Mobile Scaffold Towers regulations

Regulations that apply to mobile scaffold towers specifically include common sense points like, for example, that all wheels must be locked and secured before workers are allowed to safely step onto the scaffold tower. This is to prevent the structure from moving. Also, obviously, all workers must descend from the structure before it is moved, this is to prevent injuries. While actually moving the scaffold tower an eye must be kept out for any wires, electric cables (or anything else of the sort) installed above the scaffold, as these could get in its way and cause complications.

Work at Height Regulations 2005

In the UK a complete set of regulations can be found in the “Requirements for All Working Platforms” section of “The Work at Height Regulations 2005”.. Possibly the most important regulation may be that every scaffold must be capable of holding at least four times the maximum intended amount and mass of people.
The Work at Height Regulations 2005 consolidated previous UK and European legislation on work at heights. The Regulations apply to any work at a height where there is a risk of a fall liable to cause injury. This includes work below ground level and at a low height. The Regulations place duties on employers, the self-employed, and any person that controls the work of others.

As part of the Regulations, duty holders must ensure:

• work is planned and organised.
• competent personnel
• risks are assessed and appropriate work equipment used.
• risks from fragile surfaces are properly controlled.
• equipment is properly inspected and maintained.

The HSE has determined a simple hierarchy for managing and selecting equipment for work at height. In this, duty holders must:

• avoid work at height where they can.
• use work equipment or other measures to prevent falls where they cannot avoid working at height.
• where they cannot eliminate the risk of a fall, use work equipment or other measures to minimise the distance and consequences of a fall should one occur.

According to the HSE, common factors resulting in falls from height include:

• Failure to provide safe systems of work.
• Failure to ensure that safe systems of work are followed.
• Inadequate information, instruction, training or supervision provided.
• Failure to use appropriate equipment.
• Failure to provide safe plant/equipment.

The HSE’s key messages on preventing falls from height are:

• Follow good practice for work at height.
• Follow your risk assessment, plan and organise your work properly and make sure everyone involved is competent to their level or responsibility.
• Try to avoid the need for work at height where you can. Where you can’t, take steps to prevent falls, where you cannot prevent a fall then you must mitigate the risk of injury should a fall occur.
• Always select collective measures to prevent falls (such as guardrails and working platforms) before other measures which may only mitigate the distance and consequences of a fall or which may only provide personal protection from a fall.

For full details please visit:

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2005/20050735

and

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2007/uksi_20070114_en_1

European regulations

This European Standard specifies performance requirements and methods of structural and general design for access and working scaffolds. Requirements given are for scaffold structures that rely on the adjacent structures for stability. In general these requirements also apply to other types of working scaffolds.

The purpose of a working scaffold is to provide a safe place of work with safe access suitable for the work being done.

The European Standard includes rules for structural design, which are of particular relevance to scaffolds made of certain materials. It is to be used in conjunction with the Eurocodes for structural design.

Design and inspection issues

• Scaffold should be designed by calculation, by a competent person, to ensure it will have adequate strength and stability. Unless a scaffold is a basic configuration described in recognised guidance e.g. NASC Technical Guidance TG20 for tube and fitting scaffolds or manufacturers’ guidance for system scaffolds.
• All scaffolding should be erected, dismantled and altered in accordance with the manufacturers’ erection guide for system scaffolds or NASC guidance document SG4 for tube and fitting scaffolds.
• For scaffolds that fall outside the scope of ‘Basic Scaffolds’ as described in bullet point 1, the design information should describe the sequence and methods to be adopted when erecting, dismantling and altering the scaffold, if this is not covered by published guidance as detailed in bullet point 2.
• Any proposed modifications or alterations outside a generally recognised standard configuration should be designed by a competent person.
• Handover certificates should refer to relevant drawings, permitted working platform loadings and any specific restrictions on use.
• All scaffolding inspection should be carried out by a person whose training and competence reflects the type and complexity of the scaffold they are inspecting.  Examples of competency include the Construction Industry Scaffolders Registration Scheme (CISRS) or an industry experienced individual who has received training under a recognised manufacturer/supplier scheme e.g. Safe Access-Fall Elimination (SA-FE) for the specific configuration he is inspecting.
• A non-scaffolder who has attended a suitable scaffold inspection course and has the necessary background experience would be considered competent to inspect a basic scaffold (ie a site manager).
• The scaffold inspection report should note any defects and corrective actions taken, even when those actions are taken promptly as this assists with the identification of any recurring problems.
• To prevent use by unauthorised persons of incomplete scaffolds, relevant warning signs identifying the areas where access is not permitted should be displayed at the access points to these areas.  In addition, access to the incomplete areas should be prevented by suitable physical means.

Competence and supervision issues

• All employees should be competent (or in the case of trainees, supervised by a competent person) for the type of scaffolding work they are undertaking and should have received appropriate training relevant to the type and form of scaffolding they are working on.
• Employers must provide appropriate levels of supervision taking into account the complexity of the work and the levels of training and competence of the scaffolders involved. 
• As a minimum requirement, every scaffold gang should contain an appropriately qualified scaffolder for the type and complexity of the scaffold to be erected, altered or dismantled.  This may be an individual who has received training under an industry recognised training scheme, e.g. CISRS, and has been awarded the scaffolder card or someone who has received training under a recognised manufacturer/supplier scheme, e.g. SA-FE, to the limit of the configuration(s) involved.   
• Trainee scaffolders should always work under the direct supervision of a qualified scaffolder (i.e. a working foreman).  Scaffolders are classed as ‘trainees’ until they have completed the approved training and assessment required to be deemed qualified.
• Erection, alteration and dismantling of complex designed scaffolding (e.g. suspended scaffolds, shoring, temporary roofs etc) should be done under the direct supervision of a competent person.  This may be a qualified Advanced scaffolder, a design engineer providing they possess the necessary industry experience or alternatively an individual who has received training under a recognised manufacturer/supplier scheme to the limit of the configuration(s) involved.

Scaffold structures that need to be designed

1. Dead Shores
2. Flying shores
3. Raking shores
4. Cantilevered scaffolds
5. Truss-out Scaffolds
6. Access Birdcages
7. Façade retention
8. Access scaffolds with more than the 2 working lifts allowed with TG20 ‘Basic Scaffolds’
9. Buttressed free-standing scaffolds
10. Temporary roofs and temporary buildings
11. Support scaffolds
12. Loading Bays founded on the ground
13. Mobile and static towers outside base/height limitations
14. Free standing scaffolds outside base/height Limitations
15. Temporary ramps and elevated roadways
16. Staircases and fire escapes
17. Spectator Terraces and Seating Stands         
18. Bridge scaffolds
19. Towers requiring guys or ground anchors
20. Offshore scaffolds outside Offshore Contractors Association (OCA) handbook
21. Pedestrian footbridges or walkways
22. Slung and Suspended scaffolds
23. Protection fans, Nets and Pavement Frames
24. Marine scaffolds
25. Boiler scaffolds
26. Power line crossings
27. Lifting gantries and towers
28. Steeple scaffolds
29. System scaffolds outside users guide parameters
30. Sign board supports
31. Sealing end structures
32. Temporary Storage on Site
33. Masts, Lighting Towers and Transmission Towers
34. Advertising hoardings/banners
35. Any scaffold structure subject to:
• Vibration
• High Loading
• Long term duration
• High risk areas
• Loading from passenger/goods hoists

Note: The above list is not exhaustive and any scaffold that does not comply with manufacturers guidelines as published in handbooks will require a specific design produced by a competent person.