Page 5 - NASC Scaffolding Matters - Spring 2022

Spring 2022 Scaffolding Matters | 5

TG7:21 CG16:21 PG8:21 SG9:21
Scaffold Board Nailplates Employment Contracts Purchasing Guidelines for Ancillary Use, Inspection & Maintenance of Lifting Equipment

Scaffolding Components and Accessories for Lifting in Scaffolding
Updated August 2021
INTRODUCTION Introduction 1. INTRODUCTION 1. INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this Guidance Note is to give members an appreciation of the minimum requirements
The ends of timber scaffold boards should be protected with end hoops or nailplates, as shown in Figures 1 governing a contract of employment. Every year construction workers are killed or seriously injured during lifting operations.
and 2. Detailed requirements for end hoops are contained within TG5 ‘Timber Scaffold Boards – BS 2482:2009’ covered by other NASC guidance.
and Section 4.2 of the TG20 ‘Operational Guide’. This document is intended to provide guidance to the persons responsible for planning scaffolding operations,
including the selection of appropriate equipment for hoisting scaffolding material, as well for those responsible
company. Overview for managing, supervising and using lifting equipment and accessories for lifting.
It is recommended that all components used on scaffolds that could conceivably be expected to carry load are
1. A contract of employment between the employer and the employee starts when a job offer is made and suitably tested and/or calculations carried out to ensure that they are suitable for their intended use. Although Hoisting equipment (such as cranes, fork lifts, gin wheels and accessories for lifting) are covered in this
some scaffolding components are referred to as “non-load bearing” most, if not all, will be required to support
accepted, this may be before the new employee starts work. Guidance Note, including the proper inspection and maintenance arrangements required and the precautions
A contract of employment does not need to be in writing to be valid. Often parts of a contract of This guide aims to provide advice to engineers, buyers and component manufacturers regarding the to be taken to ensure the safety of the persons operating the equipment and those that may be affected by its
use.
employment will derive from custom and practice (known as implied terms), formal verbal and written
data can then be used by scaffold design engineers and NASC contracting members to better ensure that all
collective agreements (known as incorporated terms).
A contract of employment brings into effect ‘rights’ and ‘duties’ for the employer and the employee. Materials
Terms and conditions of employment can be in excess of any legal (statutory) minimums but cannot be
less. Where components are designed to connect to scaffold tubes, the tube should be TG20 compliant (i.e. BS 1139-
Figure 1 – End Hoop Figure 2 – Nailplate
Over time a contract of employment is likely to be varied or amended (normally by mutual consent) as
Nailplates may be used in addition to or as an alternative to end hoops. Scaffold board nailplates are specially circumstances change for both parties. chemical properties.
stamped toothed strips of galvanised steel that can be used to help prevent scaffold boards developing splits,
or for repairing boards that have already split. Nailplates can be applied to new or used boards and experience 2. An employer has a legal obligation to give employees certain minimum information about their employment
gained over many years by the scaffold industry indicates that the service life of a board can be substantially in writing (a ‘Written Statement’), setting out the main terms and conditions of their employment. This Elements of parts manufactured from ferrous metals shall be protected against corrosion as a minimum by
requirement has been in place for many years, from April 2020 changes came into effect and additional
requirements were introduced, these additions/changes are shown in italics below. The required Written All other materials should be selected to suit their intended use and where appropriate, in accordance with
Solid sawn timber scaffold boards are subject to longitudinal end splits, due primarily to the environment Statement information to be issued before or on the day of the employee starting employment, irrespective of how applicable British and European Standards.
in which they are used. Fissures or splits which have occurred at the end of the board, may be repaired by
embedding nailplates into each face. The maximum length of split that should be repaired by this method is long the employment is expected to last. Components
225mm in a new board. However, for used scaffold boards where splits may be longer, please refer to TG6,
‘Care and Maintenance of Scaffold Boards’. 3. The Written Statement required information must, in the main, be given in a single document i.e.
• the names of the employer and the employee
NAILPLATE SPECIFICATION • the date when employment commenced 2. PLANNING
• the date when continuous employment began (including any employment with a previous employer that
Nailplates are made from galvanised sheet steel, stamped or pressed into a pattern of slots in such a way counts as service in the current employment) All lifting equipment should be used, examined and inspected in accordance with the requirements of the
that sharp strips of steel are bent from the ends of the slots to project at approximately 90 degrees from the • the rate of pay or how pay is worked out Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER).
underside of the plate. The plate should be a minimum thickness of 0.7mm (22 gauge), have a minimum width
of 27mm and a minimum length of 190mm. There should be a minimum of 42 teeth per plate and at least • the pay intervals 1. Girder Coupler (Flange Clamp) 2. Shear Plate These regulations place duties on people and companies who own, operate, or have control over lifting
50% of these teeth shall have a length of greater than 8mm. To be effective two plates (one on each face) are equipment. This includes all businesses and organisations whose employees use lifting equipment, whether
required to be attached to each end of the board and should be positioned about 100mm from each end of the • terms and conditions relating to hours of work, including normal hours of work owned by them or not. All lifting operations involving lifting equipment must be properly planned by a competent
board, so that they do not foul or slip on the supporting transoms. • terms and conditions relating to annual and public holidays, holiday pay and calculating holiday entitlements person, appropriately supervised and carried out in a safe manner.
on leaving
N A S C N A S C N A S C N A S C
1 of 2 December 2021 1 of 4 July 2021 1 of 4 June 2021 1 of 20 May 2021
Caption: Sixteen NASC titles New or Improved for 2022
were reviewed and updated or The NASC standing committees’ efforts to • SG44:22 Five Key Occupational Health
created from scratch last year. ensure guidance is comprehensive, up-to- Risks in Scaffolding
date and fit-for-purpose continues apace. The • SG45:22 Management of Temporary
following titles are currently under review or Works to BS 5975
being developed at the time of publication. • SG Toolbox Talk Suite
• TG1:22 Temporary Edge Protection for
• SG1:14 Control of Substances Hazardous Sloping and Flat Roofs
to Health in Scaffolding (COSHH) • TG9:17 Guide to the Design and
• SG2:17 Asbestos Licences and Ancillary Construction of Temporary Roofs
Work Involving the Scaffolding Contractor and Buildings
• SG4:15 Preventing Falls in • TG13:16 Non-Standard
Scaffolding Operations Boarded Platforms
• SG6:15 Management of manual handling • TG17:15 Identification of EN74
in the scaffolding industry Scaffold Fittings
• SG11:15 Noise • TG23:22 The Lacing and Bracing
• SG16:14 Management of Fall of Beams
Protection Equipment • TG26:22 Galvanic Corrosion of Aluminium
• SG18:14 Welfare Facilities for the Scaf- Tubes and Prefabricated Beams
folding Contractor • CG18:09 Daywork
• SG26:14 Scaffolding & Hoists • CG24:22 Guide to Staff Handbook
• SG42:22 Working over or near water • CG25:22 Common Contract Terminology
• SG43:22 Lone Working in Scaffolding • PG5:18 Purchasing Guidelines for
Aluminium Beams
NASC ePortal Gaining Guidance Scope of SG4 Update
All NASC guidance is currently being added The review of SG4:15 Preventing Falls in
to the NASC ePortal and will be available to Scaffolding Operations began in January
NASC members in the second quarter of 2020, however the progress of the review has
2022 at no additional cost. This expansion been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.
of the ePortal will only be available to NASC The NASC is pleased to report that the final
members at this time. draft of the updated management guide is
Lynn Way, NASC President, said: “From Q2, nearing completion and due to be released
all NASC guidance will be available in one place this Spring. The guide will be supported once
at the click of a button – via desktop, mobile or again by a pocket book user guide (SG4:You).
tablet – and anywhere members can access a The focus of the review has been to ensure
WiFi connection.” that the guidance features methods of work
“This represents another huge digital step and equipment that reflects current indus-
forward for the NASC, provides even greater try good practice. The Health and Safety
value for money for ePortal subscribers, and Committee working party tasked with carry-
enables members to work more effectively ing out the review considered accident learn-
and efficiently.” ing, legal cases, good ...continued overleaf