Workplace Scaffold

January 2023
Introduction

• To establish the minimum safety-related technical requirements for

temporary elevated work platforms.
• This training is designed to refresh your knowledge and ability of
scaffold inspection
• Scaffold types
• International and Local Law/standards/Guidelines
• Remind you of your responsibilities
• Look at scaffolding issue
• Good practice and Bad practice
• Followed by a practical assessment
Introduction
•To successfully complete the assessment and receive
the HATS Scaffold Inspectors Card you must complete a
scaffold inspection and identify any defects.

• If you do not successfully complete the

assessment you will not be permitted to inspect
scaffolds until you have re-sat the refresher
training and pass the assessment.
Workplace Scaffolding

Objectives
 Able to carry out a methodical inspection of a
scaffold
 Which guidance/practice notes are applicable
 Understand the basic design of a scaffold
 Be able to complete a report
 Workplace Scaffolding
Any temporary:- •What is a scaffold ?

 Working platform and its supports

 Access to or from a place of work for persons
at work.
 Support for material, plant or equipment.
 Scaffold International and local standards
 ILO C155-occupational safety and health
convections ,1981(C-155)
 ILO C155-occupational safety and health
convections ,1981(R-164)
 Work at height regulations 2005
 OSHA CFR 29- 1926 general Requirements
 NASC
 BSE EN 1138,1139
 PASAMA 1004
 Federal law no 8 1980
 OSHAD SF 26-Scaffolding
 Trakees Guidelines
 Roles and Responsibilities

 1. Employer
 Employers shall undertake their specific roles and responsibilities in
accordance with the following:
 where work cannot be safely done from the ground or from part of a
building or other permanent structure, there shall be provided, placed and
kept in position for use, appropriately maintained scaffolds.
 Whichever method is chosen, it shall be appropriate for the purpose.
 All scaffolding work is appropriately planned and supervised.
 Those involved in scaffolding are trained and competent.
 The place where scaffolding work is undertaken is safe.
 Scaffolding Components are inspected by a competent person.
 where an employer is to use scaffold erected by another employer it shall
ensure that the scaffold is inspected by competent person and declared
safe and appropriate for use.
  Employers shall ensure a design drawing is prepared by
a competent engineer for scaffolds over 10 meters in
height or which include the use of:
 ladder beams;
 mesh or shade cloth
 freestanding scaffolds
 suspended scaffolds
Scaffold 

non-standard ties or bracing.
Employers shall ensure all scaffolds above 10 meters

design
are erected, altered, used and dismantled in accordance
with the design drawing or manufacturer’s instructions
where applicable.
 Where a design drawing by an engineer is not required
(eg. scaffolds below 10 meters):
 persons erecting the scaffold shall be competent and
trained in the basic design and erection of the scaffold.
 the scaffold manufacturer’s instructions or drawings
shall be followed and be available on site.
  The design of the scaffold shall consider:
 (i) the strength, stability and rigidity of
the scaffold and supporting structure;
 (ii) the intended use and application of
the scaffold; (iii) the safety of persons
Design engaged in the erection, alteration and
dismantling of the scaffold;

Principals  (iv) the safety of persons using the

scaffold;
 (v) scaffold materials; and
 (vi) the safety of persons in the vicinity of
the scaffold.
  When we talk about the stability, we
should consider these Conditions:
 Ground (as elaborated in below
foundation slide)
 Height into width ratio 4:1
 Loadings (dead, live and environmental)
Stability  Additional supports or accessories like
safety nets.
 Stability may be achieved by other way
like providing an additional bay, tyes ,
bracings, out riggers.
 Increasing the dead weight to kicker lift.
  Employers should ensure that the OSHAD SF
23 work at height requirements are complied
while erecting scaffolding.

Safe  A scaffolding platform should be at least 450

mm wide along the full length of scaffolding.
 Edge protection at the working platform the

Erection of top one only.

 A temporary access to the reached platform
level a stair or access prefab with landing.
Scaffolding  Employer shall ensure that before each level
of scaffolding is erected (except in the kicker
lift) a platform shall be installed below the
level at not more than;
1. 3 meters if the erection of scaffolding is
housing construction work
2. 2.4 meters for all other structures.
 Employer shall ensure the following during erection of
scaffolding:

Safe A section of the scaffolding can be left open for the

passing of materials to the upper levels.

Erection
of A platform doesn’t need to be installed on the kicker lift.

scaffolding A platform can be removed if the work has been started

on the 2 level above platform.

(continu.) If the platforms are removed, they need to be removed

progressively and during dismantling all the lower
platforms must be planked to ensure the safety of
employees.
  Employers shall ensure the ground stability as
elaborated in the stability section if the ground is
known to have stability problem consult with the
designer and take extra precautions.
 Scaffolding fittings and components need to be
tightened properly. Where safety fittings are used, they
need to be installed as per scaffolding plan.
Safe  Scaffolding components shall be installed as the
scaffold is erected which shall include the installation of

Erection of 1.
the:
all bracing and ties.
2. Guy ropes or buttresses
scaffolding  Employer shall deploy enough scaffolders to minimize
manual handling.
 Develop a methodological work sequence to each
scaffolder to reduce the need of traversing the scaffold
during erection.
 Provision of fully boarded work platform.
 Don’t allow scaffolder or user to Climb on the guard
rails for gaining additional height.
 If the internal gap is more than 225 mm than internal
edge protection should be provided.
Workplace Scaffolding

Scaffolds Must:

 Prevent persons falling

 Prevent materials falling
 Where persons are liable to fall any distance guard-
rails, toe boards or other similar means of
protection shall be provided
 Working platforms must be at least 600mm wide
 Collective protection should be preferred.
Workplace Scaffolding

 All scaffolding must be properly maintained.

 Access to unsafe areas must be prevented
(warning signs alone may not be sufficient)
 All practicable steps have to be taken to ensure
the safety of persons engaged in work for the
purpose of making any place safe. (i.e.
scaffolders)
Who should inspect

Who can carry out workplace scaffold inspections ?

Scaffold inspections should be carried out by

someone who is deemed a competent person!

What is a competent person?

KATE
Knowledge
Ability
Training
Experience
Workplace Inspections

With regard to scaffold inspection it is taken to mean:

“A person who has practical and theoretical
knowledge together with actual experience of what
they are to inspect so as to enable them to detect
errors, defects, faults or weaknesses which is the
purpose of any inspection and to assess the
importance of any such findings”
 Workplace Inspections

Requirements for work platforms:

Founding surfaces shall be suitable to support
the structure and designed platform loadings
Stability:
The supporting structure shall be :-
 Fit for purpose intended
 Be stable when in use
 Stays stable when being altered or modified
 Workplace Inspections

Requirements for work platforms: (cont)

Working platforms shall be:

 Suitable and sufficient in strength

 Do not become accidentally displaced
 Dismantled safely and systematically

(Erected, altered & dismantled under supervision

of a competent person)
Components

Scaffold Components
Adjustable Base Plates

Adjustable base plate

Not to be used to gain
extra height only for
levelling
Compression SWL
30.0kN
Adjustable Caster Wheels

Components need to be checked prior to erection

Failure No Rotation
Adjustable Caster Wheels

 Have max. load marked (SWL 500kgs)

 Dia. at least 125mm
 Brakes in good condition and efficient
working order (must be on when in use)
 Manufacturer Specification vary with height:-
 e.g. up to 9.1mtrs. 150mm Dia. above
9.1mtrs. 200mm. Dia.
 Scaffold Tubes

Tubes to be free from any bends, distortion or corrosion;

Type Grade Min. Yield Stress (Sy) Nominal Wall Thickness

290 N/mm²
3.40 mm
ASTM A500 B 42 ksi
3.76 mm
30 Kg/mm²

240 N/mm²
ASTM A53 B 35 ksi 3.68 mm
24 Kg/mm²

235 N/mm²
BS 1139 Part 1, Sec. 1.1 34 ksi 4.00 mm
24 Kg/mm²

320 N/mm²
EN 10129 - 46 ksi 3.20 mm
32 Kg/mm²
 Scaffold Tubes

Tubes and ends should be cut square and clean.

If burs are not removed the can lead to serious

lacerations, end caps should be used
 Fittings

Fittings should be free

from worn threads or
damaged bolts and
any excess oil which
may reduce friction
grip.
Boards

Ensure that
damaged boards
are not used in
work platforms
Boards

• All scaffold boards ends should not be warped, twisted, split or badly
worn, painted or otherwise treated to conceal any defects.

•Scaffold boards that have been used for storage or

•stacking of rebar, structural steel items etc. must not be used in work
platforms or loading towers.
•Boards having been used for such purposes may have
•internal compression fractures that are not readily visible.
Scaffold Boards
System Scaffolds
System Scaffolds

Like tube and fitting

scaffolds all system
scaffolds need to be good
condition, free from rust
and fitted securely

Welds also need to be

checked for damage or
cracks
System
Scaffolds
•These systems should not be
mixed with other types of
scaffolding
Components

•Mixture of different
components
Scaffold Construction

Scaffold construction
Scaffold
Construction
•Like all structures scaffolds
are only as stable as their
foundations or ground they
are constructed on.
Foundations

• Of adequate strength to support and disperse the load.

• On hard surfaces, such as steel and concrete be of sufficient

strength/thickness

• It is generally preferable even on hard surfaces to use a base

plate which is minimum 150mm x 150mm in size.
Foundations

•Sole Board :
•Preferably spanning 2 standards otherwise minimum dimensions should be:
• On hard ground 450mm x 225mm x 35mm
• On made ground 760mm x 225mm x 35mm
• Do not use bricks, thermal blocks and scraps of
• old timber as sole plates
•Base plate should be centralized on the sole board.
•Base Plate
•Generally being used 150mm x 150mm with 250mm heigh galvanized rod in the
center of base plate. .
•Adjustable baseplates are also available as shown in the above slides of
components.
Foundations

Is this acceptable?
Foundations

No Foundation -
standard supported
on Putlog fitting
Foundations

When were
foundations
last checked?
Foundations

Base Lift or
Foot Lift
Foundations

Checkpoints:
 Are foundations under sole plate sound, no voids
 Are the correct size/type sole plates used?
 Are the correct size base plates used?
 Are base plates centrally placed on sole plates?
 Has weather affected foundations, frost, rain?
 Are any sole plates undermined?
Scaffold Construction

Standards, Ledgers &

Bracing
 Standards

 Placed vertically or
slightly inclined
towards the structure
 On base plates and on
sole plates to prevent
displacement
 Joints staggered
between lifts
Standards

Checkpoint
 Are they placed vertically?
 Are they correctly spaced for the imposed loads?
 Are any damaged?
 Do any need protecting from plant/traffic etc.?
Ledgers

 Joints staggered
between lifts
 Positioned close to the
standards
 Be level
 Be fitted with the
correct couplers and
not overlapped
Connections

Is this just bent?

Connections

2 scaffold
tubes
connected with
a standard
double coupler
Connections

Incorrect overlapping
Provides no support
Connections

Correct method
Connections

Correct methods
Overhang

Unsupported
tube
Overhang

What is the minimum distance a tube should

extend past a coupler?
Minimum 50mm
of tube exposed
past the coupler
Overhang

Maximum overhang 150mm

Overhang should not

protrude in to
walkways, end caps
should be used
Standards, Ledgers & Bracing

Checkpoint:
 Has any bracing been removed?
 Are correct couplers used?
 Are any couplers/connectors missing?
 Are any couplers/connectors loose?
 Does the bracing extend to full height?
Standards, Ledgers & Bracing

Checkpoints

 Fitted to carry the working platform

 Secured horizontally to the ledgers using
couplers or right angle couplers
 Spaced to accommodate boards used?
 Should not project unnecessarily outwards
 Overhang in the required limits?
Scaffold Construction

Platforms & Boards

 Platforms & Boards

Working Platforms:
 Permit the free and safe passage of persons
 Must not be less than 600mm wide
 Must have no gaps where materials could fall
 Boards butted together to prevent tripping
hazards
 Be maintained to prevent slipping, tripping or
falling
Platforms & Boards

 Be provided with hand holds and foot holds to

prevent any person slipping or falling

 Be secured against displacement

 Platforms & Boards

Width of Access Scaffold Platforms

Working platform for men without materials or
only for the passage of materials 600 mm 3 boards

For men and materials provided there is 600mm

left clear for the passage of men 640 mm if 800mm 4 boards
barrows are used

For use in dressing or rough shaping of stone  1.3mtrs 6 boards

For use to support a higher platform where the

support scaffold is also used for dressing and 1.5mtrs 7 boards
roughly shaping stone 

 These scaffolds should be specifically designed

Platforms & Boards

Scaffold boards should be:

 Free from splits, shakes, knots, paint, oil or
concrete
 Not painted or otherwise treated to conceal
defects
 Banded or nail plated on the ends, usually
225mm wide
Platforms & Boards

 Overhang by at least 50mm but not more than

150mm
 The thickness of the board unless secured
from tipping
 Supported by transoms at the appropriate
spacing (1.2m)
 Guarded against the wind causing boards to lift
Platforms & Boards

Boards to be
supported at 1.2m
Minimum 50mm
overhang support
on joints
Platforms & Boards

Unsupported boards or
platforms could lead to
collapse causing serious
injuries
Platforms & Boards

Platforms are to be free from

penetrations or gaps where
people or materials can fall
Platforms & Boards

Checkpoint:
 Are all platforms complete and boards secured?
 Are there any trip hazards (overlaps)?
 Are there any obstructions on the platforms?
 Are boards supported at correct intervals?
 Are there any gaps or damaged boards?
 Are any platforms overloaded? (2kN m2)
Scaffold Construction

Guardrails & Edge

Protection
 Guardrails & Edge Protection

Guardrails:
Must be provided to every edge where a person is
liable to fall and must be:
 At least 950mm above the level of the platform
At a height approximately halfway between the top
edge of the toe-board and the top guardrail so that
no gaps greater than 470mm
Guardrails & Edge Protection
Guardrails & Edge Protection

 Fixed inside the

standards
 If a guard-rail is
removed for access or
materials it
 Must be replaced as
soon as practicable.
Guardrails & Edge Protection

Toe-boards:
Must be provided where a person or material is
liable to fall and must:
 To accompany guard-rails
 At least 150mm high above the working
platform
 Fixed inside the standard preferably with
the use of proper toe-board clips
Guardrails & Edge Protection

Toe boards are to be secured without gaps to

prevent materials falling

Should be a
minimum of
150mm if not
using
scaffold
boards
Guardrails & Edge Protection

Where materials are

stacked on platforms
measures need to be put
in place to prevent them
being knocked from the
platform
Guardrails & Edge Protection

Checkpoint:
 Are all guard rails set at correct height?
(950mm)
 Are all guard rails secure?
 Are any guard rails missing?
 Are all toe boards in place?
 Do any gaps between guard rails exceed
470mm?
Guardrails & Edge Protection

 Are brick or similar guards fitted where

required?
 Is access to unsafe areas suitably blocked off?
Scaffold Construction

Ladder Access
Ladder Access

Stair & ladder access:

 Sited on a firm level base with each side
equally supported
 Be secured to prevent movement
 Project 1.05m above the landing platform
 Be positioned at an angle of 75º (ratio 4>1)
Ladder Access

 Dedicated stair towers preferred

 Dedicated ladder access towers otherwise
 Ladders over 6m need intermediate support to
prevent sway and bounce
 Ladders through work platform restrict access &
material distribution. If this is the only solution,
openings need protecting
Ladder Access

Preferred
Ladder access
located inside
the scaffold

Should have
clear access
Ladder Access
Ladder Access

Where platforms
should not be
accessed it is not
enough to just place
a sign
Ladders should be
blocked off or
removed
Ladder Access

Checkpoint:
 Are all ladders secured?
 Are any ladders damaged?
 Are all ladders class 1?
 Are all ladders the correct length?
 Are ladders opening in platforms protected?
Inspection

Must be inspected:
 Before being taken into use for the first time
 After any substantial addition, dismantling or other
alteration
 After any event likely to have affected its strength
or stability
 At regular intervals not exceeding 7 days since the
last inspection
Inspection

Where the person who has carried out any inspection

is NOT satisfied that construction work can be carried
out safely, they must inform the person for whom they
carried out the inspection. Until then, that place of
work should NOT be used until any matters identified
as being unsatisfactory have been remedied.
Inspection

In Summary:

We need to ask ourselves three questions when

inspecting a scaffold:

 Is everything there that needs to be there?

 Is everything in good condition?

 Is everything in its right place?

Inspection

When carrying out an inspection of a standard

access scaffold there are 10 basic items you
need to check:
 Foundations  Couplers and fittings
 Standards  Work platforms
 Ledgers  Guardrails
 Transoms  Stair or ladder access
 Bracing  Ties
Inspection

When carrying out an inspection of a scaffold,

platform or tower you must be 100% satisfied
that all the requirements are in place before
signing it off as fit for use
Good or Bad?
Good or Bad?
Good or Bad?

Even in slabs ladder openings

need protecting
What’s Missing?
Good or Bad?
Good or Bad?
Good or Bad?
Good or Bad?

Push pull props used as transoms & hand rails

Mixed Material
Good or Bad?
A good scaffolder takes pride in what he builds

If in doubt !!! ASK