Edition 60, September 2008

New scaffolding standard guide released


WorkCover New South Wales has released an industry safety standard for erecting, altering and dismantling scaffolding in the area of prefabricated steel modular scaffolding.

The purpose of this industry safety standard is to provide guidance to scaffolders to safely erect, alter and dismantle prefabricated steel modular scaffolding where this information is not available from the manufacturer or supplier and the scaffold is of a basic configuration.

There are risks associated with scaffolders falling through and from the scaffold as they engage in these activities. To minimise these risks, this standard requires scaffolders to install and work from fully planked platforms at nominally two metre vertical intervals, and install guardrails and midrails in advance of the decking.

However, if it is not practicable to install fully planked platforms at two metre intervals, a larger interval not exceeding three metres may be permitted using alternative safe methods and design limitations. The fully planked platforms are to remain in place until the scaffold is dismantled.

This industry safety standard also provides practical guidance for users of scaffolds on procedures for managing the number of permitted working platforms and their duty ratings to prevent overloading of the scaffold.

For more information visit www.workcover.nsw.gov.au/Industry/IndustrySolutions/Pages/default.aspx

This page was generated on 26 August, 2009

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