Code of Practice for Access and Working Scaffolds …

1 Code of Practice for Access and Working Scaffolds H. &. S A. HEALTH AND SAFETY. AUTHORITY. National Authority for Occupational Safety and Health BAILE THA CLIATH: ARNA FHOILSI AG oifig AN tSOL THAIR. Le ceannach d reach n oifig DH OLTA FOILSEACH N RIALTAIS, TEACH SUN ALLIANCE, SR ID THEACH LAIGHEAN, BAILE THA CLIATH 2, n tr d an bpost . FOILSEACH IN RIALTAIS, AN RANN G POST-TR CHTA, 4-5 B THAR FHEARCHAIR, BAILE THA CLIATH 2, (Teil: 01-6613111 - fo-l ne. 4040/4045; Fax: 01-4752760). n tr aon d olt ir leabhar. DUBLIN: PUBLISHED BY THE STATIONERY OFFICE. To be purchased directly from the GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS SALE OFFICE, SUN ALLIANCE HOUSE, MOLESWORTH STREET, DUBLIN 2, or by mail order from GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS, POSTAL TRADE SECTION, 4-5 HARCOURT ROAD, DUBLIN 2, (Tel: 01-6613111 - ext.)

2 4040/4045; Fax: 01-4752760). or through any bookseller. ALSO FROM THE HEALTH AND SAFETY AUTHORITY, 10 HOGAN PLACE, DUBLIN 2. Price: IR P. 63547 01 5/99 5,000 Brunswick Press Ltd. Code of Practice for Access and Working Scaffolds Foreword The National Authority for Occupational Safety and Health (by virtue of Section 30 of the Safety, Health and Welfare Act, 1989, following consultation with the statutory Health and Safety Authority Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and with the consent of Mr Tom Kitt, TD, Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, given on 11th December, 1998) has issued a Code of Practice entitled Code of Practice for Access and Working Scaffolds .

3 The Code of Practice provides practical guidance for persons who have specific duties in relation to the supply, design, construction and use of Scaffolds , including suppliers, designers of scaffold structures, project supervisors for the design and construction stages, contractors and workers, in relation to the observance of their duties under Sections 6 to 12 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 1989 (No. 7 of 1989), Parts II, III, IV and XIII of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations, 1995 ( No. 138 of 1995) and Parts II, IV, V. and VIII of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations, 1993.

4 ( No. 44 of 1993). The Code of Practice comes into effect on June 1st, 1999. Notice of the issue of this Code of Practice was published in the Iris Oifigiuil of June 18th, 1999. CD Body Secretary to the Board iii National Authority for Occupational Safety and Health Acknowledgements The text of this code of Practice was drafted by an ad-hoc group reporting to the Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and was then subsequently accepted by the Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and approved by the Board of the Health and Safety Authority. Members of the Ad-Hoc Group Name Organisation Mr. Robert Roe (Chairman) Mr.

5 Robert Byrne F S. Mr. Joe Fanning Alloy Access Ltd. - Mr. Paul Hansard Mr. Leo Harmon Ascon Ltd. - Mr. Vincent McGauran Mr. Kevin Sheridan F S. Mr. Fergus Whelan Mr. John McCabe Chadwicks - Mr. Tommy O'Sullivan (Secretary) Members of the Advisory Committee on Construction Safety Name Organisation Mr. Sylvester Cronin (Chairman) Board Member Mr. Robert Byrne FAS. Mr. John Graby Mr. Niall Irwin - Mr. Jack Kavanagh Kavanagh Mansfield & Mr. Peter McCabe Mr. Jim McCafferty - Mr. Vincent McGauran Mr. Gerard O'Sullivan McBains Cooper International - Mr. John Ryan Walls Ltd - Mr. Robert Roe Mr. Fergus Whelan Mr.

6 Con Body (Secretary) Ms. Marie Manning (Secretary) Mr. Philipp Rahn (Secretary) British Standards Institution Extracts from BS 5973 : 1993 are reproduced with the permission of BSI under licence number PD\ 1999. 0198. Complete copies of the standard can be obtained by post from BSI Customer Services, 389 Chiswick High Road, London W4 4AL. iv Code of Practice for Access and Working Scaffolds Table of Contents FOREWORD iii Erection Scheduling 10. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS iv Planning for Use and Maintenance 10. 1. INTRODUCTION 1 Information to Purchasers of Scaffolding Equipment 10. Background 1. Information to Users of Scaffolding Status of Code of Practice 1 Components 10.

7 Scope of Code of Practice 1. Scaffolding in Construction 1 3. ERECTION OF Scaffolds 12. Types of scaffold 2 Safe Erection and Dismantling 12. Safety of Scaffolders 12. Scaffolding Hazards 2 Safety of Other Workers and Persons 12. Risk Assessment 2 Incomplete Scaffolding 13. Statutory Duties 2 Materials 13. Project Supervisor for the Inspection Prior to Use 13. Design Stage 2 Standards 13. Designers 2 Transoms 13. Project Supervisor for the Ledgers 13. Construction Stage 2 Couplers 13. Contractors 3. Workers 3 Stability 13. Foundations 14. Illustrations 3 Ties 15. Tie Spacing 18. Definitions 3 Bracing 19.

8 Types and Dimensions of Scaffolds 3 Working Platforms 21. Structural Members 4 Decking 21. scaffold Fittings 4 Toe-Boards 22. Other Terms in General Use 5 Maximum Gap Between Building and Platform 22. Cantilever Platform (Stage). 2. MANAGEMENT AND CONTROL Brackets 22. OF SCAFFOLDING 7. Guard-Rails 22. Management of Scaffolding Activities 7. Choice of Scaffolding Equipment 8 Falling Object Protection 22. Brick Guards 22. Layout and Design 8 Sheeting 23. Layout 8 Fans 23. Structural Design of Scaffolds 9. Building Design and scaffold Access to the scaffold 23. Erection 9 Ladder Access 23. v National Authority for Occupational Safety and Health Loading of the scaffold 24 7.

9 COMPETENCE 33. Loading Bays 24. Signs 25 Competence of Scaffolders 33. Loading Charts 26 Training 33. Experience 33. Free-Standing and Mobile Access Assessment, Certification and Towers 26 Registration 33. Types of Tower 26. Manufacturer's Instructions 27 Competence for Inspection 33. Stability 27 Training for Inspection 33. Ground Surface 27. Bracing 27 Training and Instruction for scaffold Castors 28 Users 33. Working Platform 27 Contents of Induction 34. Tower Access 27. Overhead Electricity Lines 27 Training and Instruction of Equipment Instruction, Training and Operators 34. Supervision 27. Tower Use 28.

10 APPENDIX A: TUBE AND FITTING. Scaffolds and Electricity 28 Scaffolds 35. Overhead Electricity Lines 28. Portable Electrical Equipment 28. Lightning 28 APPENDIX B: EXAMPLE CHECK- LISTS 38. Erection on Public Streets 29. Through Access 29. Adjacent Parking or Traffic 29 APPENDIX C: FORM CR8 REPORT. OF RESULTS OF. INSPECTION OF: 4. INSPECTION AND HAND-OVER 30 scaffold 42. 5. USE, MODIFICATION AND APPENDIX D: WEIGHTS OF TYPICAL. MAINTENANCE 31 BUILDING MATERIALS 45. scaffold Users 31. Modification 31 APPENDIX E: INFORMATION. Maintenance 31 SOURCES 48. Inspection Before and During Use 31. INDEX 51. 6. DISMANTLING 32.