Page 283 - IGC BOOK

Hazards associated with Scaffold

• Collapse of scaffold

• Workers can suffer sever injuries due to fall from missing boards.
• Fall of items or materials from platform.

To avoid the above hazards, the scaffold must be erected and inspected by a competent person.

Reasons why a scaffold may collapse

• Poor erection or erected by incompetent person

• Soft soil or poor ground conditions
• Overloading of platforms

• Scaffold not tied or secured to the building
• Damaged components including cracks on the standards or corrosion.

• Adverse weather condition – heavy winds
• Incompatible components – use of incorrect couplers to joint tubes.

• Being struck by moving vehicles, especially while reversing.
• Unauthorised alterations.

Safety precautions for Independent tie scaffold

• The scaffold must be erected, altered, or dismantled by
competent person.
• The scaffold must be erected on a firm level ground,
the ground condition must be capable of bearing the
load capacity of the scaffold and any materials placed
likely to be placed on it.
• Ensure it must be braced and tied to the building
structure for stability.
• The platforms must be fully boarded and wide enough
for the work and access (usually 600 mm wide).
• Make sure that there is a safe access through staircase or ladder access.
• The working platform must be fitted with guardrails, toe boards with adequate strong to
prevent people falling.
• Appropriate Scaff tags must be in place during erection, alteration or for safe use.
• Protect the scaffolding from adverse weather conditions.
• Protect scaffolding from moving vehicles through edge protection or balustrade.

ENSIGN | General Workplace Issues 16