Scaffolding is one of most important tools in real estate and other types of construction. For anything to be built, it has to be done properly. This can be done in many different ways, but scaffolding is almost always present there. It doesn’t matter whether you work for a construction company, for yourself, or if you’re doing a DIY job, you have to get to know scaffolding, what it is made up of, and how it works. Scaffolding is dangerous if not used properly, which is another reason why you should properly acquaint yourself with the key features of construction towers. Doing so may just save your life.

Thinking about the Platform

In order for scaffolding towers to be safe, the platform has to be just right. There has to be a stable and firm plane for the scaffold to be erected on. If this platform is made from soil, then the experts have to firstly make sure that it is able to hold the structure without subsiding once erected an in use. The platform is perhaps the most important feature of a scaffolding structure of all, as important as a building’s foundation. Without a solid foundation, you basically don’t have a safe construction.

Thinking about Guard Rails and Ladders

You also have to consider how the ladders and rails are constructed. These are very important for the safety of the workers and must comply with OSHA standards. The rails have to meet certain measurements and the ladders have to be inspected first to make sure they fit properly. The height of guard rails, for instance, has to be near 45 inches at all times. Ladders, meanwhile, cannot have a gap large than 10 inches to the top most point of the rest of the construction. Once you know that all of this is in place, you have to start thinking about the strength of the structure itself.

Aluminum Is Best

The majority of scaffolding towers now rely heavily on aluminum. It is very important that the construction is able to carry its own weight, that of the workers, and that of the materials that they carry. This is why a lot of companies now choose aluminum, which is known to be very strong. While traditional constructions would use galvanized steel poles, this is becoming less common. Aluminum is able to hold very high weights, more than most other materials can. As an added benefit, it is very lightweight and resistant to corrosion. These factors make it an ideal product.

These are just some of the details that you have to be aware of when it comes to scaffolding on the site of any construction business. You have to prioritize these issues, as they are the ones most related to keeping the structure itself safe. Once you know the structure is safe, you have to make sure that those who use it also know how to maintain their own safety and that of others in the vicinity. Put together, you should be able to avoid any of the often fatal scaffolding accidents.