Scaffoldings

          Scaffolding means a temporary structure of poles or tubes and planks providing workmen with platforms to stand/work on while building or repairing a plant or house. It also provides support for the materials used in construction, maintenance, repair and demolition work.

OR

          Scaffolds are elevated platform being construction for supporting both men and materials at construction site. Scaffold should be designed to support at least four times the maximum intended.

A “Trained” and “Competent” person must be appointed to oversee scaffold erection dismantling and alteration.

Anchorage: A secure point of attachment, not part of the working structure, to which lifeline, drop lines or lanyard are affixed. An anchorage must be capable of supporting a minimum dead weight of 5000 pounds or 2268 Kg for every person attached to it.

          An anchorage meeting the 5000 pounds requirement must be part of a complete personal fall arrest system which maintains a safety factor of at least and used under the supervision of a qualified person. An anchorage is often a beam, girder and column.

Personal Fall Arrest system: A system used to arrest a fall from a working level. A personal fall arrest system consists of an anchorage, connectors, a body harness and may include a lanyard with a locking snap hook.

Continuous Fall Protection: Fall protection can be achieved through the following: –

        a) Eliminate fall hazards.

        b) Prevent falls.

        c) Use of proper fall arrest equipment.

        d) Preparing fall protection plans.

        e) Training employees.

Types of Scaffolds

        1. Stationary:  It is a fixed type does not require to move and upright and provide with a ladder.

        2. Movable or Mobile:         It is used where it is require moving the scaffolding for accruing the different areas. It is provided with a wheel or castor with breaking arrangement ratio of base & height in 1:4.

        3. Suspended or Hanging type:  It is type of scaffold when support from ground is not available, support is taken from the top or above with ladder for access.

Note: when not in use scaffold parts should be cleaned and protect from deterioration and kept in stand.

Types of Scaffolding

        1.     Static Scaffolding

        2.     Independent Scaffolding

        3.     Birdcage Scaffolding

        4.     Cantilever Scaffolding

        5.     Hanging Scaffolding

        6.     Mobile Tower Scaffolding

Scaffolding Certification

          Scaffolding shall be inspected and certified before use following alternation or after being exposed any abnormal condition like rain, storm, etc. the certification should be signed by a competitive person (Supervisor or Safety Officer) before handover the same for usage. Special attention should be given for fixing of wooden boards, foundation below the base plate and standard. 

        Copies of inspection report shall be given to the user, area in-charge & site safety officer. In case scaffold modified or any board or ladder removed, again inspection shall be done, and a new certificate shall be issued. Always keep scaffold platform free from rubbish, rusted and other structure. All necessary PPEs shall be used at all times.

Scaffold Tags

          Scaffold tags are warning sign installed on scaffold during erection completed or defective to warn the user.

• Red Tag: Defective scaffolds warn the person not to use until rectified.
• Yellow Tag: During erection in progress to warn the scaffold is not ready to use.
• Green Tag: After completion inspected and found fit for usage.

Scaffold construct may be of:

        a) Wooden pole and Bamboo scaffolds.

        b) Steel tubular scaffolds.

        c) Fabricated scaffolds.

Materials of Scaffolds

Materials of Construction           :         Mild Steel “A” class

Standard length                         :         6 meters

Standard diameter                    :         40 mm

Fittings                                      :         Right angled coupler, Put log coupler, Joint pins, reveal pins.

Working platform                       :         planks of 2.5X1.5 meters, 40 mm thick.

Handrails                                :         at 100 cm height.

Safety Measures in Scaffolds

1. To be erected by trained personal.
2. Scaffolds must be properly braced.
3. Platform must be properly supported.
4. Guardrail, Toe board must be provided.
5. Scaffold pipes must be mounted on steel base plate. Loose packing, bricks must not be used.
6. Platform should be close and platform which are over lapping, or excessive over hanging should be avoided.
7. Diagonal bracing to be given to full length of the scaffold at 30 meters of intervals.
8. Scaffolds should be inspected in every 7 days.

Points to be checked: –

        1. The alignment supports.

        2. The straightness.

        3. Adequate of bracing.

        4. The soundness of platform planks.

        5. The guard rail and toe board.

        6. Condition of ladder.

        7. The tie at binding/structure.

        8. Use of unsuitable & faulty materials.

        9. Inadequate irregular platform width.

10. Overloading of platform.

11. Slippery condition of platform.

12. Erected on uneven ground.

13. Failure to secure scaffolds to the building or brace it adequately.

Inspection Scaffold

1. Level & firmness of the ground.

2. Check Sole plate LXWXH = 300X300X6 mm.

3. Check Base plate LXWXH = 150X150X6 mm.

4. Check the conditions of Standards, Ledger, Transoms, Couplers (loose ones), Planks (properly placed, no gapping, workable), Toe Board (height 150 mm), Guard Rail (height – 950 mm to 1200 mm), Mid Rail (height – 450 mm to 600mm), Ladder (75^o angle and 4:1 ratio).

As per BOCW Act scaffold should be inspected once in a week.

Associated Hazards

        – Inadequate supported scaffold board.

        – Falling from height.

        – Irregular platform width.

        – Omission of Guard Rail or Toe Boards.

        – Failure of Secure Scaffolds.

        – Unsecure Ladder Slip.

        – Overloading of Platform and Scaffolds.

        – Falling of Person or Object.

        – Protruding Nail injuries.

        – Hit by Exposed parts of Scaffolds.

Competent Person

          One who is capable of identifying hazards in the working conditions which are dangerous to employees and who has authorization to take prompt, corrective measures to eliminate them.

Qualified Person

          One who possess a recognized degree and have extensive knowledge, training and experience has successfully demonstrated his ability to solve problems to the work or the project.

Components:

        1.     Base plate

        2.     Sole plate

        3.     Standards

        4.     Ledgers

        5.     Transoms

        6.     Bracing

        7.     Couplers

– Right angle coupler

– Putlog or single coupler

– Swivel coupler

– Ladder retaining coupler

        8.     Working platform

        9.     Toe board

        10. Guard rails

        11. Mid rail

        12. Top rail

        13. Ladder

        14. Scaffold plank

        15. False upright

Types of Bracing

        1.     Cross Bracing

        2.     Knee Bracing

        3.     Sway Bracing

        4.     Plane Bracing

Types of Clamps

        1.     Right angle (Fix Clamp) – 610 Kg

        2.     Swivel (Chalu Clamp) – 610 Kg

        3.     Sleeve Coupler (Box Clamp) – 550 Kg

        4.     Ladder Clamp – 550 Kg

        5.     Plank Coupler (Jaali Clamp) – 565 Kg

        6.     Beam Clamp – 3000 Kg

Types of Safety Net

        1.     Manhole – 100 mm, Rope – 8 mm

        2.     Material Hole – 25 mm, Out-line Rope – 12 mm

Scaffolds parts

Base plate or Sole plate:         It is a 6” X 6” metal (Mild Steel) with welded pin in the middle on which standard is the supported. It is used to distribute the load from the standard for the base plate to the ground.

Standard:    It is a vertical steel pipe 6 meters length fixed parallel to the base plate of the building. It acts as a support for the tie tubes and ledger braces.

Ledger:       It is a horizontal steel pipe normally fixed parallel to the base plate of the building. It acts as a support for the tie tubes and ledger braces.

Click on “Scaffolding SWL” & “Toolbox Talk” for more legibility.