The duty rating of your scaffold must be appropriate to the work you are doing. Scaffolds should be assumed to be ‘general purpose’ (Maximum load 2 kN/m2/200 kg/m2) unless informed otherwise by your scaffold provider. Those specifying scaffolds should be clear about the duty rating required when specifying the scaffolding required, eg an ‘inspection and ‘very light duty’ scaffold suitable for access, inspection or light cleaning will have a maximum load of 0.75 kN/m2 whereas a ‘heavy duty’ scaffold suitable for tasks involving heavy duty masonry and cladding will have a maximum load of 3.0 kN/m2. If you intend to load out platforms, inform whoever is providing the scaffold – a bespoke design will likely be required. Scaffolds must be capable of supporting loads likely to be placed on them. They are not usually designed to support heavy loads on their working platforms. Proprietary system scaffolds must be erected and tied according to the manufacturers’ instructions. Install ties as the scaffold is erected and only remove them in stages as it is struck. If a tie is removed to allow work to proceed, an equivalent tie must be provided nearby to maintain stability. Ties must be used within their safe working load limit. Erection and dismantling should be done inside a segregated area and during times when there are fewer members of the public in the vicinity.Įnsure the scaffold is based on a firm, level foundation. The ground or foundation must be capable of supporting the weight of the scaffold and any loads likely to be placed on it. Watch out for voids such as basements or drains, or patches of soft ground, which could collapse when loaded. Provide extra support as necessary.Įnsure it is braced and tied into a permanent structure or otherwise stabilised. Rakers only provide stability when they are braced and footed adequately single-tube rakers alone do not usually provide this and need to be braced to prevent buckling. If the work is likely to present a danger to the public, you should consider applying for a footpath or road closure to eliminate the risk of a member of the public being injured. Scaffolds should never be erected or dismantled over people or busy pavements. ![]() Scaffolds which encroach over the highway (including pavements) require a license under Section 169 of the Highways Act 1980, which are issued by the local Highway Authority. The dimensions, form and layout of scaffolding decks should be appropriate to the nature of the work to be performed and suitable for the loads to be carried and permit work and passage in safety. ![]() Strength and stability calculations for scaffolding must be carried out unless a note of the calculations, covering the structural arrangements contemplated, is available, or it is assembled in conformity with a generally recognised standard configuration.ĭepending on the complexity of the scaffolding selected, an assembly, use and dismantling plan must be drawn up by a competent person. This may be in the form of a standard plan, supplemented by items relating to specific details of the scaffolding in question.Ī copy of the plan, including any instructions it may contain, must be kept available for the use of anyone involved in the assembly, use, dismantling or alteration of scaffolding until it has been dismantled. The key priority and objective for scaffolders is to establish collective fall protection minimising the time exposed to a fall risk and reliance upon personal fall protection equipment such as safety harnesses and lanyards. Scaffolds must be designed, erected, altered and dismantled only by competent people and the work should be carried out under the direction of a competent supervisor.Īll scaffolding must be erected, dismantled and altered in a safe manner. This can be achieved by following National Access and Scaffolding Confederation (NASC) Safety Guidance SG4 'Preventing falls in scaffolding operations' or by following similar guidance provided by the manufacturers of system scaffolding. Requirements for general access scaffolds
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