microsite. Elsewhere on the HSE’s website, you’ll find a whole host of construction and work at height-related guidance that is available for free download.

NASC

The National Access and Scaffolding Confederation’s (NASC) website contains a vast array of useful resources, both in the form of videos and PowerPoint presentations, in addition to their well renowned suite of scaffolding-specific guidance documents, including SG4, SG6 and TG4, etc.

NASC has also released guidance for those carrying out scaffolding activity during the pandemic. Click here for more.

ScaffMag

Whilst not necessarily a place to source scaffolding training guidance, ScaffMag is ideal for keeping up to date with the industry as a whole. This will not only include information on COVID-19, but also relevant industry news and innovations. Find ScaffMag here.