Technical requirements for safety in metal scaffolding – Erection/addition/alteration of metal scaffold

5.1.4  Erection/addition/alteration of metal scaffold

(a)     Metal scaffolds shall be erected, added to, or altered by trained workmen  under  the  immediate  supervision  of  a  competent person. (Regulation 38E of the CSSR)

(b)     Work should be started from the bottom level to the top level and from the interior part to the exterior part.

(c)    The standards of the scaffolds should be plumbed.

(d)     The width of any working platform of the scaffold shall be not less than 400mm. (Third Schedule to the CSSR)

(e)     Every working platform shall be closely planked, boarded or plated, or of open metal work without any interstice exceeding 4 000mm2. (Third Schedule to the CSSR)

(f)      Every board or plank forming part of a working platform shall be of sound construction, adequate strength and free from patent defects  (Third  Schedule  to  the  CSSR).  The  plank  should  be straight-grained, sound and free from irregular knots, dry rot, worm holes, cracks and other defects affecting its strength. Also, the board should be sound and free from cracks and other defects affecting its strength.

(g)     Every board or plank forming part of a working platform shall be not less than 200mm in width and not less than 25mm in thickness or not less than 150mm in width when the board or plank exceeds

50mm in thickness. (Third Schedule to the CSSR)

(h)     Every board or plank forming part of a working platform shall not protrude beyond its end support to more than 150mm unless it is sufficiently secured to prevent tipping. It shall rest on at least 3 supports unless, taking into account the distance between the supports and the thickness of the board or plank, the conditions are such as to prevent undue or unequal sagging. (Third Schedule to the CSSR)

(i)     Every side  of a working platform  shall  be  provided with  suitable guard-rails. The height of a top guard-rail shall be between 900mm and 1 150mm above the platform. The height of an intermediate guard-rail shall be between 450mm and 600mm above the platform (Third Schedule to the CSSR). (See Figures 1 and 2 for details)

(j)      Toe-boards  and  end  toe-boards  shall  be  suitably  fixed  to  all working platforms and shall have a minimum height of 200mm (Third Schedule to the CSSR). They should be placed inside the standards. (See Figures 1 and 2 for details)

(k)     Space between platform and wall of a building or structure should be as small as practicable. Guard-rails should be provided if there is a risk of falling from height.

(l)     Working platforms should be cleared of debris like concrete waste. (m)   Working platforms should not be overloaded and the load should be

evenly distributed.

(n)    No shock loading on the platforms should be allowed.

(o)     The scaffold should be effectively braced to ensure stability of the whole structure.

(p)     The  bracings  should  extend  from  the  base  to  the  top  of  the scaffold.

(q)     If  electrical  equipment  such  as  power  hand  tools  or  electric installation including lighting is to be used on the scaffold, they should be of proper design and installation to prevent electrical hazard.

(r)      Where  a  scaffold  is  erected  adjacent  to  a  road  or  pathway, overlay or screen nets must be erected to envelop the scaffold for the protection of person or vehicular traffic against falling objects.

(s)     Safe  access  to  and  egress  from  place  of  work  should  be provided  for  the  scaffolders  and  the  users  of  the  scaffold.  One way of providing a safe access to and egress from a scaffold is to provide a safe gangway between the existing building/structure and the scaffold. Access and egress provided should be used and no climbing along the standards/ledgers of the scaffold should be allowed.

(t)      When a scaffolder or workman has to work in a place where it is  impracticable  to  erect  a  safe  working  platform  or  to  provide safe access and egress, the use of safety nets and safety belt attached                   to   a   secure   anchorage   point   or   an   independent lifeline  throughout  the  work  is  required.  Scaffolding  members should  not  be  used  for  anchorage  purpose.  Further  reference should be made to the Guidance Notes on Classification and Use of Safety Belts and their Anchorage Systems prepared by the Labour Department.

(u)     Particular attention should be drawn in the manual handling of heavy metal scaffolding components.

(v)     Scaffolding   members   should   not   be   used   as   supports   for lifting appliances unless the scaffold has been designed for such purpose.