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Eunice Edeoghon
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Oct 18,
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INTRODUCTION
A scaffold is a temporary structure erected to elevate and support workers as well as, materials during construction, repair, or surface finishing of a structure. It is usually required when working at height (that is 1.5m above ground level). Scaffolds can be made of timber, bamboo or metal (steel, aluminium).
A scaffoldThose who erect the scaffolds are called the scaffolders while those who use the scaffold to do work such as painting and bricklaying are called the scaffold users. Scaffolding, on the other hand, means the individual components which are used to erect the scaffold.
Each floor on a scaffold above the ground floor is called a platform while the ground floor itself is called the kicker lift.
The functional requirements of scaffolds include:
1. Safety and stability.
2. Ease and speed of erection, disassembly and reuse.
3. Horizontal and vertical accessibility.
Relevant information required for scaffold design include:
1. Site location.
2. Period the scaffold is required to be in place.
3. Intended use.
4. Height and length and any other critical dimensions which may affect the scaffold.
5. Maximum working loads to be imposed and the maximum number of people using the scaffold at any time.
6. Type of access onto the scaffold eg staircase, ladder bay, external ladders.
7. Nature of the ground condition or supporting structure.
8. Any restrictions that may affect the erecting, alteration or dismantling process.
TYPES OF SCAFFOLD
Single scaffold
This is a scaffold that is not supported by putlogs. A putlog is a short horizontal pole projecting from a wall, on which scaffold floorboards rest. Holes are bored in the walls to support the scaffold. It is into these holes the putlogs are inserted. This kind of scaffold is erected from the ground to whatever height is specified.
Trestle scaffold
Trestle scaffoldThis is a movable scaffold with rollers on the base for ease of movement. It is generally used for small jobs.
Cantilever scaffold
This is one that is not erected from the ground but any floor above the ground floor, to the specified height. It is used when the building to be repaired or painted has a busy road beside it and erecting a scaffold at the base will be impractical as it would obstruct traffic and possibly cause accidents.
Suspended scaffold
This is one that is suspended from the roof. It can be lowered and raised depending on the height of the building the scaffold users need to work on.
Patented scaffold
This is a somewhat already-made scaffold that can be adjusted to suit the specific job at hand.
Double/Independent scaffold
This is a scaffold that is supported by another scaffold. It is used in cases where putlogs cannot be used. Examples of such are in cases where the wall is too strong to bore holes or boring holes into the walls will affect the structural integrity of the building or boring holes into the walls will disturb the occupants of the building. In such kind of cases, the scaffold is attached to the structure using a box tie.
SAFETY MEASURES FOR SCAFFOLDING
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Working at height is hazardous work. The hazard here is the height. The threat will be incompetent scaffolders or scaffold users, inadequate personal protective equipment (PPE) and so on. The top event will be a fall which may lead to paralysis or death.
Safety is very important working at heightIt is a requirement of the Work at Height Regulations that unless a scaffold is assembled to a generally recognized standard configuration, the scaffold should be designed by a competent person. This is to ensure the scaffold will have adequate strength, rigidity and stability while it is erected, used and dismantled.
For safety, scaffolders and scaffold users have to be on their PPE at all times, there should be a first aid kit available, signages showing the current state of work (this can be in form of warning notices and status tags) and other safety measures to prevent mishaps on-site. The site must be kept in a safe condition when work is not actively going on in the site. Also, the BP of each scaffolder should be checked daily to ensure each scaffolder or scaffold user is in safe condition to work at height.
Personal protective equipment (PPE) used for scaffolding include:
1. Gloves.
2. Safety shoes.
3. Googles.
4. Earmuffs.
5. Overall and reflective jackets.
6. Hard hats.
7. Safety harness.
SCAFFOLDING INSPECTION
Scaffold safety tagAfter the scaffold is erected, a competent and qualified scaffold inspector carries out an inspection using his/her knowledge, training and experience which are appropriate for the type and complexity of the scaffold. Before, the erection of the scaffold, the scaffolding materials should also be inspected and found to be in good condition. Substandard materials must be rejected.
Scaffolding inspection is required:
1. Before first use
2. Following any circumstances liable to jeopardize the safety of the installation after the inspection is done before first use eg high wind
EQUIPMENT AND MATERIALS USED FOR SCAFFOLDING
Equipment and materials used for scaffolding include:
1. Scaffold pipes.
2. Baseplate.
3. Horizontal boards.
4. Walkie talkie.
5. Measuring tapes.
6. Throw plate.
7. Couplers e.g. double coupler(to join two scaffold pipes at right angles), single coupler (to lay the transoms so the boards can lie flat), sleeve coupler (to join two scaffold pipes together for continuity), swivel coupler (to join two scaffold pipes at angles other than 90 degrees).
8. Rope.
9. Metal bucket, sac or any other carrier eg crane/pulley systems.
10. Cutting machine.
11. Ladder.
THE SCAFFOLD PIPES
Members of a scaffoldTo successfully erect a scaffold, the scaffold pipes are placed in different ways to perform different functions. We have:
1. The transom which is the horizontal member upon which the boards are placed.
2. The brace which is the diagonal member that helps to hold and stiffen other members in the scaffold.
3. The ledger which is the non-loading bearing horizontal members on each side of the scaffold.
4. The standard which is the vertical member of the scaffold.
5. The guard rail which is the horizontal member that prevent scaffolders and scaffold users from falling.
6. The box tie joint which is used to attach the scaffold to the building for further reinforcement used to &#;tie&#; scaffolds to structures.
STANDARD CODES FOR SCAFFOLDING
There are certain approved codes used for scaffolding that can serve as a guide for every scaffolding work. A good example of one is the Codes for scaffolding: BS: &#;Code of practice for Access and Working Scaffolds and Special Structures in Steel.&#;
A scaffold is a temporary structure erected to elevate and support workers as well as, materials during construction, repair, or surface finishing of a structure. It is usually required when working at height (that is 1.5m above ground level).
Those who erect the scaffolds are called the scaffolders while those who use the scaffold to do work such as painting and bricklaying are called the scaffold users. Scaffolding, on the other hand, can used as interior support.
The functional requirements of scaffolds include:
1. Safety and stability.
2. Ease and speed of erection, disassembly and reuse.
3. Horizontal and vertical accessibility.
Relevant information required for scaffold design include:
1. Site location.
2. Period the scaffold is required to be in place.
3. Intended use.
4. Height and length and any other critical dimensions which may affect the scaffold.
5. Maximum working loads to be imposed and the maximum number of people using the scaffold at any time.
6. Type of access onto the scaffold eg staircase, ladder bay, external ladders.
7. Nature of the ground condition or supporting structure.
8. Any restrictions that may affect the erecting, alteration or dismantling process.
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