Scaffolding Rules

Whereas the internet is a good source for all information, it can be confusing when dealing with regulations. That is because many regulations are country-specific and the internet is not good at differentiating that. The information below is specific to the UK.

It is an employer's duty to protect the health, safety and welfare of their employees and other people who might be affected by their business. Employers must do whatever is reasonably practicable to achieve this.

Site Safety for scaffolding

According to the UK government website, these are the key regulations

• You must use a builder or scaffolding contractor who is trained and competent if you want to put up scaffolding.
• It’s the responsibility of the builder or scaffolding company to get a licence for any scaffolding they put up on the highway (this includes the pavement).
• But it’s your responsibility to check they have this legal document and that it doesn’t run out before the building work is finished.

Your local council may have a list of approved scaffolding contractors.

Safety

If there’s a risk to the public, schedule scaffolding work for quiet times or get a highway closure from your local council.

By law (The Work at Height Regulation Act of 2005), you must check scaffolding that is more than 2 metres in height to make sure it’s safe:

• before you first use it
• every 7 days while it’s up
• after alterations, damage or extreme weather conditions

Tagging systems can be used to help inspections but they are not a legal requirement. However, you must have a competent inspector and that is defined as

• A person who has been on a CISRS Basic Scaffold Inspection Training Scheme Course SITS
• provided their employer can demonstrate they have the necessary knowledge and experience and they have passed the knowledge test at the end of the course.

A written report should be completed for each inspection and retained on-site until work is completed. Once construction work is complete, reports should then be kept at an office location for a further three months.

The responsibility for ensuring that the scaffolding itself is safe rests with the scaffolding company, who should also undertake regular safety checks, but it is the construction company's responsibility, and the individual user's responsibility to ensure that it is used safely.

Risk Assessments

The HSE suggests that risk assessments should follow five simple steps:

• Step 1: Identify the hazards.
• Step 2: Decide who might be harmed and how.
• Step 3: Evaluate the risks and decide on precautions.
• Step 4: Record your findings and implement them.
• Step 5: Review your assessment and update if necessary.

4 Major Hazards: Scaffold Safety

• Falls. Falls are attributed to the lack of guardrails, improper installation of guardrails and failure to use personal fall arrest systems when required. ...
• Scaffold collapse. ...
• Struck by falling materials. ...
• Electrocution.

More Safety Tips

Wear a hard hat when working on or under a scaffold. Wear sturdy, non-slip shoes when working on a scaffold. Remove anything placed on scaffolds at the end of the work shift. Maintain at least a 10-foot distance between scaffolds and electric power lines.

History of Health & Safety

Evidence of a bygone age

Ideal Scaffold East Anglia has invested in staff training and is now engaged in some of the largest projects in the UK. These include Highways, Railways and Aviation projects. Call 01603 754543 if you would be interested in discussing your project.

The History of Scaffolding

This illustrates the huge strides in Heath & Safety standards

Scaffolding has an interesting history and we bring you some highlights in this article. Anyone interested to learn more can undertake their own research on the Internet and a good source is Wikipedia.

Before standalone scaffolding systems were invented may buildings were designed with scaffolding in mind. This was known as the "putlog" system where recesses for wooden logs were built into the brickwork as shown below (the smaller recesses rising from left to right above the window).

Example of putlogs built into a tower

Early structures used whatever material was available and the use of the steel piping we see today is a recent innovation. Indications are that the earliest structures may have been in use 17,000 years ago. These most likely used wood and hand made rope. In certain countries, bamboo structures are still commonly used. Bamboo scaffolding is still seen in developing Asian countries such as India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia.

Photographer: kazuend | Source: Unsplash

Modern-day scaffolding standards, practices and processes can be attributed to Daniel Palmer Jones and David Henry Jones. Until they patented their inventions in the early 20th century, scaffolding was erected by individual firms with wildly varying standards and sizes. Mark Jones, founder of Ideal Scaffolding does not claim any connection despite sharing their surnames!

Interestingly the first frame system was brought to market during the second world war. It was used extensively for the postwar reconstruction.

Today's Scaffolding Standards

The performance requirements and methods of structural and general design for access and working scaffolds are covered by the European Standard, BS EN 12811-1. This mainly covers scaffold structures that rely on the adjacent structures for stability but the principles apply more widely.

The basic components of scaffolding are tubes, couplers and boards. The commonest tubes are galvanised steel although there are some made from Aluminium which are lighter but not as strong. Couplers have been designed for quick assembly and no longer rely on nuts and bolts. Timber scaffold boards in the UK should comply with the requirements of BS 2482 but come in various materials and thicknesses. Nowadays, putting up scaffolding is a bit like using an old fashioned Meccano set.

Meccano Erector Set 1922

We have divided the information on our forthcoming new website into the following services to help you to find the information you need:

• Tubes & Fittings
• System Scaffold
• Scaffolding Design
• Scaffolding Inspection
• Satellite AerialInspection and Realigning
• Hire & Sales
• Labour Only

We have also divided the markets that we serve in the following sectors

• Aviation
• Rail
• Commercial
• Industrial
• Food Industry
• Highways
• Domestic

The new website is under construction and we hope that it will be published early in the New Year.

The History of Scaffolding

Scaffolding has an interesting history and we bring you some highlights in this article.

Choosing Scaffolding Services

Scaffolding is useful in the construction of buildings to enable workers to carry out various functions such as painting, carrying out repairs, cleaning and other functions. They offer safety and flexibility in terms of movement for these workers as they carry out their duties. These scaffolds come in many types and can be customized to fit various types of buildings regardless of the shape and height.

Scaffolding is available in different types such as supported scaffolds that are used for various works on the few floors of the building. They are built from the ground and can be used in processes such as creating walkways and carrying out maintenance on the building. The other type is known as the suspended scaffolding that is meant to be used when working on the top floors of a building. It is designed with pulleys to facilitate the movement of the cradle upwards or downwards to enable the workers carry out the procedures on the top floors.

The independent scaffold also known as the birdcage scaffold is designed with two rows of vertical poles that are connected by horizontal pieces. Other types of scaffold include the single pole scaffold that comes with one row of standards that need the support of the structure it is placed against. With all these types in the market, it is important to consider the pros and cons of each type before selecting the type to use for any construction. The scaffolding services in London are a good source of information on these types of scaffold and they will give adequate advice on which is suitable for which type of building.

While choosing the scaffolding system, there are a number of things to consider. One of them is the ground on which the scaffold will be used. For a location with unstable earth, suspended scaffold is the right choice as it would enable the workers access the various sites without any problem as compared to using the supported scaffold, which would prohibit access to other areas. The users may also select adjustable scaffold on wheel although they come with the downside of difficulty to use especially in uneven terrains. The building design is also another important feature to consider as this will also determine the type of scaffold that will be selected. Suspended scaffolds are ideal for tall buildings as they are easier and safer to use. For buildings that are not square in shape or that contain projections or recesses, it is ideal to select supported scaffolds.

Read More: Choosing Scaffolding Services