For small painting or DIY jobs, painter’s trestles are the ideal piece of equipment. They can provide a secure and safe ledge to help you reach up higher. Unlike ladders, they provide a full beam to balance and walk across, so they are much more practical in that you won’t need to move them along every few feet. Despite this, maintaining trestle scaffold safety is key when carrying out DIY. 

Although trestles are usually sturdy pieces of equipment, it’s important to ensure they’re set up correctly and that they aren’t damaged before you stand on them. A fall from even a small height has the potential to cause serious injury or worse. 

Choose the Right Trestles

To ensure the maximum in trestle safety, it’s important to consider which type of trestle you need.

There are various shapes and sizes when it comes to painter’s trestles, and you may need a different size for different jobs. It’s important to find one that works with your height and the height of the job.

You shouldn’t over-stretch yourself or feel that you need to constantly move the trestle. This may cause injury and may become frustrating.

The most common sizes for trestles are 1.8m-3.0m or 3.6m-4.8m.

If you’re likely to need various sizes due to the types of work you’re conducting, then trestle hire is a good idea. Trestle hire allows you to find just the right size for your job but means that you aren’t limiting yourself financially if you need to switch out the sizes.

Inspect your Trestle Before Use

Trestle scaffold safety is paramount. You should always inspect your trestle prior to use. If the previous user has left paint, oil or other greasy substances on the trestle, then this could pose a danger if it’s slippery.

Also make sure that the trestle is fully intact with no missing wood sections or splinters. 

Set Up Your Trestle

There are a few essential things that you should consider when it comes to trestle safety.

·        Always make sure that your trestle is fully open and in the lock position before you step up. If your trestle isn’t locked out properly, it could fold or fall over when you stand on it.

·        Ensure you only use your trestle on a flat surface. Placing the legs on cobbles or stones for example could lead it to be unstable and tip when it has more weight applied.

·        If flat ground isn’t an option, hire a trestle leveller to create a flatter surface.

·        Use 2 or more scaffolding planks to make a wide walkway. You shouldn’t have more than a 2.5cm overhang in either direction when you’re walking on it.

·        Always consider the weight of the user and any equipment that they’re using on the scaffolding planks. If you’re concerned about the weight, speak to a trestle hire professional for guidance on safety procedures.

Using Your Trestles and Scaffolding

Once your trestle has been set up correctly, make sure you always use a ladder at one end to access it. Don’t try to climb or stretch yourself as this could be dangerous.

You should also have a separate ledge or bucket in place at the right height to hold any of your equipment. Don’t place your equipment on the plank next to you. This could cause a trip hazard and may even ruin your DIY work. Trestles come in various heights and plank amounts depending on your needs. If you have a DIY task waiting and you’re not sure which type of trestle will work the best, or if you need multiple trestles to get the job done, Hire It offers professional trestle hire Harrow. Our friendly and helpful team will provide advice and information to ensure your DIY is completed correctly the first time.