RECOGNISED SCAFFOLDING PROBLEM AREAS:

• Lack of proper supervision by “Competent Person”

• The use of unskilled labor

• Inadequate fall protection – personnel and materials

• Irregular scaffold inspections

• Substandard equipment

• Unauthorized alteration of scaffolding

Before scaffolding operations begin, Scaffolding
Supervisors and Erectors should assess the work
area for existing And potential future hazards
which may have impact on the work
SCAFFOLDING EQUIPMENT IS OFTEN SUBJECTED
TO MISUSE AND ABUSE WHICH CAN RESULT IN
DAMAGE THAT MAKES IT UNSUITABLE FOR THE
PURPOSE FOR WHICH IT WAS INTENDED.

SOME EXAMPLES OF MISUSE AND ABUSE ARE: -

 Don’t allow scaffold
tube to be cut on site -
should be carried
out in scaffold yard.

Use proper cutting

equipment.
Oxyacetylene torch
must NEVER be used to
cut scaffold tube.
 Good housekeeping practices will avoid this situation
RUSTING COUPLERS
Contributing factors
Drum has no drain holes, accumulating rain
water, drum not painted promoting rust

CORRECTIVE ACTIONS
Storage drums for couplers to have their bottom
drilled with drain holes

Metal drums if used for storage should be

cleaned, painted and labeled.

Retain adequate quantity of drums

Sort out and isolate corroded

….. couplers rusting in a couplers/components, clean and treat them anti-
storage drum filled with water rust solution.
 “Throwing” Materials can
cause people to be hurt
or KILLED

Property damage

CONTRIBUTING FACTORS CORRECTIVE ACTIONS

No coupler’s bag - lack of recognition of the Provide leather bucket for couplers & ropes for
consequences - poor supervision tubes and planks.
 Don’t let your
work area look
like this!

Maintain good
housekeeping
! ! ALWAYS! !
Before scaffold erection starts, equipment must be checked for

• Excessive rust – a sign of abuse or neglect

• Straightness – must be in a serviceable condition
• Compatibility – with other types of equipment
• Weld integrity – check for cracks/signs of weakness

Inspection must be carried out be the “Competent Person” and

by the scaffold erector

Equipment should be free from damage or defect – all damaged

or defective equipment must be removed from service
ALL SCAFFOLDS ARE BUILT USING TUBULAR STEEL: -
STANDARDS – (Posts – Uprights)
LEDGERS – (Runners – Horizontals)
TRANSOMS – (Bearer – Putlog)
BRACING – (Ledger – Facade – Plan)

TUBE & COUPLER SCAFFOLDS ARE CONNECTED BY MEANS OF: -

DOUBLE COUPLER - (Right Angle - 90º Coupler)
SINGLE COUPLER - (Putlog – Bearer Coupler)
SWIVEL COUPLER - (Universal – Brace Coupler)
SLEEVE COUPLER - (Axial compression and tension)
INTERNAL JOINT PIN - (Axial compression only)
 This is a vertical tube that
bears the weight of the
scaffold

ALL joints in adjacent

standards must be
staggered for stability.
Sleeve Coupler or Joint
Pin may be used

Sole board under

Use base plate - size 150 x two standards
150

Sole boards (sills) must be used on all

surfaces except concrete of suitable thickness
MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE STANDARD SPACINGS FOR
LIGHT DUTY AND MEDIUM DUTY SCAFFOLDING

Light Duty 2.4m Maximum Medium Duty 2.1m Maximum

Longitudinal Standard Spacing
MAXIMUM PERMITTED LOADINGS
LIGHT DUTY 120 Kg PER M²
MEDIUM DUTY 240 Kg PER M²
UNIFORMLY DISTRIBUTED LOAD
 A Horizontal scaffold tube connected to
standards on the Longitudinal plane using load
Transoms (bearers)
bearing couplers only (DOUBLES)
supported by Ledger

Max lift height 2.00m

Ledger joints staggered

using SLEEVE COUPLERS
DOUBLE COUPLER Also known as “Right Angle” or “90°”
coupler.
Used to connect two tubes at right
angles to each other.
Safe working load 6.25kn (625kg) slip
on tube.

The Double Coupler is a load bearing coupler

Use Putlog couplers to A tube connected across
connect to ledgers at the width of the scaffold
platform level

Foot tie(Base Lift) - connect TRANSOM

to STANDARD using DOUBLE COUPLERS
 PUTLOG COUPLER
Also called Single Coupler
Used to connect transom and
intermediate transom tubes to
ledgers at the platform level.
Safe working load 0.53kn.
(54kg) force to pull tube
axially from coupler.

Putlog couplers are NOT load-bearing

 BEAM (GIRDER) CLAMP

SWL 10kn per pair vertical

Can be used in vertical

or horizontal plane

Load bearing
coupler. SWL 30kn
(3059kg) per pair
horizontal
Must always be
used in pairs
ONLY DROP
FORGED BEAM
CLAMPS WILL BE
USED.
 SWIVEL COUPLER
Also known as Universal or Brace coupler

Used to connect two tubes

to each other at any angle

Safe working load 6.25kn

(625kg) slip on tube.
 TRANSVERSE ZIG ZAG
BRACING TO TUBE AND Install Bracing to FULL
COUPLER SCAFFOLD HEIGHT of scaffold

Scaffold tied Maximum 300mm

to structure from node point

Install Bracing to both ends

of scaffold and to alternate
Typical angle 35° to 55° pairs of Standards between
 TRANSVERSE “CROSS”
BRACING TO TUBE AND
COUPLER SCAFFOLD 300mm maximum
from Node point

Scaffold tied
to structure
Install Cross Brace to
bottom lift and to every
Third lift up to the top
of the scaffold

Install Cross Brace to

both ends of scaffold
and to alternate pairs
of standards between
 FAÇADE BRACING
All SCAFFOLD HEIGHT EXCEEDS LENGTH
connections
within
300mm of
node point

Connect
bracing to
standard using
swivel coupler
OR to transom
using double Install bracing to
coupler both inner and
outer rows of
standards in
opposing directions

Angle of
Brace to
Standard -
35º to 55º
Install brace at correct angle from first standard to end of scaffold and repeat in
alternate directions to top of scaffold
Connect bracing FACADE BRACING
to standard SCAFFOLD LENGTH EXCEEDS HEIGHT All connections
using swivel Install bracing to both inner and outer within 300mm
coupler OR to rows of standards in opposing directions of node point
transom using
double coupler

Angle of
brace to
standard
-35º to 55º

Repeat brace every

Install brace at correct angle from FIFTH standard for
first standard to top of scaffold full length of scaffold
 LONGITUDINAL ZIG ZAG BRACING TO
TUBE AND COUPLER SCAFFOLDING
Connect bracing to standard using swivel Install bracing to both inner
coupler OR to transom using double coupler and outer rows of standards

Maximum 4 open bays

Angle of
brace to
standard -
35º to 55º

Install brace at correct angle All connections within

from bottom to top of scaffold 300mm of node point
 TWO WAY TIE – PLAN VIEW
TIES TO BE CONNECTED AT NODE
Scaffolds must be tied to POINTS WHERE TRANSOM AND
a permanent structure LEDGER SUPPORT THE STANDARD
when the platform height
is greater than 3 times the Timber packing to
shortest base dimension prevent damage

WALL OR SOLID USE load bearing

STRUCTURE
(Double) Couplers

TIE TUBES TO SCAFFOLD

SCAFFOLDS TO BE TIED TO A PERMANENT
STRUCTURE AT INTERVALS NOT EXCEEDING 32M²
 Tie tubes
COLUMN BOX TIE

Box tubes

TIE TUBES COUPLED TO TWO

ALTERNATIVE – COUPLE TIE
STANDARDS (UPRIGHTS)
TUBES TO TWO LEDGERS

USE ONLY load bearing

(Double) Couplers to form scaffold ties
 RAKERED SUPPORT
Only 1 lift above
Raker tie point

Base plate
Raker tie in point

Sole Board

Single tube Raker

– maximum 6m Detail
long @ 75º
approximate angle
Short Butt

Base Plate

Horizontal tie Alternative on

hard ground
tubes required
 ALL PLANKS OF A
SCAFFOLD
Planks 1.8m or less to PLATFORM MUST
be tied at both ends BE SECURED
Typical AGAINST
Ladder access ACCIDENTAL
opening
Transoms at DISPLACEMENT
maximum 1500mm
centers
Overlap
minimu
m 150mm min
300mm 300mm max

Intermediate transom
Standard

Support both ends Transom

of planks installed s
end to end
 CORRECTIVE ACTIONS
Control ‘open flame’ work
activities on scaffold platforms
Enforce 100% spark
containment.
CONTRIBUTING
FACTORS Ensure fire blankets are used
when doing ‘hot work’ from
Poor work practices scaffolding
Poor supervision Appoint fire watch with
No spark containment extinguisher
procedures Ensure close supervision of all
‘hot work’ activities
 A guardrail system is a series of
posts, rails and toe-boards
whose purpose is to prevent
people and equipment falling
from an elevated platform
REQUIREMENTS
Top rail 0.95 - 1.15 meters (38” - 45”)
Guardrail Post
above platform
Top rail Mid rail (knee rail) half way between top
rail and platform
Able to withstand a force of 90Kg
(200lbs) in any direction
Toe-board minimum height above platform
- 4” and must be at least 1” thick if made
of wood
Toe-board able to withstand force of
23Kg (50lbs) downward or horizontal
Protective screen, when used, made of 18
Toe board gauge wire or equivalent – maximum ½”
Mid (knee) rail mesh – fix to both guardrails and to toe
board
Hinge at this
SAFE CLEARANCES
point using
750mm behind user;
Swivel
250mm behind ladder;
Coupler SELF-CLOSING “DROP BAR” SAFETY
100mm toe clearance;
RAIL AT ACCESS TO WORKING
PLATFORM
325mm either side
(measured from ladder
center line)

LADDER ACCESS
WAY; MINIMUM 27”
(685mm) –
MAXIMNUM 30”
Ladder (760mm)
slope 4 up-1
ENSURE TOE BOARD
out
DOES NOT
OBSTRUCT ACCESS
 Side rails must be smooth
and without slivers or
projections. Ladders must
not be painted

Install on a firm
and level Do not support on
Wire or Nylon rope surface bricks or blocks to
square lashing around extend the ladder
side rails – not the rungs reach

Do not use as
platforms, walkways or
Keep area supports for planks
around ladders
Check tie rod clear of trash
on wooden and debris
ladders Do not use damaged or weakened
ladders
 Use proper trestles to
support scaffold
planks

Do not use rebar

or similar to
replace damaged
rungs

Do not lash ladders together – always

use an extension ladder to gain Do not use ladders with
additional height broken or damaged rungs
 WRONG !
Always face the
ladder
Pay attention
Keep both hands free RIGHT !
Keep 3 point
contact
2 hands & 1 foot
2 feet & 1 hand
 WRONG !
Ensure lanyard is
properly secured to A stable anchor point, EG
a stable anchor life line, structural beam
point etc. must be able to
withstand a load of Scaffold erectors
2500Kg must be tied off at
all times during
scaffold erection,
alteration and
dismantling
WRONG ! operations.
A ladder is not
a secure anchor
point
 Vertical Ladder
to be tied at Top, Hinged top rail at
Middle, & Bottom ladder step off
point
PLAN BRACE
Installed at bottom lift,
under platform and at
every three lifts between
Can be mobile (as
Maximum height to shown) or static using
top platform = 3 x base plates and sole
smallest base boards as required
dimension LOCKING CASTORS
Replace with base plates and
sole boards for static tower
Side elevation showing
ladder tying points Ladder attachment tubes;
attach ladder to short side of
scaffold wherever possible
 Tank shell

Top rail & Mid rail of

scaffold strength
Bracket strap and
tube or 10 MM wire
bracket assembly
rope
(Typical)
Guardrail post is
10mm thick fixed to bracket
steel plate strap
75mm (min.)

75mm x 5mm
fillet weld to tank Anchor plate
shell hooks over LIGHT DUTY CLASSIFICATION
bracket strap ONLY SAFE WORKING LOAD 120KG
/ M²
 Girder(Beam) clamp -
must be used in pairs
B Detai Section A - A
Rakers A
l

Preferred method
A
of hanger tube
fixing Detai
l

Alternative method of Check couplers on

fixing hanger tubes using trapeze tubes
Check couplers swivel couplers (minimum
4) Section B - B

ALL under hung(hanging) scaffolds are classified

as engineered scaffolds and must be designed
by a qualified person before erection commences
RED, “Do not use” scaffold tag to
be displayed, as soon as scaffold
erection starts, at any time when
the scaffold is being modified and
at all times when the scaffold is
being dismantled

GREEN, “Safe for use” scaffold

tag to be displayed after scaffold
is inspected by ‘Competent person’
and handed over for use

Remember to inspect scaffolds

BEFORE dismantling commences
Reverse Front

Inspection to be carried out by

competent person and result recorded in
the scaffold register

Inspect weekly and after:-

• Bad weather defined as rainfall in

excess of 40mm/hour and/or wind speed
of 65Km/hour or greater and/or
electrical storm.
• Major modification.
• Any mishap resulting in tilting,jarring or
overloading
Record of inspection here

All details to be completed by Competent Person

appointed by contractor
 Extensive training required for “Competent Persons and for scaffold workers

 No scaffolding work above unprotected employees

 Warn those below when scaffolding work commences

 Barricade the area where scaffolding work is in progress

 Use proper PPE at all time

 Report unstable footings, ties and connections immediately

 Be observant for unstable or missing boards

 Use the ladder to reach the working platform(s) DO NOT CLIMB THE SCAFFOLD
FRAMEWORK

 Do not use ladders on top of scaffolds to increase the working height

 Never overload the scaffold beyond the stated limits

 Only scaffolding personnel are permitted to alter scaffolds