Scaffold Safety

Technical Presentation

KARBALA REFINERY
PROJECT
HSE DEPARTMENT
 What is a Scaffold?
Scaffold – is a
temporary elevated
platform and its
supporting
components used
for supporting
workmen,
materials or both.
 How scaffold is built?
Scaffold is built by
connecting several
components such
as posts, runners,
bearers etc. using
either by ‘couplers’
or system
‘connectors’
Types of Scaffold Construction
• System type – is a type of
scaffold whose scaffold
components are connected by
fixed connectors
• Tube & Coupler type – is a type
of scaffold whose scaffold
components are connected by
couplers
 Types of ‘System’ Connections
Rosette Connections Cuplock Connections

Wedge Connections
 Types of ‘Tube’ Connectors
Adjustable
(Swivel)

Right-
Angle Bearer Coupler
Coupler

Girder Sleeve Coupler

Coupler

Joint Pin
 SCAFFOLD TERMINOLOGY
TOP RAIL
MID RAIL
DROP BAR

FALSE UPRIGHT
0.95m – 1.15 m
(38”-45”)

36” min.

SCAFFOLD PLANKS LADDER CLAMP

BEARER (TRANSOM) TOEBOARD
LONGITUDINAL
BRACING
STANDARD
SWIVEL COUPLER

FIXED COUPLER (90º)

RUNNER (LEDGER)
TRANSVERSE BRACING
BASE LIFT
(KICKER LIFT)
6"
BASE PLATE
SILL (SOLE BOARD)

7
 Scaffold Components

• Post
A vertical tube
that carries the
weight of the
scaffold.
Posts
 Scaffold Components
• Bearer
Horizontal tube fixed on top of at least 2
runners (at or near a pair of posts) and
supports the weight of the planks.

Bearers
 Scaffold Components
• Runner
Horizontal scaffold tube that extends from post to post
and supports the bearers.

Runners
 Scaffold Components
• Board Bearer
Like a bearer, but not fixed to the posts.
It helps the support planks at mid-span.
Board Bearer
 Scaffold Components
• Plank
An individual
timber board
that serves as
flooring
member of a
work platform.

Planks
 Scaffold Components

• Base plate
A steel plate
measuring 15cm Post
by 15cm used for
distributing the
load from the
post. Base Plate

Sole
board
 Scaffold Components
Top-rail
Guardrail System
• Top-rail: installed
Mid-rail
between 38”-
Bet. 950 – 1150 mm
45”platform
• Mid-rail: installed
between top-rail &
platform
• To prevent the workers
from falling off the Platform
platform
 Scaffold Components

• Toe-boards
Are required to
prevent objects
from falling onto
workers below
the platform.
Toe-boards
 Scaffold Components

Transverse
(Sectional)
Longitudinal
Bracing
(Façade)
Bracing
Scaffold Components Summary
Note:
Board Bearer bearers
&
runners
to be
installed
Runners inside
the posts
Bearers

Post

Base Plates
Sole board
 Types of Scaffold Couplers

Right Angle
Coupler
• Coupler used to
connect tube at
right angles
• Used to connect
runners to posts
• Used for fixing of
scaffold ties
Right-angle Coupler
 Types of Scaffold Couplers

Bearer Coupler
• Used to fix a bearer
to a runner
• Used to connect
scaffold tube use as
guardrail to a post
• Must not be turned
upside down

Bearer Coupler
 Types of Scaffold Couplers

Swivel Coupler
• Used to fix tubes Swivel
together at Coupler
various angles
• Used to fix braces
• Not to be used to
fix scaffold ties
 Types of Scaffold Couplers
• Sleeve Coupler
• Used for Sleeve
externally joining coupler
2 scaffold tubes
co-axially end to
end.
• Joint Pin
• Used for posts
(vertical)
connections only Joint Pin
 Types of Scaffold Couplers

Girder Coupler
• Used to fix Girder
scaffolds to Coupler
steelwork
• Must be used in
pairs
• Can be used to
“tie” scaffolds to
steel-work
Review Questions
1. Sole Board
2. Base plate
3. Post
4. Bearers
5. Runners
6. Base Lift
7. Planks
8. Longitudinal bracing
9. Transverse bracing
10. Toprail
11. Midrail
12. Toeboard
13. Drop Bar
 Personal Fall Arrest System

Each scaffold
craftsman shall
continuously wear a
full body harness with
a shock-absorbing
lanyard while erecting,
altering, or dismantling
a scaffold.
Scaffold Tagging System
 Red Scaffold Tag (Holder)

Indicates the
scaffold has not
been inspected or is
not safe for use (by
anyone other than
scaffold craftsmen)
 Green Scaffold Tag (Insert)
Insert fits here

Indicates scaffold
is complete, has
been inspected,
and is safe for use
at the time of
inspection a 2
TANK 105
6

A. SULAIMAN A. SULAIMAN A. GHAMDI A. SULAIMAN

GREEN scaffold A. Sulaiman

673-2400
S022-02
A. Sulaiman
673-2400
S022-02
A. Ghamdi
673-2100
A012-02
A. Sulaiman
673-2400
S022-02

tag valid for a K. SALEH

K. Saleh
673-2308
I022-02
K. SALEH
K. Saleh
673-2308
I022-02
K. SALEH
K. Saleh
673-2308
I022-02
K. SALEH
K. Saleh
673-2308
I022-02

maximum of one 7/14/02 7/28/02 8/11/02 8/25/02

week
 Yellow Scaffold Tag (Insert)
Insert fits here

Indicates scaffold
has been inspected
and may be used
only by workers
wearing a properly
anchored full body
harness and lanyard a
2
TANK 105

YELLOW scaffold A. SULAIMAN

Ahmed Sulaiman
673-2400
S022-02
K. SALEH
Khaled Saleh
673-2308
I022-02

tag valid for one 7/14/02

week maximum
 How to Tag a Scaffold?

• RED scaffold tag

(holder) must be
built into scaffold,
near each access.
• RED scaffold tag
must be fixed by a
tube placed
through holder
(not fixed with
string, wire etc).
Foundation
Runners & Bearers Spacing

Bearers
on-top of Max 2 m
Runners (6’-6”)
Bearers location

Bearer
150 mm
(6”) +/-
Runner

Bearers extend at
least 100 mm (4”)
Couplers Quality

Bad Coupling

Good Coupling
Working Platforms Quality

All levels
that are to
be worked
on need
planks
across the
full width
and length
of the
scaffold
Planks Quality Check
Planks Support Spacing

50mm (2") Planks

2.4m (8') max support

38mm (1½") Planks

1.5m (5') max support
Planks Installation

? ?
Min Max
Guardrail System

• Guardrails to
0.95m (38”)
stop workers to
from falling off 1.15m (45”)
the platform
• Toeboards to Fixed inside
stop materials support posts
from falling off
the platform
Scaffold Stability

A freestanding
scaffold cannot
be higher than
4 times its
width at the
base
Types of Scaffold Ties
Box Tie Tie to Steel-work
Tip-Over Prevention

Raker
 Vertical Bracing

Longitudinal
Bracing
Transverse
Bracing
Transverse Bracing

Zigzag “X”
Bracing Bracing
Longitudinal Bracing
Used for independent run scaffold
Longitudinal Bracing
Used for multiple bays on a birdcage scaffold

No more than 4 open bays along length of

scaffold
Plan Braces

Plan Brace
External Access Ladder
Internal Access Ladder
Ladder Position
 BUILDING SYSTEM
01 Settling the base plates
The base plates should be settled in a
symmetric way. And when it is necessary
sole boards must be put below. yes

02 Elementary module construction 03 settling in level

Base plates must be joined by horizontal By a gauge level make the base horizontal
pipes in the two directions making 90 moving the screws.
degrees angles
 Building system
04 Base module building 05 uprights joining
Insert the uprights onto the Connect the uprights by runner pipes at a
base plate rods max. distance of 2 m from the first ring.
The runners have both function
structural and load supporting.

06 last step of the module

Now we can stiffen the structure with
bracing diagonals at any façade of the
scaffold.
 Building system
Building with guardrail
The guardrail is requested to give safety during the assembling (the harness can be tied on it)

Assembling of the guardrail Putting the uprights

The access to the next deck will Now the upright can be
be only after the assembling of put in a safe way thank
the guardrail from the previous to the guardrail.
deck

Assembling of the others elements

Now all elements can be assembled
 MOBILE AND TOWER SCAFFOLDS

 Mobile and tower

TIMBER COVER FOR TOP RAIL
ACCESS HOLE (OR HINGED)
scaffolds shall be
MIDRAIL

plumb, level, and TOEBOARD

square and be
horizontally and
vertically braced
(in both WIRE LASHING

directions) by (TOP, MIDDLE &

BOTTOM)
diagonal braces. PLAN BRACE
UNDER DECK

 Plan (horizontal) LADDER SHOULD

BE FIXED TO THE
bracing shall be NARROWER WIDTH

installed at the
base, at the top,
and at least every TRANSVERSE

third lift of all

(LEDGER) BRACING

mobile and tower PLAN BRACE LOCKING CASTERS

scaffolds to
prevent racking
(twisting).
BOTTOM OF LADDER
SUPPORTED
 MOBILE AND TOWER SCAFFOLDS
 Mobile scaffolds rated for Light-
duty shall have steel casters not INSERT SHAFT
less than 120 mm. (5”) in
diameter. HOLE FOR
FASTENING PIN
 Mobile scaffolds rated for SWIVEL
Medium-duty shall have
LOCKING
heavy-duty steel casters not ASSEMBLY
less than 170 mm. (7”) in
diameter.
 All casters shall be fitted with
a positive wheel lock
(which cannot be accidentally
released) to prevent
movement while the mobile
scaffold is being used.
 Casters shall be securely
fixed to the base of scaffold MOBILE SCAFFOLD CASTER
posts or screw jacks by
locking pins.
 Scaffold Work Flow
Scaffold Inspection
• Scaffold Supervisors and Inspectors
must inspect a Scaffold?
– After scaffold is completely built
– After scaffold has been altered
– After high winds or anything likely
to have affected scaffold’s strength
– At regular intervals to check that it
is still safe to use (every 1 weeks)
 Scaffold Work Flow
Scaffold Tagging

• If Scaffold Supervisor
thinks scaffold is safe
to use, he will fill in &
sign, either:
– GREEN (Passed
Inspection) or
– YELLOW (Full Body
Harness Required)
scaffold tag
 Types of Scaffold
• Tower Scaffold
• Birdcage Scaffold
• Independent Run Scaffold
• Mobile Scaffold
• Suspended Scaffold
• Bracket Scaffold
What is a “Special Scaffold” ?
• Higher than 50 meters (164 feet)
• Cantilevered (extended outward) by
more than 3 meters (10 feet)
• Over 30m² (320 ft²) platform area &
supported by or hung from an
existing structure
• Supporting loads greater than 240
kg/m² such as piping or equipment
Scaffold Safety