Safety

ALUMINUM SCAFFOLDING always strives to deliver Quality Aluminum Scaffolding Safety Items keeping in mind our Quality Standards in order to achieve the goal of offering our customers the best services and quality products in the market. Aluminum Scaffolding constantly monitors and reviews its health and safety standards for a safe working environment for all our clients and personnel.

Safety Instruction for Aluminum Scaffolding Tower:-

Aluminum Scaffolding Tower: Erection and Inspection
Only people with enough competence all allowed or permitted to erect and inspect Aluminum Tower Scaffolds. A person is recognised competent only if they have an experience regarding erection and use of mobile Aluminum scaffolds. If a person has successfully completed a recognised training course on erection and use of scaffolds within the last 3 years then they are known to competent enough. Everyone should be known about all the Aluminum Scaffolding Safety Items present on the site. All the details of the competent persons should be maintained by each relevant department. All the competent persons should know about how to use all the Aluminum Scaffolding Safety Items.

2. Aluminum Scaffolding Tower Erection

2.1 Before Erection of Aluminum Scaffolding Tower
Every competent person must be in the possession of the Manufacturers Instruction Manual (MIM) before erection begins. Prior to the usage of Aluminum Scaffolding Tower, the entire components should be checked once to see if they are good condition or no and are they for the same model of Aluminum Scaffolding Tower.  Check for the ground to be firm and level. Take necessary precautions against collision of persons or vehicles e.g. Barriers and/or Signage. Castors should be checked in order to know about the caster housing and wheel/tyres condition. If the condition is poor, Wheel won’t rotate properly affecting the castor swivel rotation and the functioning of brakes. Adjustable legs should be checked to see if they are bent or no and the condition of threads. All the threads should be clean and free of debris. The device that checks the leg if it’s falling out of the frame should be checked for its proper functioning. These are the Aluminum Scaffolding Safety Items that you should know of.

Frames should be checked so that the members are straight and undamaged. They should be free of extraneous materials such as concrete. Spigots should be straight and parallel with the axis of the column tube and the device used for locking frames together must be checked to see if it’s functioning correctly. Platform checking should be done to know about their state that they are undamaged and square /true. Plywood decks should not be split or warped instead should be able to get firmly fixed to the toe board. Ancillary parts such as outriggers, stabilisers should be checked for damage and effective functioning of hooks and couples.

2.2 Aluminum Scaffolding Tower: Stability of the tower
Aluminum Scaffolding Tower should be erected and used only on the suitable ground for the purpose. Generally the grounds used are of concrete, tarmacadam or similar. Aluminum Scaffolding Towers are built on soft, uneven or sloping ground instead they should be set on boards or other rigid packing which will provide a firm foundation.

2.3 Aluminum Scaffolding Tower : Never Use Damaged Equipment
To gain access to the platform, Aluminum Scaffolding Tower should be climbed from the inside using ladder rungs within the frame through the trap door platform. Never climb through outside of the tower. Each time a mobile tower is relocated it should be re-levelled using the leg adjustment. Each castor needs to be re-locked.  After the fitting of every adjustable outrigger, their sound footing should be checked after each move. Working platforms should be fully and closely boarded. Guardrails and toe boards should be used on all working platforms. Guardrails should be at least 950 mm high and an intermediate guardrail should be provided so that the unprotected gap doesn’t exceed 470 mm.

2.4 Height
The heights at which an Aluminum Scaffolding Tower is used are shown in the MIM and should be strictly adhered to that detail every time.

2.5 Outriggers or stabilizers
Outriggers or stabilisers increase the effective base dimensions of the Aluminum Scaffolding Tower and must be fitted when higher towers are required. These should be fitted as soon as the first lift is complete.

2.6 Tying-In
Tying-in is generally achieved with the help of compatible aluminum tube and couplers, but the advice of the suppliers should first be sought. It is a good practice to tie-in ALUMINIUM SCAFFOLDING TOWERS of various heights when left unattended or in exposed and windy conditions.

2.7 Wind Loads on the Aluminum Scaffolding Tower
Wind imposes a horizontal bearing load on the ALUMINUM SCAFFOLDING TOWER tending to overturn it. In normal safe working conditions this tendency to overturn is counteracted by the self-weight of the Aluminum Scaffolding TOWER, and the stabilising effect of the outriggers or stabilisers. Towers shouldn’t be erected or used in winds exceeding 17mph. All the Aluminum Scaffolding Safety Items manual guide needs to be there with the workers.

2.8 Other Horizontal Loads
Apart from windy loads other horizontal loads act on the tower too. All the Aluminum Scaffolding Safety Items should be with the workers. These loads are mainly caused the actions of the operatives working on the ALUMINUM SCAFFOLDING TOWERS. For e.g. While using hand tools like drill, it causes equal and opposite forces on the ALUMINUM SCAFFOLDING TOWER.  Such forces should be avoided as much as possible for safe working. In no case they should exceed 20 kg (44 lb) on a freestanding ALUMINUM SCAFFOLDING TOWER.

2.9 Vertical Loads (Lifting Materials etc)
Any kind of vertical load put on by people or materials within the area of the working, adds to the stability of the Aluminum Scaffolding  Tower but vertical load outside the area of the working platform can be dangerous. For example, heavy materials hoisted with a rope outside the Aluminum Scaffolding TOWER have a tendency to overturn the Aluminum Scaffolding TOWER, particularly if no outriggers or stabilisers are fitted.

2.10 Safe Loading
The MIM will give you details about the maximum loads that can support the Aluminum Scaffolding Tower. Generally speaking they state the designed load capacity (DLC) that can be supported by any platform, and the Safe Working Load that can be supported by the complete Aluminum Scaffolding Tower. It is recommended that a notice showing DLC should be exhibited at the base of the Aluminum Scaffolding Tower, so that all personnel using the Aluminum Scaffolding Tower are aware of its capacity limits.

2.11 Moving Aluminum Scaffolding Tower
Aluminum Scaffolding Tower’s height should be reduced to less than 4 meters before moving. Check for the power lines or other obstructions overhead and if present remove them or be careful. Before moving an Aluminum Scaffolding Tower, unlock the castor; unlock the outrigger castors or reposition the stabiliser to feet 12 mm (0.5 inch) from the ground. Check for the area to be firm and level where the Aluminum Scaffolding Tower is being moved. While moving the Aluminum Scaffolding Tower, push or pull at the base only. Use manual effort at ground level only to move the Aluminum Scaffolding Tower (never use powered vehicles). No personal or tools and equipment should be present on the Aluminum Scaffolding Tower if it is in motion.Once in position, before using, lock all wheels and reposition outriggers before use.

3. INSPECTION

For Inspection purpose, use ‘Scafftag’ to evaluate the inspection and erection procedure. This should be taken in care for all the Aluminum Scaffolding Tower scaffolds erected by competent certified people. If an Aluminum Scaffolding Tower is in position for 7 days or more, it must be taken under and inspected by a competent person.

3.1 Before Use of Aluminum Scaffolding Tower
After erecting an Aluminum Scaffolding Tower, an inspection must be done by a competent person prior to its use. An inspection should be carried out too if there’s any substantial addition, dismantling or alterations. All the Aluminum Scaffolding Safety Items should be checked. The inspection should include:

• Check if it’ vertical and square and all the horizontal braces and platforms are level.
• Check for the outriggers or stabilizers to be correctly positioned and secured.
• Check that all base plates or castor wheels are fully in contact with the ground, including those on stabilizers or outriggers. All castors should be properly locked.
• Check for the spigot and socket joint locks holding the frames together are secured or no.
• Check for all bracing members if they are located exactly where the supplier wanted or no.
• Check for all the guardrails and toe boards to be in the position as required.
• Check for all the access stairways and ladders to be in position and are firmly located.
• Aluminum Scaffolding Tower usage should be strictly avoided in the vicinity of live electrical apparatus or near unguarded machinery.
• Ensure the covering of any holes, ducts, pits or gratings present.

3.2 During Use of Aluminum Scaffolding Tower
While using Aluminum Scaffolding Tower, it should be kept in good order. All the damaged parts should be replaced before using the tower again.

4. HAZARDS

Accidents normally occur because of the carelessness and failing in observing good working practice. You should know how to use Aluminum Scaffolding Safety Items safely. With aluminum alloy Aluminum Scaffolding Tower accidents can be caused by:

• Height is too high relative to the effective base dimension.
• Failed usage of outriggers or stabilizers when required.
• Aluminum Scaffolding Tower used or moved on a sloping, uneven surface without paying attention to vertical alignment and stability.
• Using a non-vertical Aluminum Scaffolding Tower.
• When Aluminum Scaffolding Tower are not tied to building or adjacent structure when they must be.
• Carelessly moving the Aluminum Scaffolding Tower – pulling it along the working platform level.
• Not taking care of the care of the potholes, ducts or obstructions.
• Not ensuring Aluminum Scaffolding Tower to be clear of overhead obstructions.
• Bracing the members which do not fit in accordance with the instructions.
• Not well fitting of Guardrails or toe boards causing men or materials to fall from the working platform.
• Use of Aluminum Scaffolding Tower in adverse weather conditions.
• Moving the Aluminum Scaffolding Tower without locking the castor wheels.
• Safe working load exceeded.