Top Tips for Safe Scaffold Construction

Scaffolding is a temporary structure which supports workers and materials during the construction, repair, and maintenance of buildings. Naturally, there are many safety protocols which must be adhered to when working on scaffolding structures to minimise the risk of any accidents or injuries. While there are many safety concerns for people working on scaffolding, there are also many safety measures which must be implemented when the scaffold structure itself is assembled.

Scaffold assembly is a high risk endeavour for both construction workers and the general public, and today we’ll be offering you a simple guide to scaffold assembly to ensure your project runs smoothly, safely, and efficiently.

Qualifications

The first consideration with scaffold assembly is making sure that only licensed personnel are performing this activity on the construction site. There are three types of 'Scaffolding High-Risk Work License' (Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced) which enables individuals to construct different types of scaffolding depending on their qualifications. For instance, a Basic license allows workers to erect a bracket scaffold but an Advanced license is needed to construct cantilevered hoists. Where any scaffolding rises above four metres in height, it's vital that those who construct scaffolding have the appropriate license.

Scaffold stability

One of the most vital considerations during the assembly process is scaffold stability. To ensure your scaffold is stable and doesn't demonstrate any risks of collapsing, ensure that:

·         The anchors specified to tie a scaffold to a structure are set up correctly and are ideal for the base material

·         Each scaffold anchor and tie is placed incrementally as work advances during the construction process

·         Scaffolds are never overloaded with equipment or materials, specifically tubes and fitting, during the assembly process

·         On a sheeted or netted scaffold, more ties may be mandated to ensure stability

·         Ensure an extensive inspection of the scaffold structure is completed before the scaffold is used

Protecting the public

A lot of construction obviously happens in high density locations where pedestrians are walking nearby. During the assembly of scaffolding, it's imperative that the public are excluded from both the area of work and an acceptable area around it. The following steps should be performed:

·         Contemplate disability access along the sidewalks where scaffolding stands

·         Attain a temporary street/sidewalk closure permit over the course of construction

·         Insert barriers and signs to redirect the public away from the construction site

·         Never elevate or lower materials over members of the public or other construction workers

·         Include scaffold tunnels, crash decks, and fans into the scaffold as soon as feasible

Fall prevention

To minimise the risks of falls, contractors should pinpoint any hazards, analyse the risk of injury, and employ control measures which lower these risks.

Hazards which can amplify the risk of a fall when erecting scaffold include:

·         Poor environmental conditions, for instance rain, glare, and wind

·         Inadequate training or supervision

·         Unprotected void areas like ladder access voids

·         Equipment, materials, or protruding objects below the scaffolding, for instance rubbish skips, pallets, reinforcing steel, and picket fences

·         Incomplete scaffolds or loose components where work is being carried out

Fall-arrest systems are only mandated during certain scaffold construction tasks and are typically not used when constructing scaffolding because:

·         Attaining sound anchorage points is tough

·         Regularly hooking on and off the scaffold is undesirable

·         Workers may crash into a component of the scaffold before being arrested

·         Fall arrest lines could become trip hazards

Along with the above, the following measures should also be performed:

·         Whenever lowering or elevating materials, workers must be clipped on or working from a platform that is completely boarded and has double guard rails and toe boards

·         Safe ladder access should be integrated as soon as possible when constructing scaffolding

·         As erection work advances, a minimum of three board working platforms together with a single guard rail must be provided

·         At least one bay of scaffolding should remain boarded out as work continues and this should be used for ladder access for the full height of the scaffold

Training

Naturally, the most significant factor in minimising any accidents when using scaffolding is reliable training and supervision. Ensuring that all safety protocols are being followed is an undertaking that needs to be carried out constantly. If you have any questions relating to safety during the erection of scaffolding, get in contact with the specialists at Uni-Span who can guide you in the right direction. To learn more, phone 1300 882 825.