When scaffolds are not erected or used properly, fall hazards can occur, what are solutions to prevent these hazards?

Mr. Alex Has the correct answer

• Scaffold must be sound, rigid and sufficient to carry its own weight plus four times the maximum intended load without settling or displacement. It must be erected on solid footing.
• Unstable objects, such as barrels, boxes, loose bricks or concrete blocks must not be used to support scaffolds or planks.
• Scaffold must not be erected, moved, dismantled or altered except under the supervision of a competent person.
• Scaffold must be equipped with guardrails, midrails and toeboards.
• Scaffold accessories such as braces, brackets, trusses, screw legs or ladders that are damaged or weakened from any cause must be immediately repaired or replaced.
• Scaffold platforms must be tightly planked with scaffold plank grade material or equivalent.
• A "competent person" must inspect the scaffolding and, at designated intervals, reinspect it.
• Rigging on suspension scaffolds must be inspected by a competent person before each shift and after any occurrence that could affect structural integrity to ensure that all connections are tight and that no damage to the rigging has occurred since its last use.
• Synthetic and natural rope used in suspension scaffolding must be protected from heat-producing sources.
• Employees must be instructed about the hazards of using diagonal braces as fall protection.
• Scaffold can be accessed by using ladders and stairwells.
• Scaffolds must be at least10 feet from electric power lines at all times.

Scaffold and Fall Protection Basics

Designate a competent person to determine if the scaffold is safe to use

Inspect the scaffold and the worksite regularly

Make sure all scaffolds are fully planked and placed on a solid, level base

Check equipment

Erect guardrails and cover holes

Do not overload the scaffold or any component parts beyond their maximum capacity 

(their own weight and4:1 the maximum intended load)

Tie off

Follow manufacturers’ specifications

Maintain housekeeping

Report problems

Do not work until problems are corrected

1- must be designed by competent person 

2- must be tested before used 

3- use harness

Basically a scaffold is a temporary building, so ask for a calculation, this is law now a days in the Netherlands because of all the accidents with it. And all the economical reasons to make the scaffolding cheap.....

Go to basics, maybe your scaffolders are not competent and your scaffold materials were sub standard that's why it's not properly erected.  As to not properly used, then conduct safety training for scaffold use to the users.

Proper bolt fastening and bracing will ensure its rigidity and minimises fall hazards

Put all that are mentioned by Mr Alex in an SOP, create a checklist, provide awareness orientation to concern personnel and designate/assigned competent person to do the regular checking and monitoring. Better also to provide tagging to each erected scaffold that were qualified after inspection.

The best way is to teach the user on how to erect the scaffold on a flat and leveled ground, then how best to use the bracing and mostly minding the plump.

Scaffold must be sound, rigid and sufficient to carry its own weight plus four times the maximum intended load without settling or displacement