Edition 61, October 2008

Recommendation to change swing stage regulations in Qld


The Queensland Government will implement the recommendations of an independent reference group, set up after the two deaths on a Gold Coast building site in June, to improve the safety of swing stage scaffolding.

Swing stage scaffolding consists of suspended work platforms, such as those used by window cleaners, that allow work to be done on a building's exterior.

The reference group, which oversaw preparation of the safety report, included representatives from Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (WHSQ), BLF, CFMEU, Master Builders Association of Queensland and the Scaffolding Association, Queensland.

The key recommendation is to upgrade information available to industry and raise levels of competencies of installers and users of swing-stage scaffolds. Other recommendations include:

  • load testing on suspended scaffolds
  • design to be carried out by a suitably qualified engineer
  • a compliance pack to be developed containing documentation associated with design, testing, inspection, etc of the suspended scaffold.

Workplace Health and Safety Queensland are taking the following key measures to meet the recommendations:

  • a suitably qualified and experienced engineer must inspect and verify the initial set-up, including providing an engineering drawing and statement for the set-up of a swing-stage suspension system
  • a suitably qualified and experienced engineer must provide a statement on the adequacy of the building or structure that the swing-stage scaffold is being installed on
  • a competent person (who meets the criteria provided by WHSQ) must inspect and verify subsequent installations of the swing-stage system that was initially verified by the engineer
  • a load test is to be conducted on each installation of the swing-stage system
  • the principal contractor or building owner (or representative of either party) must sight all relevant documentation before allowing work with the swing-stage scaffold to begin.

For more information visit www.deir.qld.gov.au/workplace/publications/reports/suspendedscaffold/index.htm

This page was generated on 26 August, 2009

Tag cloud Tags: Swing stage,Qld,Workplace Health and Safety Queensland. Click here to view the tag cloud.