Reducing Fall Risk on Multi-Story Siding Projects
Falls are the leading cause of fatalities in construction. According to OSHA, falls account for roughly one-third of all construction deaths each year and siding work on multi-story structures is one of the highest-risk tasks a crew can take on. Unstable platforms, shifting ladders, and improvised work surfaces put workers in precarious positions dozens of feet off the ground, often for hours at a time. The good news: most fall incidents on siding jobs are preventable. They’re typically the result of inadequate equipment, poor setup practices, or the wrong scaffolding system for the job. Understanding the risks, and choosing the right platform, can make the difference between a clean, safe project and a tragedy. Why Multi-Story Siding Work Is Uniquely Dangerous Unlike roofing, which keeps workers in a more predictable zone, siding requires workers to move continuously across the entire face of a structure, horizontally and vertically, while carrying materials,