MASTER BUILDERS

Construction Industry Occupational Health and Safety Manual

SCAFFOLD REGISTER

This register is based on the requirements of the Occupational Health and Safety Act (85 of 1993),
Construction Regulation 14.

• SCAFFOLDS

Since most work on construction sites needs to be done at a height which man cannot reach from the ground, means
must be provided to raise him to the level of his work and a platform must be built from which he can do his job.
Therefore, men in nearly all trades of the construction industry find themselves, at one time or another, working from
scaffolds.

There is enough variety in the scaffold equipment available to erect a platform to suit every kind of work that needs
to be done, from whatever position. Yet every day, somewhere on a construction site, work is held up and production
suffers because of damage to men, materials and equipment through individual falls, falling material, the partial or
total collapse of a scaffold. Production is also lost because of faulty or insecure scaffolding.

It is vital that all working platforms should be properly constructed, secured and provide adequate space - and comply
with the Regulations.

Detailed consideration should be given to all scaffolding to ensure that it is properly planned to meet the working
requirements, designed to carry the necessary loadings and maintained in a sound condition. It must also be ensured
that there is sufficient material available to erect the scaffolding properly.

All scaffolding, as far as possible, should be erected, altered or dismantled by a person who has adequate training and
experience in this type of work or under the supervision of such a person.

Foundations must provide firm support to the scaffold framework:

• No scaffold should be erected on soft or suspect soil without the approval of a competent person.
• A good base is essential, The ground should be levelled and where necessary compacted to give a hard surface.
• Timber sole plates at least 225 mm wide, and at least 45 mm thick, laid to support the base plates for standards.
The sole plate should wherever possible accommodate at least two standards and end at least 500 mm beyond
the standards.
• Bricks and similar loose materials are dangerous as supports for standards - they can be to easily displaced under
the weight involved.
• Ensure that Base Plates and Jacks are not damaged and fit correctly.

TIES secure the scaffold to the structure and prevent collapse.

All scaffolds must be tied to the building or structure unless specially designed to be completely independent.

The building or structure to which the scaffold is to be tied must be strong enough to carry the scaffold tie loads.

There shall be sufficient ties and they shall be evenly spaced and shall resist movement both towards and away from
the structure. The tie shall be positioned where the structure is sufficiently strong to resist the tie load.

The correct fittings to be used.

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Reviewed 2006/01