Scaffold Fails & Fixes: A New Series for Contractors Who Want to Do It Right

In construction, there are two types of job sites:

The ones that hope nothing goes wrong…
And the ones that plan so it doesn’t.

Welcome to Scaffold Fails & Fixes — a new weekly series from Southwest Scaffolding where we break down real-world scaffold mistakes, explain why they’re dangerous (and expensive), and show you how to do it right.

Because let’s be honest…

We’ve all seen it.

Ladders stacked on ladders.
Missing guardrails.
Improvised planking.
Scaffold tied off “good enough.”

And while it might save a few minutes today, the long-term risk?
Injury. OSHA fines. Lawsuits. Delays. Reputation damage.

This series is here to prevent that.

Why This Series Matters

Scaffolding is not just about access.
It’s about:

• Worker safety

• Project efficiency

• Liability protection

• Professional credibility

Improper scaffold setups don’t just risk falls — they slow crews down, increase fatigue, and expose companies to serious financial consequences.

Each week, we’ll take one common scaffold fail and break it down into:

1. What went wrong

2. Why it’s dangerous

3. What it could cost

4. The proper engineered solution

No shaming. No calling out companies. Just education that helps contractors protect their people and their business.

What’s Coming Up

Over the next several weeks, we’ll cover topics like:

• The “Ladder Stack” Problem

• Missing Guardrails & Fall Protection Failures

• Overloaded Platforms

• Wind Load Mistakes

• DIY vs Engineered Scaffold

• Access Issues That Kill Productivity

If you work in roofing, masonry, painting, stucco, window installation, or exterior repair — this series is for you.

The Bigger Goal

Construction is tough enough without preventable injuries and citations.

Our goal isn’t to criticize.
It’s to elevate standards.

When scaffold is done correctly, crews move faster.
Projects stay on schedule.
Risk drops dramatically.

And companies look professional doing it.

Follow along each week as we break down real-world scenarios and show you how to turn scaffold fails into smart, safe solutions.

Because doing it right isn’t optional. It’s leadership.