Blog

As 2025 comes to a close, it’s a great time to reflect on what we’ve learned in the world of scaffolding. This year has been full of challenges and opportunities, and Southwest Scaffolding wants to share a few key takeaways to help you stay safe and efficient on your projects in 2026. 1. Safety Remains the Top PriorityScaffolding continues to be one of OSHA’s top violations, and for good reason. Proper setup, inspections, and training save lives. Our team has seen firsthand how …

Scaffolding has consistently landed on OSHA’s Top 10 Most Frequently Cited Violations list for at least 25 years—going all the way back to the turn of the century. Prior to 2011, scaffolding violations were consistently ranked #1. Since 2016, scaffolding has remained in the Top 5, and as of 2025, it still ranks #7. That kind of longevity on the list begs the question: why hasn’t this problem gone away? The short answer is simple: Scaffolding is often treated as temporary, when …

When you’re planning a project that requires scaffolding, one of the first decisions you’ll face is whether to rent scaffolding or hire a turnkey scaffolding service. On paper, renting might look like the cheaper, faster option—but in practice, the right choice depends on much more than price. As someone who’s spent years around job sites, schedules, inspectors, and tight margins, I can tell you this: scaffolding decisions directly impact safety, productivity, liability, …

Scaffolding is one of those things that people often underestimate—until something goes wrong. On paper, it can look simple: pipes, planks, and labor. In reality, scaffolding is a highly specialized system that directly affects safety, liability, scheduling, and the overall success of a project. I’ve seen jobs where scaffolding was treated as an afterthought or handed off to the lowest bidder. I’ve also seen the fallout from that decision. Hiring a professional scaffolding comp …

When people think about project delays, they usually blame weather, material shortages, or labor issues. Scaffolding rarely gets mentioned, but it should. The way scaffolding is planned, installed, and managed can either keep a job moving smoothly or bring it to a grinding halt. From my side of the industry, I’ve seen firsthand how improper setup and poor coordination around scaffolding can derail schedules, frustrate crews, and cost real money. When scaffolding is done right, most people never …