INTRODUCTION TO

SCAFFOLDING INSPECTION

FOR HSE STAFF

Mark Stephens FIIRSM FInstLM FISQEMA

Disclaimer

• This training presentation does not qualify you to become

a Scaffold Inspector

• This presentation is purely for awareness training only

Definition

• Scaffold:

• 1. a temporary or movable platform or structure for holding workers and materials working high above the floor or ground during the erection, repair, decoration or demolition of a structure.

• 2. an elevated platform or structure on which criminals are killed by being hanged or beheaded

Definition

• Falsework:

• consists of temporary structures used in construction to support spanning or arched structures in order to hold the component in place until its construction is sufficiently advanced to support itself.

• Falsework also includes temporary support structures for formwork used to mold concrete to form a desired shape, and shoring which is temporary structural reinforcement used during repairs.

Definition

• Formwork: • is the term given to either

temporary or permanent

molds into which concrete or

similar materials are poured.

Rule #1 - don’t mix the three

Statistics

On average, 78 fatalities a year in

USA (2000 – 2010)

In a Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS)

study, 72% of workers injured in scaffold

accidents attributed the accident either to

the planking or support giving way, or to

the employee slipping or being struck by

a falling object.

70%

12%

18%

Facts – Scaffolding fatality study

Falls

Collapse

Electro-cution

Typical Middle East Scenario

• Project Manager:

“You’re the HSE Manager – it’s your job to sign-off the scaffolding”

Only a (scaffold) competent person can erect, modify, move, maintain, inspect or dismantle scaffolding, or if being trained, is being supervised by a (scaffold) competent person.

Competency

Inspection: Structural Engineer Scaffold Inspector (3 day) Scaffold Supervisor (3 day)(6 months experience at level 3)

Erection, modification, moving, maintaining, or dismantling : Level 3 (5 day) (6 months experience at level 2)

Level 2 (5 day) (6 months experience at level 1)

Level 1 (5 day)

Trainee laborer/apprentice (1 day)

Overseas Competent Persons (Scaffolds)

All scaffolds over 10m long, over 8m in height, hung, cantilever or suspended scaffolds must be designed by a qualified, professional structural engineer. All calculations and the design drawing(s) must be included in an Appendix of the Health & Safety Construction Plan, that can be extracted and used as a Scaffolding Plan. Once erected, designed scaffolds must be approved and signed off by the structural engineer as being built to the design.

Overseas Competent Persons (Scaffolds)

Occupational Health Standards

All workers during the orientation/ induction process shall be required

to complete a health assessment questionnaire, which shall be kept

on file within the site first aid facility.

Questions within the health assessment questionnaire shall be based

on typical construction work activities that will encountered on the

project , examples are, but not limited to:

Are you taking any medication which may affect your capacity to

do your job safely?

Do you suffer from vertigo?

Overseas Competent Persons (Scaffolds)

Types - System

Prefabricated and all components are predesigned to fit in specific places. Fast but lacking in flexibility.

Types – Open Tube & Coupler/Clamp

• Allows for greater flexibility of design, but compared to a system scaffold, it is a bit slower to erect and requires competency

Types – Timber / Bamboo

Typical Middle East Scenario

• Project Manager:

“You’re the HSE Manager – it’s your job to sign-off the scaffolding”

Where do I start?

Scaffolding Hazards

Where do I start?

Falls from Height

Incomplete working platforms

Incomplete cover of openings (floor & wall)

Insufficient sized working platform

Use of equipment to gain extra height

Incomplete/Insufficient access

Poor Housekeeping (Slips & trips)

Failure to wear PPE (PFAS) where required

Falling Objects

Scaffolding Hazards

Where do I start? Structural Collapse

Incorrect set-up

Anchorages

Poor quality materials

Unstable footings

4:1 ratio

Movement

Gravity

Overloading

Weather

Damaged material

Electrocution

Overhead Power Lines

Temporary Electrical equipment (poor grounding/earthing)

Lightning

Risk Profile

Where do I start?

What’s going to hit the headlines?

Rule #2 – Stop it falling over

Gravity

Structural Collapse

All scaffolds must be prevented

from collapsing or tipping by

secure attachment to the

bearing surface or to another

structure by the means of the

following methods:

Structural Collapse

Reveal Tie

Structural Collapse

Box Tie

Structural Collapse

Through Tie (2-way tie)

Structural Collapse

Lip Tie

Structural Collapse

Cast-in

Structural Collapse

Drilled-in

Structural Collapse

Tie Safety Criteria

Lowest level of ties at the lift

closest to the height of 4 times the

minimum base dimension (4:1

ratio).

Highest level of ties as close to the

top of the scaffold as possible.

Spaced vertically every 8 meters (4

lifts) or less.

Installed at both ends of the

scaffold and at horizontal intervals

no more than 9 meters measured

from one end toward the other.

Structural Collapse

Rakers

Structural Collapse

Outriggers

Structural Collapse

Cross Tube Anchor

Structural Collapse

Driven Tube & Wire Anchor

Gravity

Gravity

Structural Collapse

Bracing

BEARER (TRANSOM)POST (STANDARD)

TRANSVERSE (SECTIONAL) "ZIG-ZAG" BRACING

TUBE & COUPLER SCAFFOLD

4th LIFT

3rd LIFT

2nd LIFT

1st LIFT

Base Lift35o-55o

(TYP.)

MAX. 3OPEN BAYS

Structural Collapse

Bracing

RUNNER (LEDGER)

POST (STANDARD)

LONGITUDINAL (FAÇADE) "ZIG-ZAG" BRACING

TUBE & COUPLER SCAFFOLD

3rd LIFT

2nd LIFT

1st LIFT

Base Lift35o-55o

(TYP.)

BRACING REPEATED EVERY

5th POST (STANDARD)

Structural Collapse

Footings

Structural Collapse

Footings

Structural Collapse

Footings

Structural Collapse

Weather

"Sheeted Scaffolds" or scaffolds that have nets or tarpaulins attached to them must

have specific calculations and design conducted by a structural engineer to address

the issue of "wind-sail" on the complete structure.

Structural Collapse

Weather

In windy conditions, manufacturer's instructions must be adhered to; usually at

17mph all work should cease on mobile towers.

Structural Collapse

Overloading

Each scaffold and scaffold component must support without failure its own

weight and at least four times the maximum intended load applied or transmitted

to it.

Structural Collapse

Correct Connections

Couplers should be free from worn threads or damaged bolts and excess oil

which reduces friction grip.

Structural Collapse

Correct Connections

Structural Collapse

Serviceable material

Tubes should not be split, cracked, rusty, bent or distorted, and ends should be

cut square and clean.

Structural Collapse

Serviceable material

Scaffold boards must be a minimum of 1,500 lb-f/in2 construction grade

lumber, fitted with end hoop irons for protection.

Structural Collapse

Movement

No attempt should be made to

move tall, fully-erected towers. The

tower must be reduced to a safe

height appropriate to the ground

conditions. Normally as guidance,

the height should not exceed 2 1/2

times the minimum base

dimension.

.

No persons or materials must be

on the tower during movement.

Rule #3 – stop someone from falling off

Falls from Height

Incomplete Working Platform

Falls from Height

Working Platform Overhangs

Falls from Height

Working area size

Falls from Height

Gaining extra height

Falls from Height

Housekeeping

Rule #4 – stop someone from falling through

Falls from Height

Floor Openings

Falls from Height

Gaps between Scaffold & Structure

Falls from Height

Gaps between Working Platform boards

Falls from Height

Rebar Caps

Access

Ladders

Access

Ramps

Rule #5 – stop tools & materials falling off

Falling Objects

Fans

Falling Objects

Sheeting

Falling Objects

Netting

Falling Objects

Waste Chutes

Scaffolding Contractors

Handover Certificates

Electrical Safety

Overhead Power Lines

Electrical Safety

Temporary Electrical Safety

Inspections

Visible Records

Summary

Rules

1. Never mix scaffolding/formwork/falsework 2. Stop the scaffolding falling over 3. Stop someone falling off 4. Stop someone falling through 5. Stop tools & materials falling off

INTRODUCTION TO

SCAFFOLDING INSPECTION

Any Questions ?