WORKING

AT HEIGHTS

SCAFFOLDS
 SCAFFOLDS

All scaffolds must be designed, erected,

inspected, maintained by suitable competent
persons.

A safety harness and lifeline secured to a

suitable anchorage point must be used when
working on a tower or mobile access platform.
 SCAFFOLDS

Check that all scaffolds:

• Are planned, installed, altered and
dismantled by a competent person and
that the work is supervised.
• Are capable of supporting the imposed
loading.
• Have boards which are wide enough to
carry out the work and are properly fitted.
• Have safety ladder or other means of
access to the platform.
• Are appropriate to the task before using
them.
 SCAFFOLDS

FOUNDATIONS:

• All free standing structures must be built on solid foundations

and must be vertical.
• If on sloping ground, they must be prevented from slipping
• Towers inside buildings must be on level floors or adequately
compacted sub-bases.
• When the ground is soft foundations, a sole base must be
mounted and the tower must be firmly fixed.
• When the ground is sloping, the sole plates must be dug in
flat.
SCAFFOLDS

Bracing:
• The towers must be adequately stiffened
on all sides and in plan at every alternate
lift.

Access:
• there must be a safe method of getting
to and from the work platform.
• It is not safe to climb up the end frames
of the tower, except where the frame has
an appropriately designed built-in ladder.
• Access to the top of towers must be by
ladders either built into the framework or
attached to the top of the tower and
preferably inside the base area.
 SCAFFOLDS

Deck:
• The working surface must be fully boarded.
• The supports for the boards must be fit for the purpose.
• If the boards are short, they must be prevented from
sliding.
• The deck must be provided with guard rails and toe
boards

Operation:
• The user must apply no horizontal force at any of the
working decks either by hauling heavy ropes and cables
or lifting significant loads.
 SCAFFOLDS

STABILITY

• Make sure the tower is on firm level ground with the wheels or feet
properly supported.
• Do not use bricks or building blocks to take the weight of any part
of the tower.

O NG
WR

HT
RIG
 SCAFFOLDS

STABILITY

• The taller the tower, the greater its instability.

• As a simplified rule, if the tower is to be used in exposed
conditions, the height of the working platform must be no
more the minimum base dimension.
• If the tower is to be used inside, on firm, level ground, the ratio
may be extended to 3.5.
• Mobile access towers must be fitted with lockable castors in
good conditions at the bottom of the uprights.
 SCAFFOLDS

STABILITY

The stability of any tower may be affected by:

• Exposure to strong winds
• Loading of heavy equipment
• Hoist of heavy materials
• Use of tower for heavy or complex operations
• Climbing from outside

Use a support for ladders:

•never place a ladder on the
top platform
O NG
in order to extend the height
•
WR
of a tower scaffold.
 SCAFFOLDS

EDGE PROTECTION

Suitable edge protection (toe boards and guard rails) should be

provided on all platforms.

Guard rails must be, at least, 910mm high and toe boards at least
150mm high.

An intermediate guard rail (or suitable alternative) must be provided

so the unprotected gap does not exceed 470mm.
 SCAFFOLDS

INSPECTION

• Scaffolds must be inspected

at a maximum of 7 working
day intervals, always before
use and after inclement
weather or movement.

• When dismantling a tower

do not throw rope, if
necessary.
 SCAFFOLDS

ERECTION AND DISMANTLING

• Helmets must be worn at all times during

the erection or dismantling of towers and
when the tower is in use.

• When dismantling a tower, do not throw

materials down; lower them down by rope,
if necessary.
 SCAFFOLDS
DUTIES
As guidance, reference can be made to Table 1. Taken from British Standard BS
5793 : 1993 Tubular steel scaffolds
TABLE 1. ACCESS AND WORKING SCAFFOLDS OF STEELTUBE

Distributed Commonly
Duty loads on Max. N.º of used widths Max. Bay
Use of platform platform platform (using length
KN/m2 225mm
boards)

Inspection Inspection, pointing,

and very light stone cleaning, light 1 working platform 3 boards 2,7m
duty cleaning and access 0,75

Plastering, painting 2 working

Light Duty stone cleanings 1,50 platforms 4 boards 2,4m
glazing

General building 5 boards

2 working or 4
General work including platform +1 at
purpose brickwork, window 2,00 boards + 1 2,1m
very light duty board
and mullion fixing inside
 SCAFFOLDS
DUTIES
As guidance, reference can be made to Table 1. Taken from British Standard BS
5793 : 1993 Tubular steel scaffolds

TABLE 1. ACCESS AND WORKING SCAFFOLDS OF TUBES AND COUPLERS

Distributed Commonly
Duty loads on Max. N.º of used widths Max. Bay
Use of platform platform platform (using length
KN/m2 225mm
boards)

5 boards or
Block work, 2 working platform 5 boards +
Heavy duty brickwork, heavy 2,50 + 1 at very light 1 inside or 2,0m
cladding duty 4 boards +
1 inside

Masonry work,
concrete block work 1 working
Masonry or and very heavy 3,00 platform + 1 6 to 8 1,80m
special duty cladding at very light boards
duty
 SCAFFOLDS

Ladder access to scaffolds

• Ladder access to scaffolds are

usually built and supported by the
stiles.
• Every sloping ladder must stand on a
firm and level base.
• Ladders must not be extended by
lashing two length together.
 SCAFFOLDS

Ladder access to scaffolds

• Ladders access to scaffolds must

be provided with toe boards and
guard rails.
• If it is not possible to have toe
boards adjacent to the rungs, use
double guard rail.
H
• Where practicable, it should be
set at an angle of 4 vertical to 1
horizontal D=
H/4
 TYPES OF SCAFFOLDS
PUTLOG SCAFFOLDS
• They consist of a single row of uprights, parallel to the face of the building.
• The inner edge of the platform is as close to the wall as practicable.
• The scaffold uses the wall the building to support the inside edges.

Bay le
ngth

Longitudinal bracing
in zig-zag patern Guardrails and toeboards
fixed to the standards

Through tie

Putlog or right angle coupler

Bridle Joint pin
Putlog adaptor
or head

Flat ended putlog

Joint pin or
sleeve coupler Ledger fixed with right

TYPICAL
angle couplers

PUTLOG 38x225 mm timber sole plate

when standing on soil
Longitudinal or
SCAFFOLD focade bracing
 TYPES OF SCAFFOLDS
PUTLOG SCAFFOLDS
• The scaffold is fixed to the wall by a tie member, normally a tube or an
anchorage.
• Suppliers’ information about tie Secured packing

methods must be followed.

• Where no specific information is
supplied, the requirements of the
relevant national standards must be
followed.
• The type of tie must be selected to
suit the typing requirements and the
nature of facade. Bridle tube

• Building structure integrity must be

established by test, if necessary.
Tie

• The structure must be adequate to

sustain the loads which will be
transferred to it.
 TYPES OF SCAFFOLDS
INDEPENDENT SCAFFOLDS
• An independent scaffold consists
of a double row of uprights, with
each row parallel to the building.

• The inner row is set as close to

the building as practicable.

• The transoms are not built into the

wale of the building.

• The scaffold must be tied to the

building.

• Longitudinal (diagonal) bracing is

generally fixed to alternate pairs
standards.

TYPICAL
INDEPENDENT
SCAFFOLDS
 TYPES OF SCAFFOLDS
TOWER AND MOBILE ACCESS SCAFFOLDS

TOWER MOBILE TOWER

 TYPES OF SCAFFOLDS
TOWER AND MOBILE ACCESS SCAFFOLDS

BEFORE USING ANY SCAFFOLD, CHECK:

• You have the correct quantities of all the

components for the proposed height of
the tower, including a rope, if necessary,
to assist erection/dismantling

• Precautions against collision of persons

or vehicles were taken.
• In mobile access scaffolds, castors are
locked as well as fitted
 TYPES OF SCAFFOLDS
TOWER AND MOBILE ACCESS SCAFFOLDS
When assembling the scaffold:

• Fit all components in the exact sequence shown in the manufacturer’s manual.

• Fit stabilisers as soon as possible when erecting the scaffold.

• Check that the tower is vertical, in both planes.

• Fit two guard rails on each side of the platforms and toe boards to all platforms,
except where the manufacturer’s manual indicates otherwise.

X Wrong Right
Remember all manufacturer’s
instructions are given taking into
account that the tower has all
precaution to ensure that it is stable.
 TYPES OF SCAFFOLDS
TOWER AND MOBILE ACCESS SCAFFOLDS

• In order to move the tower, follow these

steps:

- Check that materials and people are

removed

- Unlock the tower castors. X Wrong

- Ensure that the ground level path is

firm and level without obstructions,
bumps, hollows, power cables, phone
wires…etc  Right
- Move the tower by manual effort from
ground level only.

- Re- lock the tower castors and

replace stabilisers of the equipment. X Wrong
 TYPES OF SCAFFOLDS
TOWER AND MOBILE ACCESS SCAFFOLDS

BEFORE USING ANY SCAFFOLD, CHECK:

• That the manufacture’s instruction

manual is available.

• All components for damage or

corrosion.

• That equipment is in compliance with

local bye-laws and all regulations.

• That the ground is firm and level.

X Wrong  Right