Scaffold Guidelines

Frameworks and Platforms, erected on iron poles, bamboos and other rigid
materials are a common sight around buildings, bridges and similar structures that
are under construction or repair. The main aim of these structures is to provide
safety to man & material from falling

General Requirements

Inspect entire job site to determine ground conditions, strength of supporting

structure, the proximity with electric power lines, overhead obstructions, wind
conditions and the need for overhead protection or weather protection coverings
The contractor must prepare the construction design, drawing & design loads for all
the scaffold used on site and must be approved by a consultant. This document must
be readily available at site.

The maximum height of the scaffold shall not exceed 10 meters and in case the
need for higher scaffold arises the contractor shall appoint a 3rd Party for scaffold
erection & supervision.

All equipments must be inspected to see that they are in good condition. Damaged
or deteriorated equipment should be reported and replaced.

Wooden planks used for scaffolding must be inspected to ensure that they are sound
and in good condition, straight grained, free from nails, saw cuts, splits and holes.
(Not all species and grades of lumber can be used as scaffold plank.)

The following are the important aspects which need to be taken care of while
erection of scaffold

Scaffold Foundation

Base plates are mandatory even while setting on concrete floor or Soil (i.e. soil must
be compacted properly

The base plate must be not be less than 5 cm thick and not less than 25 cm wide to
distribute load evenly.
Scaffold Platform

The width of the platform shall not be less than 60 cm wide (3 boards)
The width of the platform shall not be less than 80 cm wide (4 boards) when both person
& material are used.
The platform must be provided with standard guard rail (95 cm), which consists of mid
rail & top rail
The height of the toe board shall not be less than 15 cm
Safe Access

atforms

level, for safe hold & landing on platform

General Guideline for Scaffold installation

Scaffold should be installed, moved, or disassembled only by and under the

supervision of competent persons.
Base plates must be of adequate size to distribute the loads on the scaffolding to the
soil or supporting structure.
DO NOT USE unstable objects such as blocks, loose bricks, etc.
Ties, bracing and outriggers may be needed to ensure a safe stable scaffold
assembly.
Scaffolding must always be secured when the height of the scaffold exceeds for 4
times the minimum base width.
Vertical ties should be placed at the ends of scaffold runs and at no more than 10
meter horizontal intervals in between
 Work platforms must be fully planked, either with scaffold graded solid sawn or
laminated plank or with fabricated platforms in good condition.
Loads on plank should be evenly distributed and should not exceed the allowable
loads for the type of plank being used.
Planks and/or platforms should be secured to scaffolding when necessary to prevent
uplift of displacement because of high winds or other job conditions.
Both top and mid rail guardrails are required and must be used on all open sides and
ends of scaffold platforms.
Access must be provided to all work platforms. If it is not available from the structure,
access ladders or frames with built-in ladders stairways must be provided.
Side and end brackets are designed to support people only. Materials should never be
placed on cantilevered platforms unless the assembly has been designed to support
material loads by a qualified person
Scaffold cannot be erected or used, closer than 3 meters (10 feet) near an energized
power line, to avoid any contact between scaffold component and power lines.
Check the installed scaffolding before you allow people to use it. A qualified person
must thoroughly inspect the completed assembly.
Tagging system must be followed properly during erection, dismantling and when
operative is working on the scaffold

Scaffolds can be classified in following categories

Supported Scaffolds: In this type of scaffold, one or more than one platforms are
supported with load bearing substances like legs, poles, outriggers, frames etc.
Commonly used supported scaffold are Metal Scaffold, Tube & Clam Scaffold & Frame
Scaffold

Basic Requirement for Supported Scaffold

Metal part used for supported scaffold must be straight & free from all defects
All parts of the scaffold must be secured properly.
Suitable access must be provided with ladder or stairways and must be attached to
scaffold structure.
All material used for the scaffold must be stored properly, to prevent them from being
affected by weather conditions.
All material used for the scaffold must be inspected regularly and maintained properly.
Scaffolding erection must be carried out by a competent person under proper
supervision.
Tagging system must be followed properly during erection, dismantling and when
operative is working on the scaffold.
All of the suspended scaffold must be inspected and must have valid test certificate
issued by approved third party agency
System Scaffolds

In this type of scaffold vertical pipe with different length (post) and the runner and the
bearer are connected with each other. The most popular one is the cup-lock system
scaffold where all the blades of the pipes are located in the lower cup and the upper cup
is lowered down & tightened with hammer blow

5.2.1 Basic Requirement for System Scaffold

Metal part used for system scaffold must be straight & free from all defects
All parts of the scaffold must be secured properly.
Suitable access must be provided with ladder or stairways and must be attached to
scaffold structure.
All material used for the scaffold must be stored properly, to prevent them from being
affected by weather conditions.
All material used for the scaffold must be inspected regularly and maintained properly.
Scaffolding erection must be carried out by a competent person under proper
supervision.
Tagging system must be followed properly during erection, dismantling and when
operative is working on the scaffold
Suspended Scaffolds

Suspended scaffold consist of platforms suspended by wires, ropes, fixed outrigger,

which are installed horizontally on the roof of the building. Where suspended scaffold
shall be used, proper counter weights shall be attached on the other end of the out
rigger to support the scaffold. There are many types of suspended scaffolds such as
suspended platform, cradle scaffold & boatswains chairs

Basic Requirement for Suspended Scaffold

o All suspended scaffolds must be provided with suitable chain or ropes and
winches and shall be suspended for suitable outrigger, beams, joists, runways,
rails.
o The counter weight, when used with outriggers, must be securely fastened to the
out riggers and must not be less than four times the total weight of the scaffold.
o The operative working on suspended scaffold must use proper fall protection
system (i.e. full body harness, lanyards, Shock absorber, rope grabbing device &
life line).
o No wire other than wire rope shall be used for raising & lowering & suspension of
a suspended scaffold.
o The space between the structure and the platform shall not be more than 30 cm
o All suspended scaffold must be inspected and must have valid test certificate
issued by approved third party agency.
o Tagging system must be followed properly during erection, dismantling and when
operative is working on the scaffold.
Mobile Tower Scaffold: - A portable, wheel-mounted, caster scaffold, whether un-
powered or powered, is known as mobile scaffold

Basic Requirement for Mobile Tower Scaffold

The height of the mobile towers shall not exceed 4 times the smallest base width of
the scaffold, in case the height is exceeding 4 times the width of the scaffold.
Rolling scaffolds shall be moved on levelled surfaces only by pushing or pulling or
both.
No persons, equipment or materials are allowed to be on the platform when it is
moved.
It is recommended to use a ladder (internal staircase) for access to and from the
platform (in case of using a vertical ladder higher than 6m, it shall be protected by a
cage or provide workers with proper fall protection equipment).
Mobile scaffolds must be provided with caster wheels & locking brakes to prevent
unsteady movement.

All scaffolding dose not required a design. General access/Mobile scaffold scaffolding,
erected in accordance with the manufacturers instructions, does not require any further
design.

However, if a design is required then a competent scaffold designer must be engaged to

design the scaffold
Hazards associated with scaffolding

Incidents of falling, owing to lack of proper fall protection system.

Scaffolds may collapse, due to overloading or instability.

Proximity of scaffolds to overhead power lines can increase the risk of electrocution.

Scaffold may also collapse when struck by debris, tools and work materials.

Falls from elevation, due to lack of fall protection

Being struck by falling tools, work materials, or debris.

The contractor should define a policy in relation to scaffolding. This written

scaffolding policy should:

Include a commitment to protect employees & other personnel working at site

Require to appoint competent person for erection maintenance & dismantling of scaffold
on site

Include a commitment to comply with relevant health and safety legislation, & Local
Regulation and relevant codes of practice and guidelines.
Developing a team for scaffold and assign responsibility for choosing the type of scaffold
according to design procedure
Proper planning must be done during scaffold erection activity to minimize the risk
involved

Scaffolding procedure and plan must be readily available on site with all the instruction
for assembly, use, dismantling or alteration of scaffold

The planning must contain contractor, Scaffolding Designer & scaffolding erector roles &
responsibility. The planning process should highlight the following areas were personnel
has to concentrate

Local and other Legal requirements must be followed

Assigning of Roles and Responsibilities
Hazards Identification and necessary precaution in the assigned task
Assessment of Risk and must be eliminated or reduced
Clear performance standards should be set
Scaffold erection site survey

The written plan is transformed into action during the implementation stage. Successful
implementation requires that the following issues be addressed.
Roles & Responsibilities in the assigned task
Instruction, Training and proper supervisor for Contractor & Scaffold Erector
All the relevant information related to design scheduling, loading must be
communicated to responsible persons
All the Document (i.e. HSE Plan, Scaffold plan, Inspection record) related to scaffold
must be kept & maintained on site

Regular inspection is a must to determine if performance standard Periodic checking is

necessary to determine if performance standards are meeting with local and other legal
requirements, and to take necessary corrective action
Scaffolding must be inspected by a competent person

The review stage helps to make each job a learning experience so that the next job can
be performed more effectively. The following questions should be asked:
Was the planning adequate or were there unwelcome surprises?

Was the implementation adequate so that the job was completed as planned?

Were the planned checks carried out and did the necessary corrective action take
place?

What changes will be necessary for the next job?

DOs & DONT s

7.1 Do
Make sure a competent person has inspected the scaffold before you go up.
Wear a hard hat whether you work on or under a scaffold.
Be sure to wear sturdy shoes with nonslip soles as well.
Use a personal fall arrest system whenever required.
Watch out for co-workers on the scaffold as well as people below.
Always use common sense when working on any scaffold, and move around slowly
and carefully.
Ask a supervisor if you're not sure if a scaffold or working conditions are safe.

DONT
Take chances.
Overload a scaffold.
Keep debris or unnecessary materials on a scaffold where someone could trip over
them or accidentally knock them off the platform.
Hit a scaffold with anything heavya truck, a forklift, a load of lumber, etc.
Leave materials and equipment on the platform at the end of the day.
Use an outdoor scaffold in stormy or windy weather.