Scaffolding is a temporary structure used by construction and maintenance workers to enter elevated work areas and support workers, tools and materials. They appear in buildings and construction sites in various types, from small and simple to complex multi-layer scaffolding.
Photo 1 shows a simple wheeled scaffold, which is usually used in building maintenance and the final stage of construction and renovation.
(1) Photo of the author, unless otherwise stated.
This type of scaffolding is often referred to as a "baker"; it is manufactured in dimensions of 24 to 36 inches (61 to 91.5 cm) wide and 48 to 72 inches (122 to 183 cm) long. It is usually made of steel parts and connected to each other by cam locks or spring lock pins. The caster brake must be locked at any time when the scaffold is occupied, because if the scaffold moves under the scaffold, it may cause serious injury to the workers on the scaffold.
Photos 2 and 3 show the complex scaffolding system currently used to repair the dome of the US Capitol in Washington, DC. This complex scaffolding system must be designed and inspected by structural engineers after installation.
(2, 3) Photo courtesy of the architect of the U.S. Capitol website (http://www.aoc.gov/dome/project-updates.)
Figure 4 shows a welded steel frame scaffold built for the construction of a four-story masonry elevator shaft on a hotel site under construction.
Photo 5 shows a welded steel frame scaffold with a heated winter fence that prevents the masonry from freezing. These shells are usually made of flame-retardant plastic sheets and waterproof cloth, and are covered on a steel frame supported by scaffolding. Sometimes, despite the increased risk for scaffolding workers, plastic sheets and tarpaulins that have not been flame-retardant treatment are still used because of the lower cost.
Photo 6 shows the tubular and coupler scaffolding used during the refurbishment of a multi-storey building. The scaffold supports two garbage chutes on the left, a rope and pulley system for lifting tools and equipment to the upper level of the scaffold, and access stairs from the ground to the roof and all levels in the middle. These features can be installed on any type of scaffolding, if it is designed for these purposes. The scaffolding in photo 6 is the same type of scaffolding system used in photos 2 and 3.
As with any type of structure, the connection between scaffolding components is a weak point. The failure of any one of the connections may cause the scaffold to collapse and the workers who use it may die or be seriously injured.
Any type of scaffolding is not allowed to be higher than four times the narrow size of its base, because if it is taller, it tends to tilt, unless it has outriggers, cables, or connections to walls or other substantial structural elements.
On construction sites, scaffolding may be a location for fire-related and medical emergencies of the same type as any permanent structure, and adds the following hazards:
If your response area has a large construction project involving large or complex scaffolding, please contact the construction manager or general contractor to discuss work site visits for your personnel; and the possibility of ladder evolution using hoses, and the use of weighted human bodies Possibility of the model to perform patient removal exercises from the upper layer of the scaffold.
For descriptions of various scaffolds, discussion of their hazards, and requirements for proper use, please visit the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) website www.osha.gov and https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/scaffolding/ index.html. These sites contain links to resource files and regulations that apply to the installation, use, and removal of many types of scaffolding and the workers who use them.
You can also search for "scaffolding manufacturer" on the Internet to obtain detailed descriptions and specification links for scaffolding equipment and accessories.
Download this article in PDF format here
Gregory Havel is a member of the Burlington Town (WI) Fire Department; a retired deputy director and trainer; and a 35-year fire brigade veteran. He is a Wisconsin-certified second-level fire instructor, second-level fire officer, and fire inspector; a part-time lecturer in the fire protection program at Gateway Technical College; and the safety director of Scherrer Construction Co., Inc.. Havel holds a bachelor's degree from St. Norbert College; has more than 35 years of experience in facility management and building construction; and has taken FDIC courses.