Scaffolding, as a core temporary facility in construction, is highly susceptible to safety hazards after severe weather such as heavy rain, strong winds, snow, and severe convection. These hazards include foundation settlement, corrosion of structural members, and loosening of connectors. Directly putting scaffolding back into use after such weather could lead to major accidents such as collapses and falls. Therefore, a comprehensive and systematic safety inspection of the scaffolding must be conducted after severe weather to ensure there are no hidden dangers before resuming work. This article details the safety inspection process for scaffolding after severe weather, covering pre-inspection preparation, core inspection dimensions, and problem-solving principles, to safeguard construction safety.A Comparison of Long-Term Costs of Ocean Freight and Packaging Requirements for Scaffolding in International Logistics
Two key preparations are necessary before the inspection to ensure accuracy and safety. First, the timing of the inspection must be clearly defined. Inspections should only be conducted after the severe weather has completely ended, the wind force has dropped below level 6, and visibility meets operational requirements. It is strictly forbidden to conduct inspections when the weather is unstable. Simultaneously, all scaffolding-related work must be suspended before the inspection, a warning area must be established, and unauthorized personnel must be prohibited from entering. Secondly, ensure all necessary inspection tools and protective equipment are readily available. Tools include measuring tapes, torque wrenches, levels, and hammers, used to check dimensional deviations, the tightness of connectors, and the verticality of members. Protective equipment must include safety helmets, safety belts, non-slip shoes, and reflective vests. When inspecting high-altitude areas, temporary safety walkways must be erected to prevent personnel from falling.What Risks and Inspection Points Should Be Noted When Purchasing Used Scaffolding?
Core Inspection Dimension One: Foundation and Base – Building a Solid Safety Foundation. The foundation is the load-bearing core of the scaffolding. Severe weather can easily lead to foundation erosion, settlement, or frost heave. Inspection points include: checking for water accumulation or erosion pits in the scaffolding foundation; if water is present, it must be drained promptly, and erosion pits must be backfilled and compacted with gravel or concrete; using a level to check if the base is level and to determine if the foundation has settled; if the base tilts more than 3‰ or the settlement is greater than 5cm, use must be stopped immediately and rectification must be carried out; after icy or snowy weather, check if the foundation has bulged due to frost heave, and whether there is any settlement rebound after thawing. Also, clear ice and snow around the base to prevent icing and slippage. In addition, check the connection between the base and the foundation to ensure it is secure, and check for loose or rusted anchor bolts. If necessary, use a torque wrench to verify the tightening torque.Where to Find Reliable International Scaffolding Suppliers
Core Inspection Dimension Two: Members and Connectors – Investigate Structural Hazards. Members and connectors are the core load-bearing components of the scaffolding. Severe weather can easily cause member deformation and corrosion, and connectors to loosen or fall off. Inspection Points: Tap the members with a hammer and listen to the sound to determine if there are internal cracks (a crisp sound indicates integrity, a dull sound may indicate a crack). Also check the surface of the members for bending, dents, and corrosion. The corrosion depth should not exceed 10% of the member’s wall thickness; otherwise, it must be replaced. Pay special attention to the connection nodes of uprights, horizontal bars, and diagonal braces. Use a torque wrench to check the tightness of the fasteners, ensuring the fastener bolt torque reaches 40-65 N·m to avoid stripped threads or loose connections. After windy weather, it is necessary to especially check whether diagonal braces, scissor braces, and other reinforcing members are missing or loose to ensure the overall stability of the scaffolding. For new types of scaffolding such as portal frames and cup-lock scaffolds, it is also necessary to check whether the locking devices at the joints are intact to avoid locking failure.
Core Inspection Dimension Three: Protective Facilities and Accessories to Ensure Work Safety. Protective facilities are the last line of defense against falls. Severe weather can easily lead to damage to safety nets and loosening of guardrails. Inspection points: Check whether the scaffold boards are intact and firmly fixed, without damage or displacement; the overlap length of the scaffold boards must meet the specifications (not less than 10cm); check whether the guardrails are firm, whether the height meets the standard (the height of the guardrail at the working level is not less than 1.2m), and whether the spacing between the guardrail uprights exceeds 2m; check whether the safety net is damaged or detached, whether the mesh size meets the requirements, and whether the binding points are firm. After heavy rain, debris inside the safety net must be cleared to prevent water accumulation from causing damage to the net; after icy or snowy weather, ice and snow on the scaffold boards and guardrails must be cleared, and anti-slip agent must be applied to prevent workers from slipping. In addition, it is necessary to check whether the lifting equipment and temporary electrical facilities on the scaffolding are intact to avoid electrical failures or mechanical damage caused by severe weather.
Problem Handling and Follow-up Precautions: Safety hazards found during the inspection must be handled according to the principle of “rectification before use”. Minor hazards (such as loose fasteners or small amounts of unremoved snow) can be rectified immediately on-site, and verified to be qualified after rectification. Major hazards (such as foundation settlement, cracked members, or large-area damage to the protective netting) require immediate warning signs to be set up, scaffolding use to be stopped, a specific rectification plan to be developed, and rectification by professionals. After rectification, it must be inspected and approved by a third-party testing agency before work can resume. At the same time, an inspection log should be established to record the inspection time, inspectors, problems found, rectification measures, and acceptance results in detail for traceability. In addition, it is necessary to strengthen severe weather warnings and reinforce the scaffolding in advance (such as adding diagonal bracing and tightening connectors) to reduce the probability of hazards occurring.
In summary, safety inspections of scaffolding after severe weather should adhere to the principles of “comprehensive coverage, highlighting key areas, and checking the foundation first, then the structure,” systematically identifying potential hazards from core dimensions such as the foundation, structural members, and protective facilities. Only by strictly implementing the inspection process and promptly rectifying problems can the safety of the scaffolding be ensured after it is restored to use, preventing safety accidents caused by hazards left over from severe weather. For construction companies, establishing a routine inspection mechanism after severe weather is a crucial measure to ensure construction safety and improve project management.