Stay safe, stay compliant. Foley and Baugh are here to advise you in matters of health and safety for scaffolds in Great Yarmouth and across East Anglia.
All scaffolding must be erected, dismantled and altered in a safe manner. This can be achieved by following National Access and Scaffolding Confederation (NASC) Safety Guidance SG4 ‘Preventing falls in scaffolding operations’ or by following similar guidance provided by the manufacturers of system scaffolding. The key priority and objective for scaffolders is to establish collective fall protection minimising the time exposed to a fall risk and reliance upon personal fall protection equipment such as safety harnesses and lanyards.
Depending on the complexity of the scaffolding selected, an assembly, use and dismantling plan must be drawn up by a competent person. A copy of the plan, including any instructions it may contain, must be kept available for the use of anyone involved in the assembly, use, dismantling or alteration of scaffolding until it has been dismantled. Furthermore, the dimensions, form and layout of scaffolding decks should be appropriate to the nature of the work to be performed and suitable for the loads to be carried and should permit work and passage in safety.
Scaffolds which encroach over the highway require a licence, and scaffolds should never be erected or dismantled over people or busy pavements. If the work is likely to present a danger to the public, you should consider applying for a footpath or road closure to eliminate the risk of members of the public being injured. Erection and dismantling should be done inside a segregated area and during times when there are fewer members of the public in the vicinity.
Ensure the scaffold is based on a firm, level foundation. The ground or foundation must be capable of supporting the weight of the scaffold and any loads likely to be placed on it. Also ensure it is braced and tied into a permanent structure or otherwise stabilised. Rakers only provide stability when they are braced and footed adequately; single-tube rakers alone do not usually provide this and need to be braced to prevent buckling. Moreover, ties must be used within their safe working load limit. Install ties as the scaffold is erected and only remove them in stages as it is struck. If a tie is removed to allow work to proceed, an equivalent tie must be provided nearby to maintain stability.
Proprietary system scaffolds must be erected and tied according to the manufacturers’ instructions.
Scaffolds must be capable of supporting loads likely to be placed on them. They are not usually designed to support heavy loads on their working platforms. If you intend to load out platforms, inform whoever is providing the scaffold; a bespoke design will likely be required. The duty rating of your scaffold must be appropriate to the work you are doing. And if you wish to attach debris netting to a scaffold, you will need to ensure the scaffold is designed for it.
The above is just a brief summary of what is required. When it comes to health and safety on scaffolds in Great Yarmouth or elsewhere in East Anglia, take comprehensive advice from the health and safety experts: talk to Foley and Baugh. We’ll have you covered.
Contact us today on 01493 659026 or email hello@foleyandbaugh.co.uk
