Scaffold Safety - “Falling Standards”

Scaffolding is an effective system used in the construction industry to protect workers from the risk of falling from heights, as well as protecting workers and the general public from the risk of being struck by falling objects.

Swinging stages or suspended scaffolds provide an alternative safe work platform where it would be impossible to erect a static scaffold system.

A scaffold structure or swinging stage that has a design fault or is not maintained or monitored to ensure all components are in place, may itself pose a risk to the safety of workers.

On busy construction sites the structural integrity of a scaffold structure can be easily compromised when structural components are removed.

Where the removal of scaffold components is done in a systematic way so that other methods of support may be installed to ensure the structural integrity of the scaffold structure the risk to safety is minimised or eliminated.

Controlling risks associated with suspended scaffold systems

Suspended scaffolds require the implementation of regular and comprehensive maintenance programs. As a minimum, safe work methods must be developed and implemented, and a comprehensive maintenance and inspection process undertaken and documented.

Components of a suspended scaffold may be liable to failure if they are not thoroughly inspected on a regular basis, including prior to every use. Any defects identified during an inspection must be rectified before the scaffold is used.

The recent fatality involving a swinging stage at the Maroubra Seals Sports Community Club in Sydney’s south east is a tragic reminder of the need to have robust monitoring and maintenance systems in place.

In this incident the winch mechanism at one end of the swinging stage used at the time failed resulting in a worker falling to his death. Compounding the issue was the fact that the deceased worker was not wearing a safety harness.

A risk assessment of the swinging stage should have identified the need for workers to wear a safety harness whilst working from the stage and for the scaffold hoist mechanism to include back up safety systems such as a single rope protective device or a second rope in order to hold the scaffold level should such a failure occur.

As a result of this incident WorkCover NSW released a safety alert recommending the following procedure be adopted in relation to suspended scaffold systems:

  1. The implementation of specific safe work procedures.
  2. An inspection of suspended platform components including, winches, ropes and counterweights prior to every use.
  3. All components to be subject to regular maintenance and repairs.
  4. Appropriate fall arrest devices are to be used and attached correctly.
  5. That protective devices such as single rope or second rope protective devices are utilised on each suspended scaffold.

Similarly, in Queensland after multiple fatal incidents involving the failure of suspended scaffold components, the following measures, which will augment the current Queensland Scaffolding Code of Practice 2004, were implemented:

  1. A suitably qualified engineer must inspect and verify the initial set up of the suspended scaffold suspension system and provide engineering drawings and a set up statement.
  2. An engineer must provide a statement on the adequacy of the structure the suspended scaffold is being installed on.
  3. A competent person must inspect and verify subsequent installations of the suspended scaffold system.
  4. A load test is to be conducted on each installation.
  5. The principle contractor or building owner must sight all documentation before allowing work to begin.

Control risks associated with static scaffold structures

The ongoing monitoring and review of the effectiveness of a static scaffold structure as a fall prevention control measure is critical, particularly due to the ever changing nature of construction work.

It is crucial that a safe system of work in relation to scaffolding includes the following minimum requirements:

  1. The design and installation of the scaffold must be suitable for the specific tasks on the construction site and in particular the methodology and sequence that will be adopted for construction.
  2. Ensuring that the design and installation of the scaffold is in accordance with AS/NZS1576 and 4576.
  3. Ensure that the scaffold is tied to the structure in accordance with the relevant standards.
  4. Ensure that only a licensed scaffolder modifies the scaffold (where major modifications are made engage an engineer to assess the scaffold for load bearing capacity and design compliance).
  5. Ensure adequate supervision of all workers who perform work from the scaffold.

In Inspector Ron Spence v Allam Homes Pty Limited and Inspector Ron Spence v Mehrban Allam [1] the company and its managing director, Mr Allam were fined a total of $154,000 after a carpenter contracted by the defendant corporation fell more than two metres and suffered multiple fractures, displacement of vertebrae and slight amnesia after the scaffold platform that he was working on collapsed.

The incident occurred because contractors delivering gyprock to the site had dismantled and re-erected the scaffold structure in order to facilitate the delivery. Instead of arranging for a licensed scaffolder to dismantle and re-erect the scaffold, the contractors had done so themselves, failing to properly install supports, struts and braces.

Justice Haylen of the Industrial Court in sentencing noted that there were simple remedial steps available to the defendants that would have prevented the incident, including passing on information to subcontractors regarding the dismantling or modification of scaffold structures and ensuring adequate supervision of subcontractors on site.

Conclusion

Importantly, static scaffold structures and suspended scaffold systems must be subjected to ongoing maintenance, review and monitoring to ensure that they meet the original design specifications and load calculations to ensure they remain effective as a fall prevention control measure.

[1]

[2008] NSWIRCOMM 249

 

The OH&S articles were written, in conjunction with our partners, by our OH&S expert Michael Connolly, Special Counsel.