Patera carried out a scaffolding commissioning inspection for Varte Oy on a site with extensive weather protection. Smooth cooperation between Patera and Varte led to a continuous agreement. A scaffolding inspection by an external expert minimises the risk of an accident.
Varte Oy is a Finnish building construction company with more than 30 years of experience in diverse construction projects. Varte has completed apartment buildings, business premises, schools, daycare centres and industrial sites, for example.
A scaffolding commissioning inspection was Varte’s first experience of working with Patera.
Expert required in scaffolding inspection
Varte is satisfied with the commissioning inspection of the scaffolding carried out by Patera.
“It is good that professionals came to check the weather protection. There are guidelines and standards for scaffolding work, but we are not experts in the field, even though we operate in the construction industry”, says Timo Sollo, the senior supervisor at Varte.
The report prepared during the inspection indicated that the weather protection was not as planned.
According to Patera’s scaffolding safety expert Janne Parantainen, the situation is quite typical. At Patera, it has been found in scaffolding safety inspections that without external, professional scaffolding supervision, there are safety deficiencies in nine out of ten scaffoldings.
With the report, Varte gained a better understanding of the requirements and responsibilities related to scaffolding safety.
“It is often forgotten that the scaffolding client is responsible for its safety. This often only becomes relevant when an accident occurs and the authorities come to investigate the incident”, says Parantainen from Patera.
Cooperation between Varte and Patera in scaffolding safety continues
Often, the scaffolding contractor checks the compliance of the scaffolding themselves. This was also the case at Varte. In addition, regular occupational safety measurements are performed on sites, and scaffolding is inspected monthly by external inspectors. However, there is a need for Patera’s special expertise, as many factors affecting safety must be taken into account.
“Extensive weather protection has different things that need to be checked, such as lighting and the possibility of clearing snow. You don’t necessarily know all the things that must be taken into account”, Sollo says.
Weather protection involves many kinds of risks and potential threats to occupational safety. As in many other companies, the collapse of weather protection at Varte also led to increasing scaffolding supervision.
External supervision is a cost-effective way to anticipate accidents. According to Patera’s estimate, the cost of an inspection is even less than one per cent of the price of new weather protection, not to mention personal injury and legal costs if the worst happens.
“Scaffolding or weather protection can look good from the outside. The problem lies in structural factors that an unfamiliar or unqualified person cannot and does not need to detect. Each party focuses on their own expertise; in this case, Varte constructs buildings with professional skill while Patera ensures scaffolding safety”, says Parantainen.
The client should remember that they have the right and obligation to demand compliance with law in matters related to occupational safety. Here, Varte sets an example and focuses on making scaffolding safety even better; Patera’s expert will continue to carry out a commissioning inspection of the weather protection used at Varte’s construction sites also in the future.
Patera’s experts thank Varte for its responsible actions to promote scaffolding safety.
“In the past, it was thought that companies had to manage all aspects of corporate safety and security and the related special requirements themselves. Of course, it is important that companies know the basics of corporate safety and security. However, it is now understood that it is not necessary to manage all areas and special competencies yourself, but it is more cost-effective to acquire them from a professional specialised in the topic”, says Kari Helislahti, safety, risk management and quality expert at Patera.
Sollo recommends Patera’s services to others, as well.
“We received help and advice from relevant scaffolding safety experts. For those who ask whether it is worth checking the weather protection, I would say that it is worth it – especially when checked by an outsider”, Sollo concludes.
