Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety
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What should you do when working on a suspended platform?
What should you not do?
What should you do when working on a suspended platform? - Ensure that platform is installed and maintained according to job requirements, safety regulations, standards and the manufacturer's specifications.
- Inspect all equipment before erecting and before each shift.
- Use a separate safety harness attached to an independent life line for each worker. Maintain lanyard attachment at highest point possible.
- Ensure that suspended platform roof beams and attachments are secure.
- Ensure that the roof or parapet wall is structurally sound to support either outriggers or cornice hooks.
- Check for kinked or damaged ropes.
- Secure all ropes at anchor ends.
- Ensure that all safety equipment, stops, override switches and brakes function properly.
- Prevent contact between welding or grinding equipment and wire safety or suspension ropes.
- Secure hand tools to the platform.
- Ensure that power source is secured and properly grounded.
- Secure platform when not in use.
- Ensure that guardrails and toe boards are in place.
- Extend suspension ropes completely to the ground or terminate with wire rope clips to prevent the stage from running off the end of the ropes.
- Test by raising the fully loaded platform a few feet off the ground before going aloft.
What should you not do?- Do not exceed platform load capacity.
- Do not enter or leave the platform other than at ground level or at other safe access points.
- Do not allow electric cables or connections to lie in gutters or other areas where water can collect.
- Do not work near exposed electrical circuits or equipment.
- Do not join platforms unless they are designed for this purpose.
- Do not use damaged or defective equipment.
- Do not alter, substitute or remove components of platform.
- Do not use life line for raising or lowering tools or materials.
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Document last updated on December 17, 2002
Copyright ©1997-2012 Canadian Centre for Occupational Health & Safety
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