Swing-stage platforms need proper installation and use.
WorkSafeBC occupational hygiene officer Kimiko Banati and occupational safety officer Ronald Schouten helped set up this teachable glazing scenario. We’ve listed just some of the many issues found here. Swing-stage platforms like the one pictured are complex. If you have questions about properly setting one up, call our Prevention Information Line at 1.888.621.SAFE to speak to a safety officer.
The swing stage
• The worker on the right of the swing stage is not wearing a hard hat.
• The worker on the right has safety eyewear, but it’s hanging on his shirt instead of being worn on his face.
• Neither worker is wearing a fall protection harness correctly.
• Two fall protection lanyards are connected together by one guy.
• The lanyard is wrapped around the scaffold hoisting cable. Swing-stage platforms need proper installation and use
• The fall protection rope is wrapped around scaffold hoisting cable. • The excess rope hanging on scaffold could create slack line as scaffold is raised.
• Hoisting cable excess is wrapped in scaffold and could create a knot while raising and lowering the platform.
• The pendant control for the overhead crane hoist looks like it’s wrapped through the scaffold platform.
• There is electrical cable wrapped around the scaffold platform and it may unplug when the scaffold is raised.
• The guardrail has not been raised to the correct height. • The operating controls are not clearly marked.
• The superstructure beam is not marked with a rated capacity.
• The swing-stage platform and hoist unit are not clearly marked with the weight of that component.
• One worker is already starting to activate the hoist on his end, while the other worker is still getting ready.
The ladder
• This worker is wearing a ball cap instead of a hard hat and is not wearing hand protection when working near or on a metal stud structure.
• The worker is not using a self-supporting ladder in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
• The ladder is not at the correct angle of 75 degrees from the horizontal plane.
• The ladder is not secured against inadvertent movement on a slippery surface.
• The worker is carrying a large, bulky item up the ladder.
• The shed does not appear to be secured to prevent movement. This makes it unstable for supporting a ladder
Contest Winner
“The winners of our September/October edition of “What’s wrong with this photo?” are the workers at Dynamic Attractions in Port Coquitlam, B.C. Safety coordinator Sasan Tahvili sent in the following response on the team’s behalf.”
Our main finding about this worksite is the lack of supervision and proper communication. The two workers on the platform don’t seem to communicate. While one is still working on his fall protection, it seems the other one is going to push the button to move the platform.
The worksite
• The ladder is leaned against a structure on wheels. Ladder tops must rest against a firm structure.
• The stepladder is being used as a straight ladder. The stepladder should be used as a stepladder, fully opened, spreaders locked. The top of the ladder must be tied off to secure the ladder from slipping.
• An extension cord is hanging from the suspended work platform.
• The platform is on wheels. Those wheels should be locked when workers are on the platform.
• The platform doesn’t have its weight written on it. Having only the capacity rate is not adequate.
• One section of the guardrail on the left side of the platform is not fully up and doesn’t protect the left worker from the fall
• It seems the guardrail on the back side of the platform is not all the way up.
• The hoist doesn’t have its WLL written on it.
• The hook from an overhead crane is hanging at a very low height.
• There is a hard hat on the floor of the platform, which creates a tripping hazard. This is not a proper way of maintaining personal safety equipment.
The workers
• All of these workers should wear safety glasses on this worksite.
• The worker carrying a window frame should wear gloves.
• No one should carry objects while climbing the ladder. The worker should maintain three points of contact.
• A hard hat should be required for all of these workers on this worksite. Baseball caps or bump caps are not considered appropriate head protection.
• The left worker on the platform doesn’t seem to have properly tied off his fall protection.
• The worker on the right has attached two lanyards to each other.
• A full-body harness with front D-ring should be used with vertical lifelines.
• Have these workers inspected the vertical lifelines for cuts, abrasions, or any deformities?
• The lifeline on the left side of the platform seems to be on the floor and not connected.
• One end of the lifeline on the right is on the platform corner. That end should be suspended.
• Do the lifelines have all the required labels? All labels must be present and fully legible.