SAFE WORKING ON SCAFFOLDS:

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SCAFFOLDINGS:

When the height of wall or column or other structural member of a building exceeds about 1.5 m or
more than one man height, Then a temporary structure are needed to support the platform, over
which the workmen can sit and carry on the construction works. These temporary structure
constructed very close to the wall, is in the form of timber or steel framework, commonly called
scaffolding. Such scaffolding is also needed for the repairs or even demolition of a building. The
scaffolding should be stable and should be strong enough to support workmen and other
construction materials placed on the platform supported by the scaffolding. The height of the
scaffolding goes on increasing as the height of construction increases.
The scaffolding should also be provided with proper hand railing. The approach to the scaffolding
should be proper.
A hanging scaffolding should be hanged at all four sides by ropes of at least 1 " dia. or wire rope of
3 mm dia. If there is an arrangement for rising or lowering of scaffolding by a hand operated winch,
then over and above the rope, which is holding the scaffolding to the winch, there should be an
additional safety rope.

SCAFFOLDING FOR CIVIL CONSTRUCTION.

The framework of horizontal, vertical and inclined members to provide temporary platforms for
convenience of the workers is known as scaffolding. The various types of scaffolds are:
1. Trestle Scaffold: It consist of a ladder or tripod with platform at top. The working platform is
not placed higher than 4.5m above the ground.
2. Cantilever Scaffold: The scaffold consists of cantilever members, one end of the cantilever
being supported by the wall. The cantilevered portion should not exceed 2m from the wall.
3. Suspended Scaffold: It is a scaffold supported from above by ropes. The platform may be
raised or lowered.
4. Single Scaffold: It consists of a row of upright poles fixed at a suitable distance(1.8 to
2.4m)from the wall connected horizontally to ledgers space,1.5 to 1.8m vertically.
5. Doubled Scaffold: The scaffold consists of two row standards. The inner row is near the wall
and the outer row is 1.2 to 1.5m away from the wall. Diagonal braces and inclined supports
are provided to prevent the scaffold from leaning away from the wall.
6. Steel Scaffold: This consists of steel pipes which can be readily erected and dismantled. They
can be used over and over again.

SAFETY CHECKLIST FOR TUBULAR SCAFFOLDS AT CONSTRUCTION SITES:

 Is there proper access to the scaffold platform?

 Are all uprights provided with base plates (and, where necessary, timber sole plates)
or prevented in some other way from slipping or sinking?
 Have any uprights, ledgers, braces or struts been removed?
 Is the scaffold secured to the building in enough places to prevent collapse?
 If any ties have been removed since the scaffold was erected? Have additional ties
been provided to replace them?
 Are the working platform fully and securely boarded?

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  Are boards free from obvious defects such as knots, and are arranged to avoid tipping
or tripping?
 Are there effective barriers or and warning notices to stop people using an incomplete
scaffold eg one that is not fully boarded?
 Are there adequate guard rails and toe boards at every side from which a person could
fall more than 1.98m (6ft 6 in)
 Are the scaffolds designed and constructed for loading with materials, if any, are these
material evenly distributed?
 Does a competent person inspected the scaffold regularly ie at least once a week and
always after bad weather (rainy season)?
 Are the result of inspections recorded (including defects that were put right during the
inspections) and the records signed by the person who carried out the inspection?

LOAD ON SCAFFOLDING

At the time of constructing scaffolding, selection of its member is important from the point of view of load
bearing capacity of each and every member. The load on scaffolds is depending upon:
 Numbers of persons to be work on the scaffolding.
 Weight of the material/spare parts/dismantled part.
 Weight of the equipment to be erected.
 Self load.
Factor of safety should be 100%.

WORKING ON SCAFFOLD WITH LADDER:

The following steps given in Does & Don’ts form for working safely at height with scaffold-ladder.

Dos:
 Erect scaffolds and ladders that are safe and secured.
 Check the material used before erection to see that it is of the best quality to avoid accident
due to breakage.
 Secure scaffolds with a wire rope or a jute rope in good condition wherever necessary.
 Fasten the ladder for approach to scaffolding or platform securely at the top and the bottom.
 Secure the planks on the ladder firmly and see that they are in good physical condition.
 Provide bamboo hand rails wherever necessary to prevent a fall of a workman.
 Provide cross buttons at a suitable distance to serve as a foot holds to the planks or platforms
used for climbing or as a means of access to scaffolding or foundation work.
 Make sure that the means of access is not less than 45 c.m. in width.

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  Select the right ladder for the right job to be done.
 Check the ladder thoroughly before use.
 See that the ladder is neither cracked nor with spliced side rail.
 Ensure that the no step is missing, broken or otherwise defective.
 Make sure that there are no sharp edges on any part of the ladder.
 Destroy unsafe ladder immediately to make sure that no body uses it even unknowingly.

DON'Ts:
 Do not weaken ladder.
 Do not overload scaffolds with either workmen or material.
 Do not use two ladders spliced together.
 Do not use the ladder, which is too long or too short for the job.
 Do not use light, household ladder for heavy construction job.
 Do not use metallic ladders near electrical circuits or power lines.

WORKING ON SCAFFOLD OF A TALL CHIMNEY:

1. For the erection and repair of tall chimneys, appropriate scaffolding should be provided. An
adequate catch net should be maintained at a suitable distance below the Scaffold.
2. The scaffold floor should always be at least 65cm below the top of the chimney.
3. Under the working floor of the scaffolding the next lower floor should be left in position as a
catch platform.
4. The distance between the inside edge of the scaffold and the wall of the chimney should not
exceed 20 cm at any point.
5. Catch platform should be erected over-
a) The entrance to the chimney
b) passageways and working places where could be endangered by falling objects
6. For climbing tall chimneys, access should be provided by
a) stairs or ladders
b)a column of iron securely embedded in the chimney wall.
c) other appropriate means.
7. When workers use the outside rungs to climb the chimney, a securely fastened steel core rope
looped at the free end and hanging down at least 3 m should be provided at the top to help the
workers to climb on to the chimney.
8. The area surrounding Construction site should be barricaded .
9. Daily attendance of workers should be maintained before and after the job.
10. Work on independent chimneys should not be carried on high winds, icy conditions, fog or
during electrical storms.
11. All the lifting tools and tackles should be daily checked.