Thankfully, the COVID-19 pandemic is getting more under control, and people everywhere can start thinking about a return to normal. The work from home revolution has been big for businesses and workers everywhere, though returning to the office will still happen for most of us.

However, just because some of us are returning to the workplace, that doesn’t mean we can’t stop being vigilant. As a business owner or employee, you must ensure you stay as safe as possible.

So, how do you ensure returning to work after COVID is safe? What is the latest return to work office guidelines, and how do labels and signs help with this? More...

Scaffolding is an essential part of modern construction. The practice has been used as far back as ancient Greece, but in modern times, it is thankfully much safer than its origins.

These days, there are stringent regulations for constructing and dismantling scaffolding, as well as a list of very specific materials to be used.

There is also a range of signs, labels and other pieces of equipment to help with the organisation of scaffolding, such as scaffold safety banners. Scaffold safety banners display a range of health and safety guidance, helping to keep workers safe.

Discover all you need to know about scaffolding safety requirements and the role of scaffolding safety banners below.

Scaffold Regulations Safety Requirements

Safety scaffolding requirements can be broken up into three categories: design, supervision and inspection. There are regulations for each of these steps.

Scaffold Design

Under the Work at Height Regulations 2005, a scaffold must be erected and designed to a set standard. These standards state that all scaffolding must:

• Appease the tube guidance outlined in NASC Technical Guidance TG20.
• Have a bespoke design and calculation.
• Have adequate strength, rigidity and stability.
• Be constructed by a “competent person”.

Essentially, all scaffolding must use the correct materials, be created specifically for its use and by someone who is trained.

Scaffold Supervision

As we’ve mentioned, everyone involved in constructing scaffolding should be trained. However, as an additional safety measure, these trained people must be supervised by at least one other professional.

At a minimum, another professional must check every scaffold gang after it has been constructed. All stages of the scaffolding – from construction to dismantling – must be supervised by a trained individual.

Details on supervision and the regulations around it can be found via the Construction Industry Scaffolders Record Scheme (CIRS).

Scaffold Inspection

The inspection of scaffolding by the supervisor needs to be comprehensive. All scaffolding should be inspected:

• Before and after installation.
• Checked regularly, with no more than 7 days between inspections.
• Directly following circumstances that may impact the scaffolding (poor weather, high winds, slips, etc.)

The baseline of scaffold health and safety is checking. There must always be a process whereby scaffolding is consistently reviewed at all key stages.

What Are Scaffold Safety Banners?

Scaffold safety banners can help ensure the above safety measures are followed. In total, scaffold safety banners can:

• Display health and safety information.
• List requirements for PPE.
• List prohibited people.

You cannot underrate the importance of keeping staff informed through banners and notices, plus, at Label Source, you will be getting banners protected with PVC and high-quality metal eyelets.

Scaffold safety banners help you fulfil safety obligations, safeguard workers, and mitigate legal and financial liabilities. What’s more, they contribute to hazard awareness, helping employees navigate on-site hazards related to the scaffolding. 

Safety scaffolding signs are paramount for reducing accidents. Whether notifying employees that scaffolding is incomplete or warning pedestrians to keep out of the construction zone, the right scaffold banners can save lives in extreme circumstances.

How to Stay Safe Using Scaffolding

When it comes to using scaffolding safely, there are scaffold requirements you should fulfil to ensure you’re engaging with it properly. These may include:

• Providing and/or undergoing proper training
• Wearing the correct PPE
• Using safety belts and lanyards while on the scaffolding
• Ensuring planking is secure
• Being aware of other workers both above and below you on the scaffolding
• Raising and lowering materials safely, by hoist, hand, or debris chute
• Not overloading the scaffold
• Being mindful of which parts of the scaffold should be stood on

Of course, one of the most important parts of scaffolding safety is ensuring everything is signposted correctly for ease of communication and understanding. 

Browse Our Range

Our scaffold safety banner range is resistant to all types of weather, and ready for multiple uses without sacrificing quality. Browse the site safety notices available today.

Utilities are a cornerstone of modern life. From water to electricity to fuel, utility workers keep essential services running. For this reason, utility safety is very important to keep workers and bystanders safe, as well as to maintain essential services.

Utility safety notices help to this end, ensuring professionals can work safely and ensuring bystanders give workers peace. However, how should these safety notices be used? What are the aspects of utility safety?

Learn all about utility safety and notices below. More...

At Label Source, we stock a wide range of warning tapes. To the untrained eye, most of these warning tapes look the same, but they are subtly different.

Detectable warning tape is one unique option that has separate properties compared to other tapes. However, why are the detectable warning tape specifications different, and what purpose does the tape serve? More...

The world of health and safety continues to evolve as we know more about the effects certain things have on our bodies. Putting in place the right preventative measures can help avoid costly accidents to businesses and employees alike.

Lifting heavy loads is no exception to this. When done without the proper technique, it can be very dangerous. That’s why we’ve outlined the correct lifting procedure, so you know how to lift an object with significant weight correctly, every time. 

How to Lift Heavy Objects Safely

Following these tips will help you avoid manual handling risks like putting pressure or strain on the lower back and spinal discs when lifting heavy loads.

Keep a wide support base

• Always keep your feet shoulder-width apart, with one foot slightly ahead of the other to improve balance.

 Squat 

• Bending at the hips and knees only as you squat down, put one knee on the floor with the other out in front of you if needed.

Maintain good posture 

• Looking straight ahead, keep your back straight, chest pushed out with your shoulder back

Lift slowly

•  Straighten your hips and knees while bearing the weight, keeping your back straight, avoiding twisting as you lift.

Holding the load

• Keep the heavy load as close to your body as possible, in line with your belly button.

Changing direction

• Use your feet to change direction, only taking small steps at a time.

Lead with the hips

• When you need to change direction, be sure to keep your shoulders and hips aligned, avoiding twisting the upper or lower parts of the body on their own.

Setting down

• Place the heavy load down carefully, repeating what you did to pick it up, squatting with the knees and hips only.

Lifting Positions That Should Be Avoided

Bending Forward

Never lift by just bending forward. When squatting, bend your hips and knees enough to allow you to reach the angle needed to lift the heavy load.

Above the Shoulders

Always avoid lifting heavy loads above the shoulders, keeping it in line with your belly button. Doing this puts your rotator cuff (a series of muscles and tendons in your arm and shoulder) at risk of being torn.

Twisting the Body

Avoid twisting any part of your body when bearing the heavy load, taking small steps to change direction. Overstretching and overtwisting can lead to muscle spasms. You should always stand straight, facing forward, and turn with your feet wherever you need to go.

Manual Handling Risk

Lifting things manually comes with several risks to your physical health. Most commonly, these injuries take the form of sprains, strains, fractures and bruises. However, repeated incorrect manual handling could lead to more serious injuries like back and neck injuries, musculoskeletal disorders, and potential crush injuries that arise from slips, trips and falls.

How Labels Can Help

Label Source’s manual handling signs are designed to avoid the potential injuries that can occur when heavy lifting. All our manual handling signs comply with the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 Act and can be used to:

• Highlight heavy loads
• Specify safe lifting procedures
• Recommend the use of handling aids (e.g. forklifts)
• Identify the 'heavy end' of a load

Get Your Manual Handling Signs Today

At Label Source, we make sure all our products are durable, reliable and visible enough to help avoid injuries at work. View our selection of manual handling signs and labels today.