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• Scaffold Safety is for the QHSES Leadership Networks
• By Alli Kabir A.

Objectives

• Learners will understand scaffolding concepts and applications.
• Learners will understand scaffolding in relation to other Work at Height (WAH) equipment.
• Learners will understand the operational risks and controls in scaffolding.
• Learners will grasp the concept of Safety vs. ALARP (As Low As Reasonably Practicable) vs. continuous improvement in risk management.
• Learners will learn general safety rules in scaffolding.

The Term "Scaffolding"

• In education it refers to a process through which a teacher supports students to help facilitate learning and aid mastery of skills.
• This breaking down of a lesson entails different levels and the provision of tools for students for each chunk.
• Scaffolding strategies include tapping into prior knowledge, pre-teaching vocabulary, and the use of questioning and visual aids.
• In medicine scaffold is a framework or structural element that holds/supports tissue together.
• Examples of its use include the use of biomaterials, such as tissues and tendon to support bones during healing.
• In construction scaffolding provides support for working at height for window cleaning, roof work, billboard installation, and house painting.

What is Work at Height?

• Work at height is when work is carried out at a place where one could fall a distance liable to cause personal injuries and injuries to others.

Statistics

• OSHA FATAL FOUR
  • Falls account for 36% of fatalities
  • Struck by Objects accounts for 10% of fatalities
  • Electrocutions accounts for 9% of fatalities
  • Caught in / Between accounts for 2% of fatalities
• Falls from a height accounts for 47% of fatalities
• Trapped by something collapsing/overturning accounts for 16% of fatalities
• Struck by moving, including flying/falling, object accounts for 12% of fatalities
• Struck by moving vehicle accounts for 10% of fatalities
• Contact with electricity or electrical discharge accounts for 4% of fatalities
• In 2014, the leading cause of construction workplace deaths was from falls, with more than 100,000 injuries and deaths attributable to work-related falls.

Work at Height: Regulations & Considerations

• At what height is work considered to be "at height"?

• Nigerian Factory Act 1990, Part 3, section 28:7 states that if a person is liable to fall a distance more than two meters, secure footing and hand-holds must be provided.

• Construction Health safety and Welfare regulation 1996 applies to work at height only in the construction industry.

• Work at height regulation 2002 limits work at height to a height from 2m above.

• Work at Height Regulation 2005 possesses that there is no minimum height for working at height.

• Emphasis is placed on the need for risk assessment.

• Emphasis is placed on the need for a job to be properly planned, supervised and carried out by a competent person.

• When planning for work at height consider the work activity, other activities around that work, the equipment to be used, the location and any hazards, the weather, the condition of work surfaces, the duration of the work, and the competency of the workers.

Various Equipment for working at height

• Movable Elevated working Platform (MEWP)
• Ladder
• Hop up
• Podium
• Stilts
• Scaffold
• Crane and Basket

Why Scaffolding?

• Ladders

  • Advantages: Speed
  • Disadvantages: Unstable, no rest platform, only 3 point contacts

• Scaffold

  • Advantages: Stable, rest platform available and personnel are made more comfortable.
  • Disadvantage: A bit slow

• MEWP

  • Advantages: Speed
  • Disadvantages: Restricted working access, limited load, access problems

• Scaffold

  • Advantages: No restricted working access, more load allowed, and no access problems

• Cranes and Basket

  • Advantages: Speed
  • Disadvantages: Unstable, restricted access, high risk, and small work area

• Scaffold

  • Advantages: High Stability, unrestricted access, comparatively low risk, and more spaced work area

Scaffold Statistics

• 65% (2.3milion) construction workers work from scaffolds (Bureau of Labour statistics).
• There are 60 deaths and 4,500 fatal injuries from scaffold related accidents.
• 40 fatal injuries occur every year from scaffold-related accidents.

What is a Scaffold?

• A Scaffold is defined as a temporary elevated structure (platform) used for working at height, which is built and used in accordance to legal requirements.
• Requirements are determined by by HSE executive, UK.
• It clears the mind-set of anything goes approach.
• It shows that scaffolding is a well guided endeavor.
• It highlights to adhere to legal guidelines as such.
• It emphasizes only using competent individuals who have been trained on the legal requirements for safe operations.

Legal Guidelines

• Health and safety at work act 2005
• Provision and use of work equipment regulations 1998.
• Management of health and safety at work regulations 1998
• Working at height regulations 2005
• Manual Handling regulations,1994
• Code of practice:
  • SG 4:20
  • TG 20:21
  • BS EN 12811-1
• Note: US Guidelines on scaffolding 29 CFR 1926.451

Health and Safety at work act 2005

• Lays duties on everyone at work.
• The employer MUST provide:
  • A safe place of work
  • A safe system of work
  • Safe plant and equipment
  • Training, information, instruction and supervision.
• The employee MUST:
  • Take care of themselves
  • Take care of anyone who may be affected by their actions.
• The self employed have the same duties as the Employer and Employees.

Provision and Use of work Equipment Regulations (PUWER)1998

• Places duties on employers and suppliers to provide equipment for use which meeting three basic criteria:
  • The equipment must be fit for use - it must work.
  • The equipment must be fit for it's intended purpose - it must do what you want it to do.
  • The equipment must comply legally and meet all standards as might be required.

Management of Health and Safety at work Regulation 1998

• Places duties on employers to carry out risk assessment on all work activities.
• Assessment will identify risks to peoples health and safety.
• Hazards found during work activities which have the potential to cause harm need to be removed.
• Controls must be implimented as to reduce the likelihood of harm to the lowest possible risk.

Work at Height Regulations 2005

• Places duties on employers to do all that reasonably practicable to prevent anyone from falling.
• Highlights the hierarchy of controls for managing and selecting equipment for work at height; Avoid, Prevent then Minimise.
• The best time for tackling hazards is from the design stage.
• At design point control is less expensive and easier to carry out.

Manual Handling Regulations 1994

• Places duty on employer to carry out risk assessment on activities which may involve manually
• Manual handling injury risk reduction
  • Remove the need to manually handle loads
  • Redesign the work place or equipment
  • Redesign the work process to reduce manual handling operations
  • Reduce the size, weight, shape or centre of gravity of loads
  • Make available mechanical means so loads can be moved easily and safely

Lifting Equipment Lifting Operations Regulations 1998 (LOLER)

• Applies to any work equipment used for lifting or lowering loads.
• It requires that lifting equipment and accessories for lifting are inspected within stipulated period.
• S.W.L of the equipment or accessories must be indicated and also that S.W.L must not be exceeded.
• A Gin Wheel is a mechanical aid for lifting Materials

Codes of practice

• These are specific detailed information on how to achieve compliance with respect to a particular standard.
• It shares information on work ethics, guidance and operational procedures with respect to standard.
• A Code of practice is usually from professional bodies.
  • NASC (uk) releases codes of practices on scaffolding.

Codes of Practice

• SG4:20 focuses on the prevention of falls
• TG 20:21 is technical guidance of design of tubes and fitting.
• Guidance focuses on the various materials requirements for tubes and fittings scaffold
• It addresses:
  • sizes and thickness of board
  • tubes thickness and sizes
  • couplers
• BS EN 12811-1 specifies the performance requirements and methods for structural and general design for access and working platform for prefabricated scaffold.

Other Codes of Practice

• SG 5:18 Overhead power sources and Earthing of scaffold structures.
• Safe Powerline Distances:
  • Low voltages equals 1m distance from equipment.
  • 11kv and 33kv equals 3m distance from equipment.
  • 132kv line equals 6m distance from equipment.
  • 275kv and 400kv lines equals 7m from equipment.

Scaffold Inspectors

• Scaffold inspectors is someone who has been trained on the legal requirements guidance for safe scaffolding.
• They assess scaffold in accordance with the legal Guidance. -Only confirmed safe by Inspector prior to use.
• Scaffold Tagging is scaffolding identification tagging
  • Color coded - yellow, red and green for different status.

Risks and Controls

• Safety is that condition of work where every risks have been reduced to ALARP.
• ALARP means As Low As Reasonably Practicable
• ALARP is a concept of risk management that centered on using measures that the costs are not grossly disproportionate to the desires results
• Reasonably practicable entails weighing risk controls method against:
  • Trouble/Efforts required
  • Time required
  • Cost Involved
  • Result to be achieved
• Evaluating whether to use:
  • 1 million naira for treating 5 personnel with bruised legs
  • 1 million naira for the prevention of an explosion that could in turn, kill 200 personnel.
• ALARP risk Assessement includes:
  • Broadly Acceptable Risk
  • Tolerable Risk
  • Intolerable Risk

Deduction from ALARP Theory

• There is no risk free environment; every environment has risks.
• We must continuously look in the way of continuous improvement.
• Continuous Improvement is a concept of risk management that entails one should continuously look for way for an improved version of control measures.
• A method of driving and ensuring continuing improvement requires:
  • Continuous assessment and re - assessment
  • Continuous Engagement and re-engagement
  • Continuous Inspection and re-inspection
  • Continuous alignment and re-alignment

10 Tips on Scaffold Safety

• Always engage competent person.
• Ensure that ground surface is firm and level.
• Tag scaffold to indicate status: safe or unsafe.
• Never overcrowd scaffold with equipment and personnel.
• Personnel must not stretch over guard rail.
• Ensure scaffold is always inspected before use.
• Harnesses with Double lanyards should be used by personnel working on scaffold to allow for safe movement.
• Scaffold to be ispected after every 7 days and after inclement weather conditions.