INTRODUCTION
Scaffolding, also called scaffold or staging, is
a temporary structure used to support a work crew and materials to aid in the
construction, maintenance and repair of buildings, bridges and all other manmade
structures. Scaffolding is also used in adapted forms for formwork and shoring,
grandstand seating, concert stages, access/viewing towers, exhibition stands,
ski ramps, half pipes and art projects.
Scaffold has to fulfil a diverse set of requirements:
- creation of safe and productive working areas
- providing access to working areas at higher levels
- carrying area and/or point loads
- creation of safe and productive working areas
- providing access to working areas at higher levels
- carrying area and/or point loads
COMPONENT OF SCAFFOLD
HAZARD OF SCAFFOLD
Employees working on scaffold are exposed to so many
hazards, some of which are;
1.
Falls from Elevation: Caused by Slip, Trip,
unsafe access, and lack of fall protections e.g Guard Rails, or use of PPE (Personal
Fall Arrest-Safety Harness).
4. Scaffold Collapse: Caused by instability or
overloading
5. Bad Planking Giving way.
6. Scaffold
collapse: Caused by being struck by machinery e.g. crane boom, lifted
materials, moving heavy duty vehicles etc.
GENERAL GUIDELINES AND
REQUIREMENT
A. CREATE AWARENESS:
Post the organization scaffolding safety guidelines in a conspicuous place and
be sure that all persons who erect, dismantle, or use scaffolding are aware of
them, and also use them in tool box safety meetings.
B.CONSTANT SITE/ERECTED
SCAFFOLD INSPECTION: A survey shall be made of the job site (where the
scaffold is meant to be erected) by a competent person (before erection and
while in use) for any unsafe act and conditions including hazards, such as
uncompacted earth fills, ditches, debris, high tension wires, contact with
cables with bad insulation, unguarded openings, and other hazardous conditions
created by other activities.
C. INSPECT ALL
EQUIPMENT BEFORE USING. Never use any equipment that is damaged or
defective in any way. Mark it or tag it as defective. Remove it from the job
site.
D. DO NOT ERECT,
DISMANTLE OR ALTER A SCAFFOLD unless under the supervision of a competent
person.
E. DO NOT WORK UNDER
THE INFLUENCE of alcohol or illegal drugs.
F. COMPETENT
KNOWLEDGE OF WORKING AT HEIGHT REQUIREMENTS.
G. APPROPRIATE
TAGGING MUST BE APPLIED.Indicating the purpose, status and other information on the scaffold.
.
GUIDELINES
FOR ERECTION AND USE OF SCAFFOLDS
A. SCAFFOLD BASE MUST
BE SET ON BASE PLATES AND USE ADEQUATE SILL OR PAD to prevent slipping or sinking
and fixed thereto where required. Any part of a building or structure used to
support the scaffold shall be capable of supporting the maximum intended load
to be applied.
B. BRACING, LEVELING & PLUMBING OF FRAME
SCAFFOLDS-
1. Plumb and level all scaffolds as erection proceeds. Do
not force frames or braces to fit. Level the scaffold until proper fit can be
easily made.
2. Each frame or panel shall be braced by horizontal
bracing, cross bracing, diagonal bracing or any combination thereof for securing
vertical members together laterally. All brace connections shall be made
secure, in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations.
C. BRACING, LEVELING
& PLUMBING OF TUBE & CLAMP AND SYSTEM SCAFFOLDS-
1. Posts shall be erected with plumb in all directions, with
the first level of runners and bearers positioned as close to the base as feasible.
2. Plumb and level all scaffolds as erection proceeds.
3. Fasten all couplers and/or connections securely before
assembly of next level.
4. Vertical and/or horizontal diagonal bracing must be
installed to guarantee stability.
D. A FREE STANDING
SCAFFOLD TOWER must not exceed a
height of three (3) times their minimum base dimension especially in the case
of a mobile or access scaffold without the use of outrigger or braces for
support.
E. TIE CONTINUOUS
(RUNNING) SCAFFOLDS TO THE WALL OR STRUCTURE at each end and at least every
30 feet / 9m of length in between when scaffold height exceeds the maximum
allowable free standing dimension. Install additional ties on taller scaffolds
as follows:
On scaffolds 3 foot/ 0.9m or narrower in width, subsequent
vertical ties shall be repeated at intervals no greater than every 20 foot /
6.1m.
On scaffolds wider than 3 foot/ 0.9m, subsequent vertical
ties shall be repeated at intervals not greater than 26 feet/ 7.9m. The top tie
shall be installed as close to the top of the platform as possible; however, no
lower from the top than 4 times the scaffold’s minimum base dimension.
Ties must prevent the scaffold from tipping either into or
away from the structure.
F. DO NOT ERECT
SCAFFOLDS NEAR ELECTRICAL POWER LINES. Consult a qualified person for
advice.
G. ACCESS SHALL BE
PROVIDED TO ALL PLATFORMS. Do not climb cross braces or diagonal braces.
H. PROVIDE A
GUARDRAIL SYSTEM, FALL PROTECTION AND TOE BOARDS WHERE REQUIRED.
I. ALL SCAFFOLDING
COMPONENTS shall be installed and used in accordance with the
manufacturers’ recommended procedure. Components shall not be altered. Scaffold
frames and their components manufactured by different companies shall not be
intermixed, unless the component parts readily fit together and the resulting
scaffold’s structural integrity is maintained by the user after being certified
by a competent person.
J. OVERREACHING.
Do not stretched out climb on guard rail
K. DO NOT USE.
Notice of out of use must be placed on an Incomplete, deformed or under
construction scaffold
L. USE Personal Fall Arrest,
Must use safety harness. Life line to be used where required.
M. AVOID OVERLOAD,
Never overcrowd scaffold with people, supplies materials and equipment.
SAFE USE OF SCAFFOLD
1. Prior to use, inspect scaffold to insure it has not been
altered and is in safe working condition.
2. Erected scaffolds and platforms should be inspected
continuously by those using them.
3. Exercise caution when entering or leaving a work
platform.
4. Do not overload scaffold. Follow manufacturer’s safe
working load recommendations.
5. Do not jump onto planks or platforms.
6. DO NOT USE ladders or makeshift devices to increase the
working height of a scaffold. Do not plank guardrails to increase the height of
a scaffold.
7. Climb in access areas only and use both hands in holding the Stairs guard rail..
WHEN DISMANTLING SCAFFOLDING THE FOLLOWING
ADDITIONAL GUIDELINES APPLY:
A. Check to assure scaffolding has not been structurally
altered in a way which would make it unsafe and, if it has, reconstruct and/or stabilize
where necessary before commencing with dismantling procedures. This includes
all scaffold ties.
B. Visually inspect planks prior to dismantling to be sure
they are safe.
C. Do not remove a scaffold component without considering
the effect of that removal.
D. Do not accumulate excess components or equipment on the
level being dismantled.
E. Do not remove ties until scaffold above has been dismantled
to that level.
F. Lower dismantled components in an orderly manner. Do not
throw off of scaffold and its components.
G. Dismantled equipment should be stockpiled in an orderly
manner.
H. Adequate use of Fall Arrest must be used. Safety Harness.
PLANKING
1. Working platforms shall cover scaffold bearer as
completely as possible. Only scaffold grade wood planking, or fabricated
planking and decking meeting scaffold use requirements shall be used. Planks
and platforms should rest on bearers only.
2. Check each plank prior to use to be sure plank is not
warped, damaged, or otherwise unsafe.
3. Planking shall have at least 12" overlap and extend
6" beyond center of support, or be cleated or restrained at both ends to
prevent sliding off supports.
4. Solid sawn lumber, LVL (laminated veneer lumber) or
fabricated scaffold planks and platforms (unless cleated or restrained) shall
extend over their end supports not less than 6" nor more than 18".
This overhang should be guard railed to prevent been used as working platform.
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