ScAffolding Chamber (Steel)
SCAFFOLDING CHAMBER
The Scaffold Chamber of the IWH is set up to promote safe working at height on the erection and use of Scaffolders. This involves:
- Manufacturers
- Suppliers (rental or sales),
- Erectors, dismantlers, and inspectors
- Users (anyone expected to work from a platform)
- End users (any company using the equipment).
Scaffolding is a temporary structure used to support people and materials. It is usually a modular system of steel tubes, although it can be fabricated from other materials.
Contractors must ensure that all person that install scaffolding understand their specific roles and are trained to:
- Identify each component and understand the function of each component
- Safely install and make alterations to assembled components
- Understand the safe use of each component
- Safely handle scaffolding components
- Safely dismantle the installed / ejected components
A contractor also needs to appoint a competent supervisor in writing who must ensure that all scaffolding operations are carried out under his/her supervision and that all scaffold erectors, team leaders and inspectors are competent to carry out their work.
The Construction Regulations 2014, CR16 (2) also specify that a contractor using access scaffolding must ensure that such scaffolding, when in use, complies with the safety standards incorporated for this purposes into the Regulations under section 44 of the Act.
GENERAL SAFETY ASPECTS
All persons working with scaffolding must wear the relevant personal protective equipment (PPE).
The contractor must have risk assessments performed by a competent person, appointed in writing, with the assessment including at least the following main points:
- The identification of the risks and hazards to which persons may be exposed
- A documented analysis and evaluation of the identified risks and hazards
- A plan to mitigate, reduce or control the identified risks and hazards
- A plan to monitor the mitigation or control of the identified risks and hazards
- A review plan
In addition, the contractor must also control and prevent:
- The incorrect or unsafe method of installing any scaffold
- The incorrect or untimely use of erected scaffolds (adequate stairways/ladders shall be provided)
- Incorrect methods of dismantling scaffolds
- Unsafe stacking of the scaffolding equipment
- Overloading or point loading the platform
The following SANS standards apply to the Scaffold Industry:
SANS 10085-1: Steel Access Scaffolding
The design, erection, use and inspection of access scaffolding
SANS 1396: Wooden Scaffold Boards
This standard specifies requirements for four types (see 4.1) of wooden scaffold board
SANS 657-1: Steel tubes for non-pressure purposes Part 1:
Sections for scaffolding, general engineering and structural applications
Related BS standards also exist, being:
BS 1139 Part 6: Metal Scaffolding
Applies to prefabricated tower scaffolds subject to wind loads up to and including 0.1 kN/m2.
The IWH Professional Body will issue licenses to individuals for recognition to work as
- Scaffold Hand
- Scaffold Fixer
- Basic Scaffold Erector (up to 6m)
- Scaffold Erector
- Basic Scaffold Inspector (up to 6m)
- Scaffold Inspector
- Scaffold Supervisor
For Scaffold related enquiries, please email any of the following:
Please click here to watch the video of the IWH’s Scaffolding Chamber. Watch video!
