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SG4:10

NASC November 2010


Preventing Falls
in Scaffolding
Safety Guidance 4: 2010

National Access and Scaffolding Confederation (NASC)


4th Floor, 12 Bridewell Place, London EC4V 6AP
Copyright Preventing Falls in Scaffolding

Published by: T h i s guide has been p r e p a r e d by t h e N a t i o n a l


Access and Scaffolding C o n f e d e r a t i o n ( N A S C ) .
N a t i o n a l Access & Scaffolding C o n f e d e r a t i o n
(NASC) T h e p r e p a r a t i o n o f this N A S C G u i d e t o Preventing
4 t h Floor, 12 B r i d e w e l l Place Falls in Scaffolding w a s e n t r u s t e d t o T h e N A S C
London EC4V 6AP SG4 W o r k i n g Party by t h e C o u n c i l o f t h e N a t i o n a l
Access and Scaffolding C o n f e d e r a t i o n .
Tel: 0 2 0 7 8 2 2 7 4 0 0
Fax: 0 2 0 7 8 2 2 7 4 0 1 Technical A u t h o r
Email: e n q u i r i e s @ n a s c . o r g . u k Simon Hughes CMIOSH, MIIRSM
Website: www.nasc.org.uk Simian Risk M a n a g e m e n t L i m i t e d

This guide takes t h e f o r m o f r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s


and guidance. It should n o t be q u o t e d as if it w e r e
a specification. It does n o t p u r p o r t t o include all
t h e necessary provisions f o r a c o n t r a c t and users
© NASC 2010 are responsible f o r t h e i r application.

First published 2010 T h e guide has been w r i t t e n o n t h e a s s u m p t i o n


that t h e e x e c u t i o n o f its provisions is e n t r u s t e d t o
I S B N 978-0-9549515-5-9 a p p r o p r i a t e l y qualified and e x p e r i e n c e d p e o p l e
and t h a t c o n s t r u c t i o n and supervision o f scaffolds
Printed b y L i t h o f l o w L i m i t e d , L o n d o n w i l l be c a r r i e d o u t by capable and e x p e r i e n c e d
organisations.

N A S C and Simian Risk M a n a g e m e n t L i m i t e d shall


be u n d e r n o liability o f w h a t s o e v e r k i n d h o w e v e r
caused w h e t h e r o r n o t d u e t o t h e negligence o r
w i l f u l default o f N A S C o r t h e i r servants o r agents
arising o u t o f o r in c o n n e c t i o n w i t h this d o c u m e n t
o r any p a r t t h e r e o f .

A m e n d m e n t s issued since p u b l i c a t i o n

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may


Amd. No.
be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or
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Date
mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise,
without the prior permission of the publisher and
copyright owner. Comments
Preventing Falls in Scaffolding Contents

vii Foreword

viii Preface

I Introduction

3 Section I - Planning for w o r k at height

6 C o m p e t e n c e and capability

6 Training and instruction

7 Supervision

8 Site inspection a n d risk a s s e s s m e n t


Jj||JIW^B^Mllj||
8 R e s c u e planning

8 W e a t h e r conditions

8 T e m p o r a r y w o r k s design

9 Scaffolders' responsibilities

11 Section 2 - T h e Scaffolders' 'Safe Z o n e '

12 W o r k i n g platforms

16 M e t h o d s o f creating a 'Safe Z o n e '


HI %
17 Mobile elevating w o r k platform

18 P r o p r i e t a r y a d v a n c e d guardrail s y s t e m s ( A G S )

20 P r o p r i e t a r y a d v a n c e d guardrail tools ( A G T )
I
21 A d v a n c e d guardrail m e t h o d s ( A G M )

23 Horizontal type A G M

24 S y s t e m scaffold A G M ' s

25 S h o r t lift s y s t e m

25 Scaffolders' Step-up

26 Alternative Step-up's

28 P r o t e c t e d traversing

29 S e c t i o n 3 - C o l l e c t i v e fall a r r e s t s y s t e m s

31 S e c t i o n 4 - P e r s o n a l fall p r o t e c t i o n equipment

34 Single fall a r r e s t lanyards

34 D o u b l e fall a r r e s t lanyards

35 A n c h o r points, c o n n e c t o r s and a n c h o r d e v i c e s

35 A n c h o r a g e t o t u b e and fitting scaffolds

36 Suitable scaffold a n c h o r points

36 U n s u i t a b l e scaffold a n c h o r points
Contents Preventing Falls in Scaffolding

37 A n c h o r a g e t o p r o p r i e t a r y scaffolding s y s t e m s

37 G u i d e l i n e s for a n c h o r a g e o n o t h e r s t r u c t u r e s

38 A n c h o r a g e t o lightweight m o b i l e a c c e s s t o w e r s (MATs)

39 Inertia r e e l s

40 H o r i z o n t a l line s y s t e m s

41 Inspection and m a i n t e n a n c e o f p e r s o n a l fall a r r e s t e q u i p m e n t

42 Personal fall a r r e s t e q u i p m e n t m a n u f a c t u r e r s ' instructions

43 Section 5 - Rescue

44 A s s i s t e d r e s c u e ( w i t h o u t specialist r e s c u e e q u i p m e n t )

45 Specialist r e s c u e e q u i p m e n t

46 R e s c u e training

47 Section 6 - Methods of access a n d egress

50 Section 7 - O t h e r applications

50 Temporary edge protection

51 P r o p r i e t a r y s y s t e m scaffolding

52 H o i s t t o w e r s a n d debris c h u t e s

53 Birdcage a c c e s s scaffolds

54 P r o t e c t i o n fans and c a n t i l e v e r e d s t r u c t u r e s

54 T e m p o r a r y roofs

55 Gantries and pavement frames

56 Falsework and f o r m w o r k structures

57 Appendix I
Relevant H e a l t h and Safety L a w

58 Appendix 2
British and E u r o p e a n s t a n d a r d s

59 References and further reading

60 Acknowledgements
Preventing Falls in Scaffolding

N A S C Members Falls from Height 1999 - 2009 I

Guardrails attached to pre-cast concrete 3


staircase sections before being lifted into place

Pre-assembled guardrails - fixed to structural 4


steelwork ( T beams) prior to craning into
position

Scaffolder protected by a guardrail in the 4


scaffolders' 'Safe Zone'

Work at Height Regulations 2005 hierarchy 5

CISRS cards 6

Example from a drawing showing hazard warning 9

Inherent risk of a fall in scaffolding 11

Scaffolder exposed to a risk of falling 12

A temporary scaffolders working platform 12

A finished working platform for users 12

A scaffolder reaching below the single guardrail 13

CO must be clipped on

Safe handling bay

Fully boarded platform


14

14

Fully boarded platform 15

Restricted access 15

Hemping a standard over a guardrail 16

Using a M E W P to erect a hung scaffold 17

Fall restraint and combination lanyard 17


t i
Frame type advanced guardrail systems 18

Telescopic advanced guardrail systems 18

Modified sequence of erection to allow 'push-up' 19


AGS's to be used on the inside face

Horizontal type advanced guardrail system 19

Pivoting type advanced guardrail tool 20

Push type advanced guardrail tool 20

Example of a system-scaffold-specific advanced 21


guardrail tool

A G M frame constructed on the ground 22

Releasing the advanced guardrail from the ledger 22

Raising advanced guardrail to the next level 22

Horizontal type A G M - Step I 23

Horizontal type A G M - Step 2 23

Horizontal type A G M - Step 3 23

Horizontal type A G M - Step 4 24

Horizontal type A G M - Step 5 24

Horizontal type A G M - Step 6 24

f l j A frame system scaffold with an integral


advanced guardrail

Modular system scaffold innovative system of


24

24
work

Short-lift System used to erect a system scaffold 25


tower
Preventing Falls in Scaffolding Foreword V l l

Foreword

HSE
Health & Safety Executive

E v e r y y e a r t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n i n d u s t r y is r e s p o n s i b l e f o r causing d e a t h s a n d s e r i o u s injury, w i t h falls


f r o m h e i g h t a c c o u n t i n g f o r m o r e t h a n 5 0 % o f all f a t a l i t i e s . S c a f f o l d e r s , w h e n e r e c t i n g , a l t e r i n g o r
d i s m a n t l i n g scaffolds a r e o f t e n f a c e d w i t h t h e r i s k o f a fall b u t w i t h p r o p e r p l a n n i n g a n d
p r e p a r a t i o n , s e l e c t i o n o f t h e c o r r e c t e q u i p m e n t a n d p r o p e r use, t h e r i s k o f a fall c a n b e
eliminated.

T h e i n d u s t r y has d o n e m u c h t o i m p r o v e its p e r f o r m a n c e a n d t h i s is v e r i f i e d b y t h e N A S C ' s o w n


a c c i d e n t statistics. T h e s e s h o w t h a t , since its m a j o r r e v i s i o n in 2 0 0 0 , SG4 has s i g n i f i c a n t l y
r e d u c e d t h e i n c i d e n t r a t e s o f falls f r o m h e i g h t b y s c a f f o l d e r s a n d t h u s has i n e v i t a b l y saved lives.
H o w e v e r , t h e r e is a l w a y s r o o m f o r i m p r o v e m e n t .

O v e r t h e last five y e a r s t h e N A S C has c o n t i n u e d t o fulfil t h e i r c o m m i t m e n t f o r t h e o n g o i n g


d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e SG4 guidance, e m b r a c i n g collective p r o t e c t i o n t e c h n o l o g y and innovative
m e t h o d s o f w o r k , as t h e y have e v o l v e d . T h i s latest v e r s i o n o f S G 4 c l e a r l y d e f i n e s t h e i n s t a l l a t i o n
and use o f t h e ' S c a f f o l d e r s Safe Z o n e ' f o r t h e lifespan o f a n y s c a f f o l d i n g s t r u c t u r e as essential.
T h e ' S c a f f o l d e r s Safe Z o n e ' e n s u r e s c o l l e c t i v e fall p r o t e c t i o n is i n s i t u f o r t h e vast m a j o r i t y o f
s c a f f o l d i n g o p e r a t i o n s . So, w h e t h e r it is d u r i n g o r p o s t i n s t a l l a t i o n o f a n y s c a f f o l d i n g w o r k s , t h e
HSE's I n s p e c t o r s w i l l e x p e c t t o see c l e a r e v i d e n c e o f c o m p l i a n c e .

Since t h e p u b l i c a t i o n o f S G 4 : 0 5 , t h e c h o i c e a n d availability o f c o l l e c t i v e p r o t e c t i o n m e a s u r e s h a v e
d e v e l o p e d . T h i s n e w g u i d a n c e a i m s t o g i v e a b a l a n c e d v i e w o f c o l l e c t i v e fall p r e v e n t i o n m e t h o d s
f o r c r e a t i n g t h e 'Scaffolders Safe Z o n e ' , n o t f o r g e t t i n g t h a t t h e s e s h o u l d b e c o n s i d e r e d a h e a d o f
s y s t e m s t h a t solely r e l y u p o n p e r s o n a l fall p r o t e c t i o n e q u i p m e n t . T h e HSE w i l l n o l o n g e r a c c e p t
t h e u n p r o t e c t e d t r a v e r s i n g e l e m e n t o f t h e t u n n e l l i n g p r i n c i p l e t h a t f e a t u r e d in p r e v i o u s v e r s i o n s
of t h e guide.

T h i s r e v i s i o n r e p r e s e n t s a s t e p c h a n g e in t h e w a y s c a f f o l d c o n t r a c t o r s s h o u l d e r e c t t h e i r s c a f f o l d

s t r u c t u r e s . T h e g u i d a n c e is s t r a i g h t f o r w a r d a n d c o m p r e h e n s i v e a n d r e p r e s e n t s b e s t p r a c t i c e

w i t h i n t h e industry.

T h e HSE w i l l c o n t i n u e t o w o r k c l o s e l y w i t h t h e N A S C a n d I h o p e t h a t t h e w i d e r i n d u s t r y rises t o

t h e c h a l l e n g e in e m b r a c i n g t h i s r e v i s e d g u i d a n c e t o i m p r o v e s t a n d a r d s o f safety.
••• Preventing Falls i n Scaffolding
V l l l Preface

Preface

T h e N A S C a c k n o w l e d g e s t h a t s c a f f o l d e r s h a v e t o w o r k in h a z a r d o u s s i t u a t i o n s , a n d t h i s g u i d a n c e
a c c e p t s t h a t e m p l o y e r s have a r e s p o n s i b i l i t y t o e n s u r e t h a t a d e q u a t e m e a s u r e s a r e p r o v i d e d f o r
e m p l o y e e s t o e l i m i n a t e o r m i n i m i s e a n y risks.

T h i s e d i t i o n o f S G 4 a d d r e s s e s t h e o u t s t a n d i n g c o n c e r n s t h a t h a v e b e e n raised b y i n d u s t r y

professionals and t h e e n f o r c i n g authorities regarding t h e u n p r o t e c t e d traversing e l e m e n t used b y

s c a f f o l d e r s a t an e x p o s e d e d g e . It is n o l o n g e r a c c e p t a b l e f o r s c a f f o l d e r s t o t r a v e r s e w i t h o u t

s o m e f o r m o f fall p r o t e c t i o n .

Since t h e i n t r o d u c t i o n o f t h e r e v i s e d S G 4 in 2 0 0 5 , t h e N A S C m e m b e r s ' a c c i d e n t statistics s h o w


t h a t n o fatalities h a v e b e e n r e p o r t e d b y t h e i r m e m b e r s a n d t h e r e has b e e n a significant r e d u c t i o n
in t h e n u m b e r o f falls r e c o r d e d f r o m a s c a f f o l d o r w o r k i n g p l a t f o r m .

T h e N A S C a n d its m e m b e r s a r e m o v i n g t h e i n d u s t r y f o r w a r d in t e r m s o f safety a n d c o n s i s t e n c y

a n d it is o u r i n t e n t i o n t h a t t h i s r e v i s e d d o c u m e n t w i l l e n a b l e s c a f f o l d i n g c o n t r a c t o r s t o c o n t i n u e

t o o p e r a t e a t t h e f o r e f r o n t o f i n d u s t r y best p r a c t i c e .
Preventing Falls in Scaffolding Introduction

Introduction

1 Falls f r o m h e i g h t a c c o u n t f o r m o r e t h a n half o f t h e fatal a c c i d e n t s in c o n s t r u c t i o n a n d


scaffolders w h e n erecting, altering o r dismantling scaffolding are constantly faced w i t h a risk o f
falling.

2 T h e N A S C a c k n o w l e d g e s t h a t s c a f f o l d e r s h a v e t o w o r k in h a z a r d o u s s i t u a t i o n s , a n d t h i s
guidance n o t e accepts t h a t e m p l o y e r s have a responsibility t o ensure t h a t a d e q u a t e measures a r e
p r o v i d e d f o r e m p l o y e e s t o e l i m i n a t e o r m i n i m i s e t h o s e risks.

3 T h e N A S C also r e c o g n i s e s t h a t statistics 1
h a v e s h o w n falls f r o m h e i g h t r a r e l y i n v o l v e
scaffolders f r o m o u r m e m b e r s h i p w h o a r e w o r k i n g f r o m scaffold s t r u c t u r e s t h e y have
c o n s t r u c t e d t h e m s e l v e s . W e also r e c o g n i s e t h a t t h e instances o f fatal a n d m a j o r i n j u r i e s r e s u l t i n g
f r o m falls o f s c a f f o l d e r s h a v e r e d u c e d since t h e i n t r o d u c t i o n o f S G 4 in t h e m i d - n i n e t i e s . T h e
r e v i s i o n s o f S G 4 in 2 0 0 0 , 2 0 0 5 a n d again in 2 0 1 0 h a v e s e e n significant c h a n g e s t o t h e m e t h o d s o f
w o r k i n g t h a t h a v e b e e n a d o p t e d b y t h e i n d u s t r y . Since 2 0 0 0 t h e r e has b e e n a 7 8 % r e d u c t i o n in
t h e n u m b e r o f falls r e c o r d e d f r o m a s c a f f o l d o r w o r k i n g p l a t f o r m - f r o m 9 3 in 1999 t o 2 0 in
2 0 0 9 . T h i s r e d u c t i o n is in s p i t e o f an 1 8 . 6 % i n c r e a s e in t h e n u m b e r o f o p e r a t i v e s w o r k i n g w i t h i n
t h e N A S C m e m b e r s h i p , f r o m 10,679 in 1999 t o 13,124 in 2 0 0 9 . D u r i n g t h i s p e r i o d , n o fatal
accidents have o c c u r r e d w h i l s t operatives w e r e w o r k i n g w i t h i n t h e r e q u i r e m e n t s o f SG4.

100 I 0.5

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

N o . o f r e p o r t e d accidents x 100,000
F r e q u e n c y Rate = — —
Average N o . o f hours w o r k e d

Note 1. Figures obtained from NASC members' accident returns and annual safety report 1999-2009.

Figure I NASC members'falls from height 1999 - 2009.


Introduction Preventing Falls in Scaffolding

4 In r e c o g n i t i o n o f t h e s i g n i f i c a n t h a z a r d s a n d risks t h a t s c a f f o l d e r s a r e e x p o s e d t o d a y t o
day, t h e N A S C h a v e p r o d u c e d t h i s e d i t i o n o f Safety G u i d a n c e N u m b e r 4 as ' s c a f f o l d i n g i n d u s t r y
b e s t p r a c t i c e ' f o r w o r k at h e i g h t . T h i s latest v e r s i o n o f S G 4 a d d r e s s e s t h e o u t s t a n d i n g c o n c e r n
r e g u l a r l y raised b y i n d u s t r y p r o f e s s i o n a l s a n d t h e e n f o r c i n g a u t h o r i t i e s r e g a r d i n g t h e u n p r o t e c t e d
t r a v e r s i n g b y s c a f f o l d e r s at a n e x p o s e d e d g e , as p a r t o f t h e t u n n e l l i n g s y s t e m o f w o r k . It is n o
l o n g e r a c c e p t a b l e f o r s c a f f o l d e r s t o t r a v e r s e w i t h o u t s o m e f o r m o f fall p r o t e c t i o n .

5 T h i s g u i d a n c e n o w also i n c l u d e s s t r u c t u r e s a n d a p p l i c a t i o n s n o t p r e v i o u s l y c o v e r e d a n d
r e f l e c t s t h e challenges f a c i n g o u r i n d u s t r y t h r o u g h n e w t e c h n o l o g y a n d c h a n g i n g m e t h o d s o f
c o n s t r u c t i o n a n d m a i n t e n a n c e . T h e i n t r o d u c t i o n o f c o l l e c t i v e fall p r o t e c t i o n in t h e 2 0 0 5 e d i t i o n
a n d t h e f u r t h e r i n t e r i m g u i d a n c e i n t r o d u c e d in 2 0 0 8 a r e n o w also i n c l u d e d in t h i s g u i d a n c e n o t e .

6 T h e a i m o f t h i s d o c u m e n t r e m a i n s t h e s a m e a n d is t o i l l u s t r a t e c u r r e n t p r e v e n t a t i v e a n d

p r o t e c t i v e m e a s u r e s t h a t c o u l d b e u t i l i s e d w h e n e s t a b l i s h i n g safe s y s t e m s o f w o r k t o p r e v e n t a n d

p r o t e c t against falls f r o m h e i g h t . T h i s e d i t i o n o f SG4 f o c u s e s o n t h e s t e p s s c a f f o l d i n g c o n t r a c t o r s

a n d s c a f f o l d e r s h a v e t o t a k e t o c r e a t e a 'Safe Z o n e ' w h e r e t h e y a r e s u i t a b l y p r o t e c t e d against t h e

r i s k o f falling.

7 E m p l o y e r s h a v e legal d u t i e s t o p r o v i d e safe s y s t e m s o f w o r k f o r e m p l o y e e s a n d t o c a r r y
o u t s u i t a b l e a n d s u f f i c i e n t a s s e s s m e n t o f t h e risks t o t h e h e a l t h a n d safety o f e m p l o y e e s . T h i s
m a n a g e m e n t g u i d a n c e n o t e is d e s i g n e d t o b e u s e d as r e f e r e n c e b y e m p l o y e r s , c l i e n t s , d e s i g n e r s ,
c o n t r a c t o r s and e n f o r c i n g authorities w h e n p r e p a r i n g and r e v i e w i n g risk assessments f o r t h e
e r e c t i o n , a l t e r a t i o n a n d d i s m a n t l i n g o f t e m p o r a r y access a n d o t h e r s t r u c t u r e s b y s c a f f o l d e r s .
T h i s g u i d a n c e n o t e is again s u p p o r t e d b y a user g u i d e (SG4:You) t o p r o v i d e essential i n f o r m a t i o n
t o scaffolders.

8 T h e types o f structure, nature o f w o r k and environmental conditions vary considerably w i t h i n

t h e s c a f f o l d i n g t r a d e . H o w e v e r w i t h i n t h e g u i d a n c e t h e N A S C has e n d e a v o u r e d t o :

• Explain t h e legal r e q u i r e m e n t s f o r w o r k at h e i g h t ;

. Identify a n d explain t h e significant hazards t h a t scaffolders are e x p o s e d t o d u r i n g typical

scaffolding operations;

H i g h l i g h t t h e p r a c t i c a l s o l u t i o n s available t o c o n t r o l t h e risks t h a t arise f r o m t h o s e h a z a r d s .

9 T h e i n t r o d u c t i o n o f n e w collective m e t h o d s o f w o r k i n g will n o t c o m p l e t e l y r e m o v e t h e risk


o f a fall in all s i t u a t i o n s , t h e r e f o r e t h e N A S C r e c o g n i s e s t h a t s c a f f o l d e r s w i l l still b e r e q u i r e d t o
w e a r a n d use p e r s o n a l fall p r o t e c t i o n e q u i p m e n t (safety harnesses) in a c c o r d a n c e w i t h t h i s safety
g u i d a n c e w h e n w o r k i n g at h e i g h t .

10 T h i s g u i d a n c e is n o t e x h a u s t i v e a n d d o e s n o t f e a t u r e e v e r y s c a f f o l d i n g a p p l i c a t i o n , h o w e v e r ,

it has b e e n d e s i g n e d so t h a t t h e basic p r i n c i p l e s c o n t a i n e d w i t h i n t h i s d o c u m e n t can b e a p p l i e d as

solutions t o m o s t scaffolding operations.


Preventing Falls in Scaffolding Section 1 - Planning for work at height

Section 1 - Planning for work at height

I I ' W o r k at h e i g h t ' is d e f i n e d b y t h e W o r k at H e i g h t R e g u l a t i o n s 2 0 0 5 as 'work in any place...


where, if measures required by these Regulations were not taken, a person could fall a distance liable
to cause personal injury'. T h e W o r k at H e i g h t R e g u l a t i o n s d o n o t s p e c i f y a d i s t a n c e t h a t a p e r s o n
c o u l d fall b e f o r e specific p r e c a u t i o n s m u s t b e t a k e n .

12 B e f o r e s c a f f o l d e r s u n d e r t a k e w o r k at h e i g h t , it is essential t o c o n s i d e r t h e w o r k t o b e
p e r f o r m e d , t a k i n g a c c o u n t o f a n y f o r e s e e a b l e h a z a r d s a r i s i n g f r o m t h a t w o r k a n d establish
a p p r o p r i a t e c o n t r o l m e a s u r e s t o b e i m p l e m e n t e d . T h i s w i l l e n s u r e t h e safety o f s c a f f o l d e r s a n d
o t h e r s w h o m a y b e a f f e c t e d b y t h e s c a f f o l d i n g o p e r a t i o n s . It is essential t h a t a c o m p e t e n t p e r s o n
c a r r i e s o u t a s u i t a b l e r i s k a s s e s s m e n t a n d p r e p a r e s t h e s c a f f o l d i n g plan ( m e t h o d s t a t e m e n t ) . F o r
g u i d a n c e in t h e p r e p a r i n g o f s c a f f o l d i n g plans r e f e r e n c e s h o u l d m a d e t o N A S C Safety G u i d a n c e
2 4 ( S G 2 4 ) A guide for scaffold plans (Method statements). T h e m o r e c o m p l e x o r hazardous the
s c a f f o l d i n g s t r u c t u r e is, t h e m o r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n a n d d e t a i l n e e d s t o b e m a d e w i t h t h e p l a n n i n g
and p r e p a r a t i o n o f t h e scaffolding plan.

13 Planning f o r w o r k at h e i g h t m u s t c o n s i d e r t h e h i e r a r c h y o f p r e v e n t a t i v e a n d p r o t e c t i v e
m e a s u r e s t h a t a r e c e n t r a l t o t h e W o r k at H e i g h t R e g u l a t i o n s ( W A H R ) a n d s u m m a r i s e d as f o l l o w s :

I. Avoid w o r k at height

T h e r e a r e a f e w o p t i o n s available t o t h e s c a f f o l d i n g i n d u s t r y w h i c h e n a b l e t h e t a s k t o b e
p e r f o r m e d w i t h o u t w o r k i n g at h e i g h t e.g. f i x i n g h a n d r a i l s t o pre-cast s t a i r s e c t i o n s at g r o u n d
level b e f o r e c r a n i n g t h e m i n t o place, t h u s a v o i d i n g t h e n e e d f o r t h e s c a f f o l d e r t o w o r k at
h e i g h t (Figure 2).

Figure 2
Guardrails attached to pre-cast concrete staircase
sections before being lifted into place.
Section 1 - Planning for work at height Preventing Falls in Scaffolding

H o w e v e r , t h e r e is a g r e a t e r o p p o r t u n i t y t o e l i m i n a t e t h e n e e d t o w o r k at h e i g h t at t h e
design a n d p l a n n i n g stages o f a p r o j e c t b y d e s i g n e r s a n d p r i n c i p a l c o n t r a c t o r s e.g. t h e p r e -
a s s e m b l i n g o f g u a r d r a i l s t o s t e e l b e a m s p r i o r t o b e i n g installed b y t h e s t e e l e r e c t o r s w i l l
e l i m i n a t e t h e n e e d f o r s c a f f o l d e r s t o w o r k at h e i g h t (Figure 3).

If a v o i d i n g w o r k at h e i g h t is n o t p o s s i b l e
t h e n y o u m u s t c o n s i d e r t h e n e x t stage o f
t h e h i e r a r c h y - p r e v e n t falls.

II. P r e v e n t falls

Scaffolding c o n t r a c t o r s should consider


t h e m e t h o d s f o r c r e a t i n g a 'Safe Z o n e '
(see Section 2 - The scaffolders' 'Safe
Zone') b y p r e v e n t i n g falls f r o m h e i g h t ,
s u c h as p r o v i d i n g a d e q u a t e w o r k
p l a t f o r m s w i t h suitable guardrails o r
Figure 3 Pre-assembled guardrails - fixed to structural steelwork

o t h e r collective measures, before (T beams) prior to craning into position.

r e s o r t i n g t o p e r s o n a l fall p r o t e c t i o n
e q u i p m e n t (i.e. harnesses). Scaffolders
a r e n o t p e r m i t t e d t o w o r k at h e i g h t
w h i l e b e i n g e x p o s e d t o a r i s k o f a fall,
w i t h o u t taking a p p r o p r i a t e actions t o
p r e v e n t o r p r o t e c t against a fall f r o m
height.

III. M i t i g a t e t h e d i s t a n c e and

c o n s e q u e n c e s o f a fall

W h a t e v e r m e t h o d s o f w o r k are chosen,
if i t is n o t r e a s o n a b l y p r a c t i c a b l e t o
p r e v e n t a fall, t h e n b o t h t h e d i s t a n c e a n d
Figure 4 Scaffolder protected by a guardrail in the scaffolders'
c o n s e q u e n c e s o f a p o t e n t i a l fall m u s t b e
'Safe Zone'.
m i n i m i s e d , e.g. If a fall a r r e s t harness is
u s e d w i t h a f i x e d l e n g t h l a n y a r d t h e n it s h o u l d be a t t a c h e d t o a s u i t a b l e a n c h o r p o i n t as high
a b o v e t h e w o r k i n g p l a t f o r m as p r a c t i c a b l e , t h e n s h o u l d a fall o c c u r t h e d i s t a n c e w o u l d b e
m i n i m a l c o m p a r e d w i t h an a t t a c h m e n t at f o o t level.

IV. Collective over personal

A t all stages in t h e W A H R h i e r a r c h y s c a f f o l d i n g c o n t r a c t o r s m u s t c o n s i d e r c o l l e c t i v e
p r o t e c t i o n o v e r p e r s o n a l p r o t e c t i o n . T h i s m e a n s using m e a s u r e s t h a t p r o t e c t e v e r y o n e
w o r k i n g at h e i g h t at all t i m e s w h e n in place, such as g u a r d r a i l s o r s a f e t y nets b e f o r e
s p e c i f y i n g p e r s o n a l fall a r r e s t e q u i p m e n t t h a t is r e l i a n t o n b e i n g a t t a c h e d .
Preventing Falls in Scaffolding Section 1 - Planning for work at height

14 T h e d i a g r a m b e l o w (Figure 5) is a s i m p l e i l l u s t r a t i o n o f h o w t h e W o r k at H e i g h t Regulations
hierarchy could be i n t e r p r e t e d f o r scaffolding operations.

WAHR Hierarchy of Controls


A v o i d w o r k a t h e i g h t s o f a r a s is
reasonably practicable:

• N o t n o r m a l l y an o p t i o n f o r t h e
AVOID W O R K scaffolding contractor.
AT H E I G H T • Designers and principal c o n t r a c t o r s
should identify opportunities t o avoid
w o r k at h e i g h t .

Scaffolding c o n t r a c t o r s should p r o m o t e
i n n o v a t i o n s t o t h e i r c l i e n t s t h a t can
a v o i d w o r k at h e i g h t .

W h e r e it is n o t r e a s o n a b l y p r a c t i c a b l e t o
avoid w o r k at height you should:

P r e v e n t all falls f r o m height w h e r e t h e r e


is a risk o f i n j u r y , i r r e s p e c t i v e o f t h e height.

• Establish a 'Safe Z o n e ' w i t h a b o a r d e d


p l a t f o r m and g u a r d r a i l p r o t e c t i o n , w h e r e
possible, t o p r e v e n t falls o c c u r r i n g .

Use c o l l e c t i v e fall p r o t e c t i o n measures t o


c r e a t e a 'Safe Z o n e ' b e f o r e r e s o r t i n g t o
personal fall p r o t e c t i o n e q u i p m e n t such as
harnesses and lanyards.
___—„—„——„ . ,

W h e r e it is n o t r e a s o n a b l y p r a c t i c a b l e
t o a v o i d o r p r e v e n t falls; t h e n ,
MITIGATE THE
D I S T A N C E A N D T h e d i s t a n c e a p e r s o n can fall a n d t h e

C O N S E Q U E N C E S consequences (potential injury) must be


minimised.
OF A FALL
9 C o l l e c t i v e p r o t e c t i o n in t h e f o r m o f s o f t
l a n d i n g s y s t e m s (e.g. Air-bags a n d safety
nets) are n o t c o m m o n l y a practical
solution f o r scaffolding.
GIVE C O L L E C T I V E
P R O T E C T I O N PRIORITY Personal fall p r o t e c t i o n systems (safety

O V E R P E R S O N A L harnesses) M U S T be w o r n and a t t a c h e d
t o a suitable a n c h o r p o i n t - in a c c o r d a n c e
P R O T E C T I O N
w i t h this g u i d e - w h e n at risk o f a fall.

Figure 5 This diagram is a simple illustration of how the Work at Height Regulations 2005 hierarchy could be interpreted for
scaffolding operations.
Section 1 - Planning for work at height Preventing Falls in Scaffolding

C o m p e t e n c e and capability

15 T h e W o r k at H e i g h t Regulations r e q u i r e t h a t any p e r s o n w h o c a r r i e s o u t w o r k at h e i g h t is
d e e m e d c o m p e t e n t t o d o so b y t h e i r e m p l o y e r ( R e g u l a t i o n 5 ) . C o m p e t e n c e is d e f i n e d as a
c o m b i n a t i o n of relevant practical and theoretical k n o w l e d g e , training and experience. Scaffolders
s h o u l d b e s e l e c t e d w h o have a p p r o p r i a t e a t t i t u d e , a p t i t u d e , f i t n e s s , t r a i n i n g ( C o n s t r u c t i o n
I n d u s t r y S c a f f o l d e r s ' R e c o r d S c h e m e (CISRS C a r d ) ) , k n o w l e d g e a n d e x p e r i e n c e f o r t h e p a r t i c u l a r
w o r k t o b e c o m p l e t e d (Figure 6 ) . CISRS c a r d s s h o u l d b e r e l e v a n t t o t h e w o r k b e i n g u n d e r t a k e n
(e.g. S c a f f o l d e r o r A d v a n c e d s c a f f o l d e r ) a n d c u r r e n t , as t h e y r e q u i r e r e n e w a l e v e r y 5 y e a r s .

egp^ I Construction Industry


Scaffolders R e c o r d Scheme
Affiliated ' CISRS
MR A SAMPLE

Registration No: 00000000/1 P H O T O

E x p i r y Date: End Jan 2015

T R A I N L K S t AFKOLDLK
CSCS is a registered Certilic

«pf H C o n s t r u c t i o n Industry
- i Scaffoiders R e c o r d Scheme
Affiliated' ClSRS
MR A S A M P L E

Registration No: 00000000/1 P H O T O

E x p i r y Date: End Jan 2015

d Ceriiliealion Mark

mg Construction Industry
W -'j Scanblders Record Scheme
Affiliated' CISRS
MR A S A M P L E
Part 1 (Ttihe and RKing)
Part 2 (Tube rind Titling!
Registration No: 00000000/1 P H O T C
5/rJVO Luvel 2
Advanced Ccurse (Tube ai
E x p i r y Date: End Jan 2015 S'NVO level 3

ADVANCED SCAFFOLDER
i registered Cerlif enlron Mark

Figure 6 CISRS cards.

Training and instruction

16 A l l s c a f f o l d e r s s h o u l d h a v e r e c e i v e d a p p r o p r i a t e a n d r e c o r d e d t r a i n i n g in t h e r e q u i r e m e n t s
o f t h i s w o r k at h e i g h t g u i d a n c e , t o g e t h e r w i t h any specific i n s t r u c t i o n s t o b e f o l l o w e d f o r a
p a r t i c u l a r t a s k (e.g. m e t h o d s t a t e m e n t , r i s k assessment, r e s c u e plan e t c . ) . E m p l o y e r s m u s t e n s u r e
t r a i n i n g a n d i n s t r u c t i o n is p r o v i d e d f o r any n e w fall p r o t e c t i o n e q u i p m e n t o r r e s c u e e q u i p m e n t
i n t r o d u c e d t o t h e w o r k e r s . Training should be p r o p e r l y organised and include b o t h theoretical
and practical e l e m e n t s . Line-management responsible f o r t h e supervision and m o n i t o r i n g o f
s c a f f o l d i n g o p e r a t i o n s also n e e d t r a i n i n g t o raise t h e i r level o f a w a r e n e s s o f t h e r e q u i r e m e n t s f o r
w o r k at h e i g h t . I n d u c t i o n t r a i n i n g a n d t o o l b o x t a l k p r o g r a m m e s s h o u l d b e u s e d b y e m p l o y e r s t o
r e i n f o r c e t h e r e q u i r e m e n t s o f SG4 a n d m a i n t a i n levels o f a w a r e n e s s w i t h s c a f f o l d i n g o p e r a t i v e s .
Preventing Falls in Scaffolding Section 1 - Planning for work at height

In a d d i t i o n e m p l o y e r s s h o u l d e n s u r e t h a t r e f r e s h e r t r a i n i n g is p r o v i d e d p e r i o d i c a l l y . T h e N A S C

recommends every 12 m o n t h s , w i t h t r a i n i n g r e c o r d s k e p t .

Supervision

17 E m p l o y e r s s h o u l d e n s u r e a p p r o p r i a t e levels o f c o m p e t e n t s u p e r v i s i o n is p r o v i d e d
considering t h e nature o f t h e w o r k and t h e c o m p e t e n c e o f t h e scaffolders involved.

18 S u p e r v i s i o n o n site m a y b e a f u l l - t i m e r o l e o r in a v i s i t i n g capacity, t h e N A S C r e c o g n i s e s t h a t
t h e c o r e skills r e q u i r e d f o r s u p e r v i s i o n in c o n t r a c t s c a f f o l d i n g a r e c o v e r e d b y t h e C o n s t r u c t i o n
I n d u s t r y S c a f f o l d e r s ' R e c o r d S c h e m e (CISRS) S c a f f o l d i n g s u p e r v i s o r t r a i n i n g c o u r s e . However,
t y p i c a l l y t h e r o l e o f a s u p e r v i s o r in s c a f f o l d i n g , d u e t o t h e p e r i p a t e t i c n a t u r e o f t h e i n d u s t r y , is a
v i s i t i n g r o l e w h e r e t h e y m a y l o o k a f t e r s e v e r a l sites o r gangs w h o a r e v i s i t e d p e r i o d i c a l l y . F o r
e x a m p l e , a s u p e r v i s o r w o u l d b e r e s p o n s i b l e f o r a n u m b e r o f sites o r gangs, e a c h g a n g s h o u l d
have a n o m i n a t e d c h a r g e - h a n d s c a f f o l d e r , o r a large site w i t h a n u m b e r gangs m a y have a
n o m i n a t e d f o r e m a n s c a f f o l d e r in e i t h e r a w o r k i n g o r n o n - w o r k i n g capacity.

19 Young o r inexperienced scaffolders require a higher degree o f supervision and d i r e c t i o n than

an e x p e r i e n c e d a n d t r a i n e d scaffolder. For example a trainee must w o r k under t h e direct

s u p e r v i s i o n o f a f u l l y q u a l i f i e d scaffolder.

20 E m p l o y e r s w h o gain high d e g r e e s o f e m p l o y e e c o - o p e r a t i o n a n d c o m p l i a n c e also


d e m o n s t r a t e a p o s i t i v e a t t i t u d e , m a n a g e m e n t c o m m i t m e n t t o safety a n d e f f e c t i v e s u p e r v i s o r y
c o n t r o l . Engaging w i t h e m p l o y e e s a n d s o l i c i t i n g t h e i r o p i n i o n c a n h e l p e n c o u r a g e s u p p o r t f o r
safety i n i t i a t i v e s a n d g r e a t e r c o - o p e r a t i o n .

Case Study I

A I 7 y e a r o l d t r a i n e e s c a f f o l d e r w a s t r a g i c a l l y k i l l e d w h e n h e fell a p p r o x i m a t e l y 18 m e t r e s
w h i l e e r e c t i n g a n access b i r d c a g e s c a f f o l d .

In t h e s u b s e q u e n t p r o s e c u t i o n b y t h e H e a l t h a n d Safety E x e c u t i v e ( H S E ) , t h e c o u r t h e a r d
t h a t t h e s c a f f o l d w a s c o n s t r u c t e d w i t h i n c o m p l e t e w o r k i n g p l a t f o r m s , a lack o f g u a r d r a i l s a n d
i n a d e q u a t e l a d d e r access. T h e c o m p e t e n c e a n d s u p e r v i s i o n o f t h e s c a f f o l d g a n g w a s also
i n a d e q u a t e . O t h e r issues i n c l u d e d w e r e i n a d e q u a c i e s r e g a r d i n g t h e use o f p e r s o n a l fall
protection equipment (harnesses).

T h r e e c o m p a n i e s w e r e p r o s e c u t e d ( i n c l u d i n g t h e s c a f f o l d i n g c o n t r a c t o r ) w i t h fines t o t a l l i n g

£217,500 plus £125,000 c o s t s .

T h e s u p e r v i s o r w a s f o u n d g u i l t y o f failing t o t a k e r e a s o n a b l e c a r e f o r t h e h e a l t h a n d s a f e t y o f

o t h e r s a f f e c t e d b y his acts o r o m i s s i o n s at w o r k (HSW Act 1974, Section 7(1)). H e was fined

£7,500 a n d o r d e r e d t o p a y £15,000 in c o s t s .
Section 1 - Planning for work at height Preventing Falls i n Scaffolding

Site inspection a n d risk assessment

21 W h e n c a r r y i n g o u t a r i s k a s s e s s m e n t i t is r e c o m m e n d e d t h a t a n i n s p e c t i o n o f t h e s i t e is
u n d e r t a k e n b y a suitably c o m p e t e n t person b e f o r e w o r k c o m m e n c e s . T h e p u r p o s e o f t h e
a s s e s s m e n t is t o t a k e d u e a c c o u n t o f all f o r e s e e a b l e h a z a r d s in t h e w o r k p l a c e , in a d d i t i o n t o a n y
c o m m e r c i a l c o n s i d e r a t i o n s f o r t h e j o b . T h e r i s k a s s e s s m e n t m u s t i d e n t i f y all o f t h e p r e v e n t a t i v e
a n d p r o t e c t i v e c o n t r o l m e a s u r e s r e q u i r e d t o e l i m i n a t e o r r e d u c e t h e r i s k o f injury. T h e s e c o n t r o l s
s h o u l d t h e n b e r e c o r d e d in t h e s c a f f o l d i n g plan ( m e t h o d s t a t e m e n t ) .

22 W h e n s e l e c t i n g t h e m o s t s u i t a b l e p r e v e n t a t i v e a n d p r o t e c t i v e m e a s u r e s as p a r t o f t h e r i s k
a s s e s s m e n t p r o c e s s , e m p l o y e r s s h o u l d t a k e i n t o a c c o u n t t h e logistical e f f o r t , p r o d u c t i v i t y i m p a c t
a n d p u r c h a s i n g c o s t o f using t h e m e t h o d s e l e c t e d .

23 Special p r e c a u t i o n s m a y n e e d t o b e d e t e r m i n e d t o s a f e g u a r d against falls f r o m h e i g h t w h i l s t


s u r v e y i n g a l o c a t i o n f o r s c a f f o l d i n g e.g. accessing r o o f s , r e f u r b i s h m e n t w o r k , e m e r g e n c y
p r o t e c t i o n , r e t e n t i o n o r s h o r i n g scaffolds f o r d a n g e r o u s b u i l d i n g s e t c .

Rescue planning

24 A r r a n g e m e n t s f o r e m e r g e n c i e s a n d r e s c u e f r o m h e i g h t n e e d t o b e c o n s i d e r e d as p a r t o f t h e
p l a n n i n g a n d r i s k a s s e s s m e n t f o r e a c h t a s k b y e m p l o y e r s . It is a legal r e q u i r e m e n t f o r s c a f f o l d i n g
c o n t r a c t o r s a n d t h e i r c l i e n t s t o a d d r e s s t h e n e e d f o r t i m e l y e v a c u a t i o n a n d r e s c u e in an
e m e r g e n c y w h e n w o r k i n g a t h e i g h t . A l l e m p l o y e r s m u s t also c o n s i d e r t h e a d d i t i o n a l risks p o s e d
by evacuation and rescue f r o m height.

25 F u r t h e r i n f o r m a t i o n f o r r e s c u e p l a n n i n g c a n b e f o u n d in Section 5 a n d f u r t h e r r e a d i n g in
N A S C Safety G u i d a n c e S G 1 9 - A guide to formulating a rescue plan.

W e a t h e r conditions

26 W e a t h e r c o n d i t i o n s m u s t b e c o n s i d e r e d as p a r t o f t h e r i s k a s s e s s m e n t a n d p l a n n i n g f o r w o r k
at h e i g h t . A d v e r s e w e a t h e r c o n d i t i o n s c a n s i g n i f i c a n t l y i n c r e a s e t h e r i s k o f a fall w h e n s c a f f o l d i n g
at h e i g h t e.g. l i g h t n i n g , high w i n d s , r a i n , s n o w , i c e , e x t r e m e t e m p e r a t u r e a n d t h e e f f e c t s o f t h e
s u n . H i g h w i n d s a n d i c y o r w e t surfaces a r e especially h a z a r d o u s . T h e e m p l o y e r ' s r i s k a s s e s s m e n t
s h o u l d c o n s i d e r all a s p e c t s o f w o r k i n g in a d v e r s e w e a t h e r c o n d i t i o n s , a n d n o t j u s t s i m p l y s p e c i f y
protective clothing, f o o t w e a r o r sun cream.

T e m p o r a r y w o r k s design

27 W h e n d e s i g n i n g s c a f f o l d i n g s t r u c t u r e s , e n g i n e e r s h a v e a d u t y as d e s i g n e r s u n d e r t h e
C o n s t r u c t i o n ( D e s i g n a n d M a n a g e m e n t ) R e g u l a t i o n s ( r e g u l a t i o n s I I a n d 18) t o c o n s i d e r t h e risks
t o h e a l t h a n d s a f e t y o f t h o s e w h o e r e c t , a l t e r a n d d i s m a n t l e t e m p o r a r y w o r k s a n d t h o s e w h o use
the equipment.
Preventing Falls in Scaffolding Section 1 - Planning for work at height

28 Designs a n d c a l c u l a t i o n s s h o u l d c o n s i d e r t h e fall p r o t e c t i o n m e a s u r e s t h a t w i l l f o r m p a r t o f
t h e f i n i s h e d s t r u c t u r e e.g. s c a f f o l d e r ' s g u a r d r a i l s , b o a r d b e a r e r t r a n s o m s f o r n o n - w o r k i n g lifts a n d
g u a r d r a i l s f o r i n t e r n a l fall h a z a r d s , w h e r e a p p r o p r i a t e . A l s o e n s u r i n g c o m p l i a n c e w i t h t h e r e l e v a n t
g e n e r a l l y r e c o g n i s e d s t a n d a r d s t o e n s u r e scaffolds a r e s u i t a b l y s e c u r e d a n d s t a b l e (i.e. B r i t i s h a n d
European standards, N A S C technical guidance notes and m a n u f a c t u r e r s ' i n s t r u c t i o n manuals f o r
proprietary equipment).

29 D e s i g n e r s m u s t i n c l u d e a d e q u a t e h e a l t h a n d safety i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t a n y s i g n i f i c a n t h a z a r d s
t h a t r e m a i n in t h e d e s i g n a n d t h e r e s u l t i n g risks. It is g o o d d e s i g n p r a c t i c e f o r s c a f f o l d i n g
designers t o h i g h l i g h t o n t h e d r a w i n g s a n y k n o w n s i g n i f i c a n t h a z a r d s o r h a z a r d o u s w o r k
s e q u e n c e s c r i t i c a l t o t h e design t h a t r e q u i r e p a r t i c u l a r c o n s i d e r a t i o n . C a u t i o n signs a n d n o t e s a r e
c o m m o n l y used t o d r a w a t t e n t i o n t o i m p o r t a n t d e t a i l s (Figure 7). Residual risks f r o m t h e d e s i g n
and t h e c o n t r o l m e a s u r e s e s t a b l i s h e d s h o u l d b e i n c l u d e d in t h e s c a f f o l d i n g p l a n ( r i s k a s s e s s m e n t
and m e t h o d s t a t e m e n t ) b y t h e s c a f f o l d i n g c o n t r a c t o r a n d c o m m u n i c a t e d t o t h e s c a f f o l d e r s b e f o r e
commencing the w o r k .

r
Caution - beam section
to be assembled on the
ground before being
craned into position.

Figure 7 Example from a drawing showing a hazard warning.

Scaffolders' responsibilities

30 A l l e m p l o y e e s h a v e g e n e r a l d u t i e s u n d e r h e a l t h a n d safety l a w t o t a k e r e a s o n a b l e c a r e o f
t h e m s e l v e s a n d o t h e r s w h o m a y b e a f f e c t e d b y w h a t t h e y d o , o r fail t o d o , at w o r k a n d t o
co-operate w i t h t h e i r employer, t o enable t h e m t o carry o u t t h e i r duties. Serious breaches of
health and safety l a w b y e m p l o y e e s can r e s u l t in t h e m b e i n g p e r s o n a l l y p r o s e c u t e d w i t h fines a n d
possible i m p r i s o n m e n t .

3 I W i t h p a r t i c u l a r c o n s i d e r a t i o n f o r w o r k i n g at h e i g h t a n d t h e p o t e n t i a l h a z a r d s i n v o l v e d ,
scaffolders should:

• t a k e positive steps t o u n d e r s t a n d t h e hazards involved and r e q u i r e m e n t s o f t h e risk


a s s e s s m e n t / m e t h o d s t a t e m e n t (Scaffold p l a n ) ;

• i n f o r m e m p l o y e r s o f a n y m e d i c a l c o n d i t i o n t h a t m a y a f f e c t t h e m w o r k i n g at h e i g h t ;

• n o t w o r k at h e i g h t if a f f e c t e d b y d r u g s o r a l c o h o l ( i n c l u d i n g p r e s c r i p t i o n m e d i c a t i o n t h a t
m a y a f f e c t t h e i r a b i l i t y t o w o r k safely);
Section 1 - Planning for work at height Preventing Falls i n Scaffolding

utilise t e c h n i q u e s a n d e q u i p m e n t p r o v i d e d t o p r e v e n t o r p r o t e c t against falls, in


a c c o r d a n c e w i t h t h e i n s t r u c t i o n s a n d t r a i n i n g r e c e i v e d a n d n o t a c t in a r e c k l e s s o r careless
manner;

• n o t t a m p e r w i t h o r m o d i f y e q u i p m e n t p r o v i d e d , o r use e q u i p m e n t t h a t is n o t a u t h o r i s e d
by t h e e m p l o y e r ;

• c h e c k fall a r r e s t e q u i p m e n t daily a n d r e p o r t t o t h e i r e m p l o y e r a n y d a m a g e d o r d e f e c t i v e
e q u i p m e n t i d e n t i f i e d , f o r e x a m p l e b a d l y w o r n o r c u t w e b b i n g o n a harness o r l a n y a r d ;

r e p o r t t o t h e i r e m p l o y e r any additional o r e m e r g e n t hazards n o t previously c o n s i d e r e d so


t h a t a p p r o p r i a t e c o r r e c t i v e actions can be t a k e n t o avoid any p o t e n t i a l incidents.

Case Study 2

A s c a f f o l d e r fell 8 m f r o m a s c a f f o l d h e w a s e r e c t i n g r e s u l t i n g in m a j o r i n j u r i e s . H e w a s
w e a r i n g fall a r r e s t e q u i p m e n t b u t h a d n o t u s e d i t in a c c o r d a n c e w i t h t h e t r a i n i n g a n d
i n s t r u c t i o n g i v e n b y his E m p l o y e r .

T h e a c c i d e n t w a s i n v e s t i g a t e d b y t h e HSE w h o p r o s e c u t e d t h e s c a f f o l d e r u n d e r S e c t i o n 7 o f
t h e H e a l t h & Safety a t W o r k e t c . A c t 1974.

In a d d i t i o n t o t h e lost w a g e s w h i l s t r e c o v e r i n g f r o m his i n j u r i e s h e h a d t o p a y a f i n e o f £ 1200


and received a criminal r e c o r d .
_ zr.zir.z in Scartolding Section 2 - The scaffolders' 'Safe Zone'

Section 2 - The scaffolders' 'Safe Zone'

32 T h i s s e c t i o n c o n s i d e r s t h e m e a s u r e s available t o t h e s c a f f o l d i n g i n d u s t r y f o r p r o v i d i n g t h e
'Safe Z o n e ' .

33 Scaffolders m u s t f o c u s o n c r e a t i n g a 'Safe Z o n e ' w i t h c o l l e c t i v e fall p r o t e c t i o n , as a p r i o r i t y


w h e n w o r k i n g at height, w i t h a m i n i m u m of:

a f u l l y b o a r d e d a n d c o r r e c t l y s u p p o r t e d p l a t f o r m w i t h o u t gaps w h e r e s o m e o n e c o u l d fall;
and,
a single m a i n g u a r d r a i l ( 9 5 0 m m a b o v e t h e p l a t f o r m ) w h e r e t h e r e is a r i s k o f a fall.

34 T h e W o r k at H e i g h t Regulations r e q u i r e t h a t a h i e r a r c h y f o r w o r k a t h e i g h t b e f o l l o w e d ,
w h e r e c o l l e c t i v e fall p r e v e n t i o n a n d p r o t e c t i o n m e a s u r e s s h o u l d t a k e p r i o r i t y o v e r personal
m e a s u r e s , f o r e x a m p l e t h e use o f t e m p o r a r y w o r k i n g p l a t f o r m s w i t h g u a r d r a i l s w o u l d t a k e
p r i o r i t y o v e r p e r s o n a l fall p r o t e c t i o n e q u i p m e n t ( h a r n e s s e s ) .

35 E m p l o y e r s s h o u l d c h o o s e t h e m o s t s u i t a b l e m e t h o d o f a c h i e v i n g t h e 'Safe Z o n e ' , w h i c h best


suits t h e s c a f f o l d i n g a p p l i c a t i o n c o n t e m p l a t e d .

36 It is n o l o n g e r p e r m i t t e d f o r s c a f f o l d e r s t o t r a v e r s e a l o n g a p l a t f o r m w i t h o u t a n y f o r m o f fall
p r o t e c t i o n , as s t a t e d in e a r l i e r e d i t i o n s o f t h i s g u i d a n c e , in t h e t u n n e l l i n g m e t h o d . T h e c h a n g e f o r
scaffolders, b r o u g h t a b o u t b y t h e r e m o v a l o f t h e u n p r o t e c t e d traversing system o f w o r k , only
affects a small p e r c e n t a g e o f t h e i r n o r m a l w o r k i n g day. T h i s i m p r o v e d g u i d a n c e i d e n t i f i e s
m e t h o d s t h a t r e p l a c e s y s t e m s o f w o r k a n d e n s u r e s s c a f f o l d e r s c a n b e c o m p l i a n t w i t h t h e law.

37 It m u s t b e r e c o g n i s e d t h a t t h e m e t h o d s o f a c h i e v i n g t h e 'Safe Z o n e ' d o n o t c o m p l e t e l y
e l i m i n a t e t h e risk o f a fall f o r all s c a f f o l d i n g o p e r a t i o n s , f o r e x a m p l e w h e n raising o r l o w e r i n g
t v o r k i n g p l a t f o r m b o a r d s as t h e e r e c t i o n o r d i s m a n t l i n g o f t h e s c a f f o l d p r o g r e s s e s . P e r s o n a l fall
p r o t e c t i o n e q u i p m e n t w i l l still b e r e q u i r e d t o b e used a t s o m e p o i n t in t h e s y s t e m o f w o r k unless
e v e r y lift r e m a i n s f u l l y b o a r d e d .

Figure 8 These pictures show examples of the inherent risk of a fall in scaffolding where personal fall protection equipment will be
the primary method of fall protection (e.g. raising and lowering boards and working without a 'Safe Zone').
12 Section 2 - The scaffolders' 'Safe Zone' Preventing Falls i n Scaffolding

38 W h e n scaffolders are w o r k i n g w i t h o u t a
fully b o a r d e d p l a t f o r m (e.g. raising o r l o w e r i n g
platform boards) o r w i t h o u t guardrail
protection then they must remain clipped o n t o
a suitable anchor point.

39 W h e n s c a f f o l d e r s e n c r o a c h f r o m a 'Safe
Z o n e ' t o w i t h i n I m o f an u n p r o t e c t e d a r e a b y
g u a r d r a i l s t h e y a r e c o n s i d e r e d 'at r i s k ' a n d
p e r s o n a l fall p r o t e c t i o n e q u i p m e n t m u s t b e used
(Figure 9 ) .

Working platforms

40 It is i m p o r t a n t t o i d e n t i f y t h a t t h e r e a r e
d i f f e r e n t t y p e s o f w o r k i n g p l a t f o r m s used in
s c a f f o l d i n g . T h e t e r m ' w o r k i n g p l a t f o r m ' applies
t o a t e m p o r a r y p l a t f o r m p r o v i d e d f o r access a t
v a r i o u s stages o f t h e e r e c t i o n , use, a l t e r a t i o n
Figure 9 Shows a scaffolder exposed to a risk of falling at a
and dismantling o f scaffolding, these include: leading edge (within I metre of the edge from the
'Safe Zone').

T h e finished w o r k i n g p l a t f o r m (used b y o t h e r s ) ;
P l a t f o r m s f o r o t h e r p u r p o s e s (e.g. l o a d i n g t o w e r s f o r m a t e r i a l s t h a t r e q u i r e p e r s o n n e l
access);
Platforms f o r e r e c t i o n , alteration o r dismantling o f scaffolding O N L Y ! ( T h e scaffolders'
'Safe Z o n e ' ) .

Figure 10 A temporary scaffolders' working platform to form the Figure 11 A finished working platform for users,
minimum 'Safe Zone'.
Preventing Falls in Scaffolding Section 2 - The scaffolders' 'Safe Zone'

41 Scaffolders m u s t c o n s i d e r t h e f o l l o w i n g w o r k i n g p l a t f o r m r e q u i r e m e n t s f o r c r e a t i n g t h e
Safe Z o n e ' :

• S c a f f o l d e r s s h o u l d install a m i n i m u m o f a single g u a r d r a i l , a t least 9 5 0 m m a b o v e t h e


p l a t f o r m , o n e a c h face o f t h e s c a f f o l d w h e r e a fall c o u l d o c c u r . O n f i n i s h e d w o r k i n g
p l a t f o r m s , f o r use b y o t h e r s , p r o g r e s s i v e l y install t h e d o u b l e g u a r d r a i l s ( w i t h n o g a p
greater than 4 7 0 m m ) .

• Inside gaps b e t w e e n t h e w o r k i n g p l a t f o r m a n d f a c a d e / s t r u c t u r e o r o p e n i n g s in t h e f a c a d e
(e.g. w i n d o w s ) , w h e r e s c a f f o l d e r s face a r i s k o f falling, n e e d t o b e p r o t e c t e d w i t h
g u a r d r a i l s in s a m e m a n n e r as t h e o u t e r faces o f t h e p l a t f o r m .

• G u a r d r a i l s m u s t b e p r o v i d e d o n all lifts, w h e r e p o s s i b l e , t o p r o v i d e fall p r o t e c t i o n w h i l s t


traversing and w o r k i n g .

G u a r d r a i l s s h o u l d b e e r e c t e d a n d l e f t in place, in a d d i t i o n t o a n y o t h e r fall p r o t e c t i o n
system used.

S c a f f o l d e r s ' g u a r d r a i l s s h o u l d b e installed o n all lifts w h e r e t h e lift h e i g h t is g r e a t e r t h a n


9 5 0 m m (e.g. p r o g r e s s i v e b r i c k l a y e r s lifts 1.35 - 1 . 5 m ) .

• W h e n n e c e s s a r y t o r e a c h b e l o w a single g u a r d r a i l , s c a f f o l d e r s m u s t b e c l i p p e d o n (e.g. t o
f i x b r a c i n g o r h a n d l e m a t e r i a l s b e l o w t h e h e i g h t o f t h e single g u a r d r a i l - see Figure 12).

Figure 12 A scaffolder reaching below the single guardrail must be clipped on.
Preventing Falls in Scaffolding
Section 2 - The scaffolders' 'Safe Zone'

• W h e n raising o r l o w e r i n g m a t e r i a l s s c a f f o l d e r s
s h o u l d b e c l i p p e d - o n o r c r e a t e a safe h a n d l i n g
p l a t f o r m w i t h double guardrails, including stop-ends
so t h a t t h e r e is n o g a p g r e a t e r t h a n 4 7 0 m m w h e r e a
s c a f f o l d e r c o u l d fall (Figure 13).

• W h e n m o v i n g , raising o r l o w e r i n g p l a t f o r m b o a r d s ,
w o r k i n g less t h a n I m f r o m an e x p o s e d e d g e o r
o u t s i d e o f g u a r d r a i l fall p r o t e c t i o n , w h e r e exposed
t o a r i s k o f a fall, s c a f f o l d e r s m u s t b e c l i p p e d o n
(Figure 9 ) .

• T h e w o r k i n g p l a t f o r m should be fully b o a r d e d
w i t h o u t gaps w h e r e a p e r s o n c o u l d fall, e x c e p t
Figure 13 Safe handling bay. This drawing
w h e n access is r e q u i r e d t o a l e d g e r b e l o w t h e lift f o r shows a scaffolder using a safe
a t t a c h i n g fall a r r e s t e q u i p m e n t ; t h e n o n e b o a r d m a y handling bay with double guardrails
(including stop-end returns) for
b e o m i t t e d (Figure 14).
raising or lowering materials.

1
1
:
1
1

1
G a p t o o n e side
\ Boards centralised
1
Figure 14 Fully boarded platform with a maximum of one board gap (225mm) may be permitted only if required to access the ledger
below the platform as an anchor point.

• Scaffold b o a r d s m u s t b e c o r r e c t l y s u p p o r t e d b y t r a n s o m s o r b e a r e r s in a c c o r d a n c e w i t h
N A S C t e c h n i c a l g u i d e T G 2 0 : 0 8 (Tables I a n d 8 ) e.g. 3 8 m m t h i c k n e s s t i m b e r scaffold
b o a r d s f o r scaffold load classes I t o 3 m u s t b e s u p p o r t e d e v e r y 1.2m f o r visually g r a d e d
b o a r d s a n d 1.5m f o r m a c h i n e g r a d e d b o a r d s . E x c e e d i n g t h e s p e c i f i e d m a x i m u m span o f
s c a f f o l d b o a r d s i n c r e a s e s t h e r i s k o f a fall d u e t o t h e b o a r d failing.

• In t h e case o f p r o p r i e t a r y s y s t e m s c a f f o l d i n g b a t t e n s a n d d e c k s , t h e s e m u s t b e used in
accordance w i t h t h e supplier's instructions.
- reveriting Falls in Scaffolding Section 2 - The scaffolders' 'Safe Zone'

• Ensure boards are suitably stable and trap-ends avoided b y n o t exceeding m i n i m u m o r


m a x i m u m s p e c i f i e d o v e r h a n g s ( T G 2 0 . 0 8 T a b l e 8 ) e.g. 3 8 m m t h i c k t i m b e r s c a f f o l d b o a r d s
(BS 2 4 8 2 ) have a m i n i m u m o v e r h a n g o f 5 0 m m a n d a m a x i m u m o v e r h a n g o f 1 5 0 m m .

If a g a p e x i s t s , o r is c r e a t e d in t h e d e c k i n g as p a r t o f t h e e r e c t i o n / d i s m a n t l i n g p r o c e s s ,
w h e r e s c a f f o l d e r s a r e e x p o s e d t o a r i s k o f a fall t h r o u g h t h e p l a t f o r m , t h e n a p e r s o n a l fall
p r o t e c t i o n s y s t e m m u s t b e u s e d . e.g. w h e n raising o r l o w e r i n g p l a t f o r m b o a r d s o r
d e c k i n g as t h e e r e c t i o n / d i s m a n t l i n g p r o g r e s s e s (see Figure 8).

I G a p s f o r m e d in w o r k i n g p l a t f o r m s t o c r e a t e l a d d e r access t r a p s s h o u l d b e p r o t e c t e d
against a c c i d e n t a l falls o n c e t h e s c a f f o l d is c o m p l e t e d . S c a f f o l d e r s s h o u l d install t h e s e
m e a s u r e s p r o g r e s s i v e l y t o p r o v i d e p r o t e c t i o n f o r t h e m s e l v e s as t h e j o b p r o g r e s s e s
(see Section 6 - Methods of access and egress).

a m s »

i m
, f
Figure 15 Boarding out first lift from below.

T h e f i r s t lift s h o u l d , w h e r e p o s s i b l e , b e b o a r d e d o u t f r o m b e l o w t o a v o i d t h e r i s k o f a fall
w h e n w o r k i n g a t l o w level (Figure 15).

• A l l o t h e r lifts, w h e r e p r a c t i c a l , s h o u l d b e b o a r d e d

®
out and r e m o v e d f r o m below.

All guardrails should be secured so t h a t t h e y


cannot b e c o m e accidentally displaced should
s o m e o n e fall against t h e m .

L a t e r a l gaps in g u a r d r a i l s a r e o n l y p e r m i t t e d a t a
p o i n t o f access t o a l a d d e r o r s t a i r w a y w h e r e a


gap is n e c e s s a r y (see Section
and egress).
6 - Methods of

A n y i n c o m p l e t e scaffold w o r k i n g p l a t f o r m , w h e r e
access

W\
1 /
/ 7 l

s o m e o n e m a y fall o r w h e r e an o b j e c t c o u l d fall
and injure s o m e o n e , needs t o be clearly identified
w i t h w a r n i n g signs, a n d access r e s t r i c t e d b y Figure 16 Restricted access. Shows an example
s u i t a b l e physical m e a s u r e s t o p r e v e n t of an incomplete scaffold with access
restricted by physical means and a
u n a u t h o r i s e d access (e.g. g u a r d r a i l s , l a d d e r access
warning sign restricting access to
r e m o v e d o r b o a r d e d o v e r ) (Figure 16). authorised scaffolders ONLY!
16 Section 2 - The scaffolders' 'Safe Zone' Preventing Falls in Scaffolding

M e t h o d s of c r e a t i n g a 'Safe Z o n e '

42 T h i s s e c t i o n h i g h l i g h t s t h e v a r i o u s safe m e t h o d s available t o s c a f f o l d i n g c o n t r a c t o r s f o r
c r e a t i n g t h e 'Safe Z o n e ' . T h e r e a r e v a r i o u s p r o p r i e t a r y c o l l e c t i v e fall p r o t e c t i o n s y s t e m s a n d
m e t h o d s o f w o r k available using s t a n d a r d s c a f f o l d i n g m a t e r i a l s t h a t e n a b l e s c a f f o l d e r s t o p o s i t i o n
t e m p o r a r y g u a r d r a i l s in a d v a n c e d u r i n g s c a f f o l d e r e c t i o n a n d t o m a i n t a i n g u a r d r a i l s d u r i n g
dismantling o r alteration.

43 W h e n selecting t h e m o s t appropriate system o r m e t h o d o f w o r k i n g , employers must


consider:

• T h e suitability o f t h e method(s) chosen f o r t h e scaffolding application.

• T h e requirements o f the manufacturer's instructions for proprietary equipment.

• C h a n g e s t o t h e n o r m a l s e q u e n c e o f w o r k e.g. p o s i t i o n i n g a d v a n c e d g u a r d r a i l s t o t h e
inside face o f t h e s c a f f o l d b e f o r e f i x i n g t r a n s o m s o r t i e a s s e m b l i e s .

N e w t e c h n i q u e s r e q u i r e d e.g. h e m p i n g a s t a n d a r d o v e r a g u a r d r a i l (see Figure 17).

• A r e all fall risks p r o t e c t e d e.g. s t o p - e n d s , inside face o r l e a d i n g edge?

• Is a d d i t i o n a l p e r s o n a l fall p r o t e c t i o n e q u i p m e n t r e q u i r e d f o r safe use?

C a n t h e e q u i p m e n t b e used as a n a n c h o r p o i n t f o r p e r s o n a l fall p r o t e c t i o n e q u i p m e n t ?

A n y t r a i n i n g o r i n s t r u c t i o n t h e s c a f f o l d e r s m a y n e e d t o e n s u r e safe use.

• A r r a n g e m e n t s f o r t h e h a n d l i n g , d e l i v e r y a n d s t o r a g e o f special e q u i p m e n t .

• A n y inspection and maintenance


a r r a n g e m e n t s r e q u i r e d f o r special
e q u i p m e n t used.

Rescue p l a n n i n g a n d t h e n e e d f o r
special r e s c u e e q u i p m e n t , t r a i n i n g a n d
instruction.

44 N o t e that s o m e systems d o n o t p r o v i d e
full c o l l e c t i v e p r o t e c t i o n e.g. s t o p - e n d s o r a t a
leading edge. N A S C r e c o m m e n d s that w h e r e a
s c a f f o l d e r can e n c r o a c h w i t h i n I m o f a l e a d i n g
e d g e (Figure 9) o r a n a r e a n o t p r o t e c t e d b y
guardrails, t h e n t h e y are c o n s i d e r e d at risk o f a
fall a n d m u s t b e c l i p p e d o n (see Section 4 -
Personal fall protection equipment).

Figure 17
Illustration shows a scaffolder hemping a standard over a guardrail.
i n s Falls in Scaffolding Section 2 - The scaffolders' 'Safe Zone'

Mobile elevating w o r k platform ( M E W P )

45 Mobile elevating w o r k platforms ( M E W P s )


are also c o m m o n l y r e f e r r e d t o as ' C h e r r y
: ; < e r s . B o o m s o r Scissor lifts.' M E W P s a r e
; ; 23 e in all shapes a n d sizes a n d a r e o f t e n
: : - 3 zered t o be a c o m p e t i t o r t o t h e
: v : : ng n d u s t r y . In r e c e n t y e a r s t h e
v

i . a lability a n d c o s t o f h i r i n g M E W P s as a
safeguard against falls f o r s o m e o f t h e m o r e
- i z a - d o u s s c a f f o l d i n g o p e r a t i o n s is n o w a v i a b l e
o p t i o n i Figure 18).

46 It is i m p o r t a n t t o r e c o g n i s e t h a t M E W P s
are : i y suitable f o r c e r t a i n s c a f f o l d i n g

ape cat o n s a n d c a n n o t b e c o n s i d e r e d as a
: " • :: ; o ;on for the majority of routine Figure 18 Scaffolders using a MEWP to erect a hung scaffold.

scaffo d i n g o p e r a t i o n s .

47 '//here M E W P s a r e s e l e c t e d f o r e r e c t i n g , a l t e r i n g a n d d i s m a n t l i n g s c a f f o l d i n g , e m p l o y e r s
- j s t have a safe s y s t e m o f w o r k f o r t h e i r i n t e n d e d u s e . C a r e s h o u l d b e t a k e n t o select t h e m o s t
s_ -.a; e t y p e a n d s p e c i f i c a t i o n o f M E W P f o r t h e o p e r a t i o n .

48 T h e use o f a M E W P w o u l d n o t b e s u i t a b l e w h e r e t h e r e is r e s t r i c t e d access, w o r k o v e r
••• a:e- o ' at v e r y high levels.

49 O n l y s c a f f o l d e r s w h o a r e a u t h o r i s e d a n d t r a i n e d (e.g. I n t e r n a t i o n a l P o w e r e d A c c e s s
f e d e r a t i o n (IPAF) o r e q u i v a l e n t ) s h o u l d o p e r a t e M E W P s .

IMPORTANT
The powered access industry recommends that work restraint lanyards are used to
prevent the operator being exposed to a risk of falling. However it is recommended by
the NASC that scaffolders who regularly use MEWP's should consider using an adjustable
fall arrest lanyard that may also be used for work restraint (Figure 19). Always check
with the MEWP supplier to ensure only specified attachment points are used.

=
2Jil restraint lanyard

Adjustable buckle

— _ wstato = c o m b i n a t i o n lanyard

Figure 19
Illustration showing i. a fall restraint
Energy absorber
lanyard only that must not be used in
fall arrest, and ii. a combination
lanyard that can be used in fall
restraint and arrest when required.
18 Section 2 - The scaffolders' 'Safe Zone' Preventing Falls in Scaffolding

Proprietary advanced guardrail systems ( A G S )

50 Several p r o p r i e t a r y c o l l e c t i v e fall p r o t e c t i o n s y s t e m s r e c e n t l y i n t r o d u c e d h a v e b e c o m e

k n o w n as ' A d v a n c e d G u a r d r a i l S y s t e m s ' ( A G S ) (Figures 20 to 26).

51 A d v a n c e d g u a r d r a i l s y s t e m s p r o v i d e c o l l e c t i v e fall p r e v e n t i o n f o r s c a f f o l d e r s w h e n t r a v e r s i n g
a l o n g a b o a r d e d lift, e r e c t i n g , a l t e r i n g o r d i s m a n t l i n g s c a f f o l d i n g . T h e s e t e m p o r a r y g u a r d r a i l s
r e m a i n in p l a c e w h i l s t t h e p l a t f o r m g u a r d r a i l s a r e installed o r r e m o v e d , a l l o w i n g s c a f f o l d e r s t o
m a i n t a i n g u a r d r a i l e d g e p r o t e c t i o n o n w o r k i n g p l a t f o r m s a t all t i m e s .

Figure 20 Frame type advanced guardrail systems.

Figure 21 Telescopic type advanced guardrail systems.


I rCTenring Fails in Scaffolding Section 2 - The scaffolders' 'Safe Zone'

52 T h e s u i t a b i l i t y o f a d v a n c e d g u a r d r a i l s y s t e m s n e e d s t o b e c o n s i d e r e d as p a r t o f t h e r i s k
assessment p r o c e s s w h e n p l a n n i n g w o r k a t h e i g h t . T h e s e s y s t e m s a r e b e s t s u i t e d t o s t r a i g h t
L n i f o r m scaffold s t r u c t u r e s w i t h o u t c o m p l e x e l e m e n t s e.g. l o n g s t r a i g h t facades w i t h m i n i m u m
r e t u r n s , recesses o r p r o t r u s i o n s .

53 Some advanced guardrail systems d o n o t


p r o v i d e full c o l l e c t i v e p r o t e c t i o n e.g. s t o p - e n d s ,
-side face o r a t a l e a d i n g e d g e . N A S C
r e c o m m e n d s that w h e r e a scaffolder can
e n c r o a c h w i t h i n I m o f a l e a d i n g e d g e o r an
area n o t p r o t e c t e d b y guardrails, t h e n t h e y a r e
c o n s i d e r e d at risk o f a fall a n d m u s t b e c l i p p e d
o n (Figure 9 ) .

54 F r a m e and t e l e s c o p i c t y p e A G S a r e
0'_shed u p t h e o u t s i d e o f t h e s t r u c t u r e a n d
t h e i r o p e r a t i o n can be i m p e d e d b y p r o t r u s i o n s
from t h e s c a f f o l d . Scaffolders m a y h a v e t o
ensure that t r a n s o m s , ledgers, bracing etc. a r e
c o r r e c t l y sized so t h a t t h e y d o n o t h a v e
excessive o v e r h a n g .

55 W h e r e a risk o f a fall t o t h e inside face o f


t h e s c a f f o l d exists, s c a f f o l d e r s m a y n e e d t o
change t h e n o r m a l s e q u e n c e o f w o r k t o
r . : : : ~ i m o d a t e t h e A G S e.g. l o c a t e t h e A G S

a b o v e , b e f o r e f i x i n g t r a n s o m s , hop-Up b r a c k e t s Figure 22 Shows the modified sequence of erection to allow


i i. - 'push-up' AGS's to be used on the inside face before
e assemblies (Figure
/ r

or: 22). , . ' '


v
° ' fixing transoms, ties or hop-up s above.

56 T h i s h o r i z o n t a l t y p e A G S (Figure 23) is b e s t s u i t e d t o i n d e p e n d e n t t i e d scaffolds (facade


s c a f f o l d s ) , i t pushes a l o n g t h e lift, fixes t o t h e s t a n d a r d s a n d c a n p r o v i d e p r o t e c t i o n t o b o t h inside
and o u t s i d e faces o f t h e s c a f f o l d . T o p r o v i d e full c o l l e c t i v e p r o t e c t i o n i t m u s t b e used in
c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h an a d d i t i o n a l A G S t h a t c a n b e f i x e d / r e m o v e d f r o m b e l o w f o r t h e f i r s t b a y d u r i n g

e - e c t i o n and t h e last bay w h e n


z snnantling. A g a i n , a d d i t i o n a l
precautions need t o be taken at
s t o p - e n d s , w h e r e p e r s o n a l fall
a ' o t e c t i o n e q u i p m e n t is n e e d e d
~ z : :a-'-'c d e ' s m u s t be c l i p p e d o n
•'a-coaching within I m of the
s a c n g edge. C a r e needs t o be
tat en w h e n t o p p i n g o u t s t a n d a r d s
: • a" : n e s - a r d r a i l .

Figure 23 Horizontal type advanced guardrail system.


Section 2 - The scaffolders' 'Safe Zone' Preventing Falls in Scaffolding

Proprietary advanced guardrail tools ( A G T )

57 This section covers proprietary products

t h a t a r e d e s i g n e d as t o o l s f o r p o s i t i o n i n g

g u a r d r a i l s in a d v a n c e , h e n c e t h e t e r m A d v a n c e d

Guardrail Tools ( A G T ) .

58 T h e p i v o t i n g t y p e A G T (Figure 24) is b e s t
d e s c r i b e d as a ' t o o l ' o r ' l e v e r ' f o r e r e c t i n g a n d
dismantling t h e main scaffold guardrails f r o m
b e l o w . T h i s A G T is d e s i g n e d p r i m a r i l y f o r
1 •,
t r a d i t i o n a l t u b e a n d f i t t i n g scaffolds a n d is used
o n t h e o u t e r face o f t h e scaffold. A d d i t i o n a l
precautions need t o b e t a k e n at stop-ends,
w h e n w o r k i n g w i t h i n I m o f t h e leading edge o r
inside f a c e w h e r e s c a f f o l d e r s m u s t c l i p o n (also Figure 24 Pivoting type advanced guardrail tool.

see Figure 9).

59 T h i s p u s h u p t y p e A G T ( f i g u r e 25) utilises
special c o u p l e r s t h a t a l l o w t h e s c a f f o l d t u b e
guardrails t o be e r e c t e d f r o m b e l o w and
pushed u p into position w i t h a locating t o o l .
T h e h a n d r a i l is a u t o m a t i c a l l y l o c k e d a n d
r e m a i n s in place t o p r o v i d e fall p r o t e c t i o n w h e n
s c a f f o l d e r s access t h e n e x t lift. T h e s e q u e n c e o f
w o r k is c r i t i c a l as t h e a d v a n c e g u a r d r a i l s n e e d
t o b e raised b e f o r e t h e n e x t lift is f o r m e d . T h e
t e m p o r a r y g u a r d r a i l r e m a i n s in place w h i l s t t h e
p e r m a n e n t guardrails are fitted. Alternatively,
t h e A G T couplers can be replaced w i t h n o r m a l
right-angle s c a f f o l d c o u p l e r s t o f o r m t h e
scaffold guardrails. This system can b e used o n
all faces o f t h e s c a f f o l d i n c l u d i n g inside fall risks
and stop-ends.

60 T h e p o s i t i o n i n g t o o l is also used t o u n l o c k
the guardrail f r o m b e l o w during dismantling.
T h i s s y s t e m is p r i m a r i l y s u i t e d f o r t r a d i t i o n a l
Figure 25 Push type advanced guardrail tool using special
t u b e a n d f i t t i n g scaffolds. couplers and a positioning tool.
- reventing Falls in Scaffolding Section 2 - The scaffolders' 'Safe Zone'

6 I A p r o p r i e t a r y system scaffold
m a n u f a c t u r e r p r o v i d e s an A G T t h a t is b e s p o k e
t o t h e i r p a r t i c u l a r p r o d u c t (Figure 26). Special
arms are used t o locate/remove t h e guardrail
•'rame in t h e lift a b o v e .

Figure 26 Example of a system-scaffold-specific advanced


guardrail tool.

A d v a n c e d guardrail methods ( A G M )

62 T h e f o l l o w i n g cost-effective innovations have been d e v e l o p e d b y scaffolding c o n t r a c t o r s t h a t


J: se s t a n d a r d s c a f f o l d i n g m a t e r i a l s w i t h o u t t h e n e e d t o invest in p r o p r i e t a r y a d v a n c e d g u a r d r a i l
systems. T h e s e i n n o v a t i v e s y s t e m s p r o v i d e t h e s a m e level o f c o l l e c t i v e fall p r o t e c t i o n as s i m i l a r
p r o p r i e t a r y s y s t e m s a n d a r e r e f e r r e d t o as A d v a n c e d G u a r d r a i l M e t h o d s ( A G M ' s ) . H o w e v e r , t h e y
can b e m o r e t i m e c o n s u m i n g t o use a n d t h e r e b y less p r o d u c t i v e t h a n t h e p r o p r i e t a r y o p t i o n s .

Frame type A G M

63 This t u b e and fitting f r a m e t y p e A G M functions similarly t o p r o p r i e t a r y f r a m e t y p e systems.

Step /

Select m a t e r i a l s t o suit t h e l e n g t h o f t h e s c a f f o l d e l e v a t i o n a n d b a y sizes t o b e p r o t e c t e d . T h e


u p r i g h t s a r e f o r m e d w i t h 2 . 7 m o r 3 m ( 9 f t o r I Oft) a l u m i n i u m o r steel scaffold t u b e s , a n d a single
: _ o e is used t o f o r m t h e t e m p o r a r y g u a r d r a i l . A l u m i n i u m t u b e c a n b e used t o r e d u c e t h e h a n d l i n g
.•.•eight.

Step 2

L a y o u t t h e t u b e s o n t h e g r o u n d t o f o r m a 'goal p o s t ' f r a m e . T h e n f i x t h e g u a r d r a i l t o t h e e n d o f

: e u p r i g h t t u b e s using right-angle c o u p l e r s ( E N 7 4 ) .
u

Step 3

N o w fix a s e c o n d right-angle c o u p l e r t o e a c h u p r i g h t t u b e . M e a s u r e I 1 0 0 m m d o w n f r o m t h e

c e n t r e o f t h e t o p c o u p l e r . N o t e t h a t t h e s e c o u p l e r s m u s t b e p o s i t i o n e d t o t h e o p p o s i t e side o f

t h e t u b e a n d f i x e d ' u p - s i d e - d o w n ' (see Figure 27 inset - overleaf).


Section 2 - The scaffolders' 'Safe Zone' Preventing Falls in Scaffolding

Figure 2 7 AGM frame constructed on the ground and fixed to the base lift.

Step 4
U s i n g t w o s c a f f o l d e r s , lift t h e f r a m e a n d f i x t o
t h e ledger. N o t e b y f i x i n g t h e c o u p l e r up-side-
d o w n it w i l l s u p p o r t itself u n t i l s e c u r e d (see
A l s o n o t e t h a t an a d d i t i o n a l

§
Figure 27 inset).
g u a r d r a i l is r e q u i r e d f o r t h e base lift o n l y f o r
t h e v e r t i c a l t u b e t o a c t against.

Step 5 ^^^^^
T h e c o u p l e r s can n o w be secured t o fix t h e
a d v a n c e d g u a r d r a i l in p l a c e . S c a f f o l d e r s c a n
n o w access t h e p l a t f o r m a n d e r e c t t h e n e x t lift
o n c e t h e c o l l e c t i v e p r o t e c t i o n is in p l a c e . Figure 28 Releasing the advanced guardrail from the ledger.

Step 6
.A
W h e n t h e p e r m a n e n t g u a r d r a i l s have b e e n
installed, t h e advanced guardrail can b e raised
t o t h e n e x t level (Figure 29). T h i s is m o r e easily
achieved by pulling back t h e outside b o a r d t o
access t h e c o u p l e r , f r o m a b o v e (Figure 28).

Figure 29 Raising the advanced guardrail to the next level.


Section 2 - The scaffolders' 'Safe Zone'

64 W h e r e t i e a s s e m b l i e s , t r a n s o m s f o r inside b o a r d s , b u t t r e s s e s o r o t h e r p r o t r u s i o n s m a y
o b s t r u c t t h e raising o f t h e a d v a n c e d g u a r d r a i l , t h e b u i l d s e q u e n c e w i l l b e c r i t i c a l , e n s u r i n g t h e
a d v a n c e d g u a r d r a i l is raised p r i o r t o t h e t r a n s o m s e t c . b e i n g i n s t a l l e d .

65 If t h e a d v a n c e d g u a r d r a i l is o b s t r u c t e d b y t h e f a c a d e b r a c i n g , t h e n f i x t h e b r a c e o n c e t h e
a d v a n c e d g u a r d r a i l has b e e n r a i s e d .

66 T h i s a d v a n c e d g u a r d r a i l s y s t e m c a n also b e u s e d f o r d i s m a n t l i n g a n d a l t e r n a t i o n s t h a t
necessitate t h e r e m o v a l o f guardrail p r o t e c t i o n .

Horizontal type A G M

67 This t u b e and fitting frame advanced guardrail m e t h o d functions similarly t o p r o p r i e t a r y


H o r i z o n t a l t y p e s y s t e m s . T h e F r a m e t y p e A G M (page 21) c a n b e u s e d t o p r o v i d e p r o t e c t i o n f o r
t h e f i r s t bay.

Step I

W o r k i n g f r o m behind t h e guardrail p r o t e c t i o n ,
fix t w o right-angle c o u p l e r s t o t h e s t a n d a r d s
a b o v e t h e e x i s t i n g g u a r d r a i l (Figure 30).

Figure 30 Horizontal type AGM - Step 1

j|
Any Y V j!
Step 2
I
U s i n g a 6 m ( 2 0 f t ) a l u m i n i u m t u b e , place i t
j ',
loosely into t h e t w o fittings so t h e t u b e can
still slide t o t h e side (Figure 31).
H 1
j".. ::-.- ,--- - --_--..-.-_--__ . .
1 1
r _J .
r

Figure 31 Horizontal type AGM - Step 2

;;

Step 3

Push t h e t u b e o u t h o r i z o n t a l l y past t h e n e x t
s t a n d a r d a n d t i g h t e n t h e e n d c o u p l e r (Figure 32).
•\

rV'l 'V.,j
r

Figure 32 Horizontal type AGM - Step 3


Section 2 - The scaffolders' 'Safe Zone' Preventing Falls in Scaffolding

Step 4

W a l k o u t t o fix t h e t e m p o r a r y guardrail t o t h e

s t a n d a r d , c l i p p i n g o n if e n c r o a c h i n g w i t h i n I m

o f t h e e n d (Figure 33).

Figure 33 Horizontal type AGM - Step 4

Step 5

T h e w o r k i n g p l a t f o r m guardrail(s) can n o w be

c o m p l e t e d a n d n e x t lift c o n s t r u c t e d w i t h t h e

s c a f f o l d e r s ' 'Safe Z o n e ' in place (Figure 34).

Figure 34 Horizontal type AGM - Step 5

Step 6

T h e t e m p o r a r y g u a r d r a i l can t h e n b e released

a n d slid a l o n g h o r i z o n t a l l y t o t h e n e x t bay(s)

(Figure 35).

Figure 35 Horizontal type AGM - Step 6

S y s t e m Scaffold A G M ' s

68 S o m e p r o p r i e t a r y s y s t e m scaffold m a n u f a c t u r e r s have d e v e l o p e d i n n o v a t i v e A d v a n c e d

G u a r d r a i l M e t h o d s ( A G M ' s ) t h a t a r e b e s p o k e t o t h e i r specific p r o d u c t s .

figure 36 A frame system scaffold with an integral are pre-fixed to the standard before erection and the outer
advanced guardrail. guardrails are located from the adjacent bay.
! reventirrg Falls in Scaffolding
Section 2 - The scaffolders' 'Safe Zone'

Short-lift system

69 By e r e c t i n g s c a f f o l d i n g using
s - o t lift heights (i.e. I m ) t h e
e d g e r s o f t h e n e x t lift a r e e r e c t e d
as n o r m a l t o f o r m a 2 m lift. T h e n a
m i n t e r m e d i a t e lift is f o r m e d .
T h e r e f o r e , as t h e s c a f f o l d e r s access
:ne n e x t I m level t h e l e d g e r s a r e
a -eady in place a n d a c t as g u a r d r a i l s
t o p r o v i d e c o l l e c t i v e fall p r o t e c t i o n
'Figure 38). D e c k i n g o n t h e
: e m p o r a r y i n t e r m e d i a t e lift ( t h e
s h o r t lift) c a n b e r a i s e d t o t h e n e x t
lift a n d a n y t e m p o r a r y t r a n s o m s
r e q u i r e d can be r e m o v e d later t o
p r o v i d e c l e a r access o n all f i n i s h e d
Figure 38 This sequence shows the short-lift system used to erect a system
w o r k i n g lifts f o r o t h e r t r a d e s . scaffold tower.

70 T h i s s y s t e m o f w o r k i n g is b e s t s u i t e d t o scaffolds d e s i g n e d w i t h o u t l e d g e r b r a c i n g ( e . g .
m o d u l a r s y s t e m scaffolds o r m o d u l a r t r a n s o m u n i t s used in a c c o r d a n c e w i t h t h e m a n u f a c t u r e r ' s
i n s t r u c t i o n s ) . S y s t e m d e c k i n g also e l i m i n a t e s t h e n e e d t o install t e m p o r a r y t r a n s o m s as b o a r d
oearers.

Scaffolders' Step-up

71 F o r scaffolds d e s i g n e d w i t h 2 m lift h e i g h t s , t h i s s y s t e m utilises a p r o p r i e t a r y s t e p t h a t is f i x e d


t o t h e s t a n d a r d o r g u a r d r a i l I m a b o v e t h e w o r k i n g p l a t f o r m . T h i s enables t h e s c a f f o l d e r t o e r e c t
t h e g u a r d r a i l p r o t e c t i o n o n t h e lift a b o v e in a d v a n c e o r r e m o v e t h e m f r o m b e l o w d u r i n g
d i s m a n t l i n g (Figure 39).
Preventing Falls in Scaffolding
Section 2 - The scaffolders' 'Safe Zone'

72 T h e s e q u e n c e o f w o r k n e e d s t o b e c o n s i d e r e d w h e n using t h e s c a f f o l d e r ' s s t e p - u p , as l e d g e r

b r a c i n g o r s t o p - e n d g u a r d r a i l s m a y i m p e d e s o m e s t e p designs. T h e r e f o r e , t h e s e i t e m s m a y n e e d

t o b e f i x e d a f t e r t h e g u a r d r a i l s h a v e b e e n e r e c t e d in t h e lift a b o v e .

73 N o t e t h a t g u a r d r a i l s w i l l n e e d t o b e f i x e d t o t h e base lift t o a c c o m m o d a t e t h e s t e p - u p f o r

t h e f i r s t lift. A f o o t t i e m a y also b e r e q u i r e d t o s e c u r e t h e base lift w i t h c e r t a i n s t e p - u p designs.

F o r u n e v e n g r o u n d t h e base lift m a y n e e d t o b e b o a r d e d o u t t o e n s u r e s o m e t y p e s o f s t e p s a r e

c o r r e c t l y s u p p o r t e d a t t h e base.

74 T h e s c a f f o l d e r is still e x p o s e d t o t h e r i s k o f a fall f r o m t h e s t e p - u p o r t h r o u g h t h e gap

b e t w e e n t h e l e d g e r a n d g u a r d r a i l s w h i l e accessing t h e s t e p - u p p l a t f o r m .

A IMPORTANT

S c a f f o l d e r s m u s t b e c l i p p e d o n , ideally t o t h e b a c k ledger, d u e t o t h e risk of


falling f r o m t h e scaffold w h e n using t h e S t e p - u p s y s t e m . S c a f f o l d e r s m u s t b e
clipped on before climbing on t h e t e m p o r a r y platform a n d must not jump d o w n
o n t o t h e b o a r d e d p l a t f o r m d u e t o t h e risk of b o a r d failure f r o m i m p a c t loads.

Alternative Step-up's

75 F o r s o m e m o d u l a r s y s t e m s c a f f o l d i n g , s t a n d a r d h o p - u p b r a c k e t s c a n b e used t o c r e a t e a

t e m p o r a r y p l a t f o r m , i n s i d e t h e lift, t h a t c a n u s e d t o install g u a r d r a i l s in t h e lift a b o v e , in a s i m i l a r

fashion t o t h e scaffolders' step-up system.

Figure 40 System scaffold hop-up brackets used to create a scaffolded Step-up platform in alternate bays. The middle bays can be

reached from adjacent bays to fix the guardrails.

76 P r o g r e s s i v e scaffolds f o r b r i c k w o r k a r e n o r m a l l y e r e c t e d using 1.35 t o 1.5m lift h e i g h t s .


M a n y o f t h e e s t a b l i s h e d c o l l e c t i v e fall p r o t e c t i o n s y s t e m s d o n o t easily a c c o m m o d a t e these
s m a l l e r lift h e i g h t s . In s u c h cases small p r o p r i e t a r y standings o r steps m a y b e u s e d t o e n a b l e
s c a f f o l d e r s t o install g u a r d r a i l s in a d v a n c e t o t h e n e x t lift (Figure 41). T h e i n t e r m e d i a t e g u a r d r a i l s
can o f t e n b e f i x e d s i m p l y f r o m t h e lift b e l o w as t h e y a r e t y p i c a l l y o n l y 1.75 t o 2 m a b o v e t h e l i f t .
_ [eventing Falls in Scaffolding Section 2 - The scaffolders' 'Safe Zone'
27

Figure 41 A 600mm staging platform used to erect guardrails in advance for 1.5m bricklayers' lifts.

77 Scaffolds w i t h t a l l e r lift h e i g h t s , such as t h e e r e c t i o n o f p e d e s t r i a n base lifts ( u p t o 2 . 7 m ) o r


•"oor h e i g h t lifts ( 2 . 5 m t o 3 m ) a r e o f t e n d i f f i c u l t t o p r o v i d e c o l l e c t i v e fall p r o t e c t i o n f o r , as m o s t
s y s t e m s a r e d e s i g n e d f o r a s t a n d a r d 2 m lift h e i g h t only. T h e use o f a p o d i u m m o b i l e access t o w e r
as s h o w n in Figure 42) is o n e e x a m p l e f o r e r e c t i n g / d i s m a n t l i n g tall base lifts p r o v i d i n g t h e g r o u n d
c o n d i t i o n is s u i t a b l e . Scaffolders m a y h a v e t o c o n s i d e r a c o m b i n a t i o n o f s y s t e m s t o a c h i e v e full
c o l l e c t i v e p r o t e c t i o n f o r f l o o r h e i g h t lifts. F o r e x a m p l e , using a d u m m y lift a t a p p r o x i m a t e l y I m
f o l l o w i n g t h e s h o r t lift m e t h o d a n d t h e n r e s o r t i n g t o o t h e r c o l l e c t i v e m e a s u r e s t o install g u a r d r a i l s
o n t h e w o r k i n g p l a t f o r m in a d v a n c e .

:
gure 42 A podium scaffold used to erect a pavement lift.
Preventing Falls in Scaffolding
28 Section 2 - The scaffolders' 'Safe Zone'

Protected traversing

required to fix the guardrail...

Figure 43 Protected traverse - sequence of work using double lanyards attached to standards

78 W h e n g u a r d r a i l p r o t e c t i o n is n o t p r o v i d e d , t o c r e a t e a 'Safe Z o n e ' , t h e n s u i t a b l e
c o m p e n s a t o r y m e a s u r e s m u s t b e t a k e n t h a t m i n i m i s e t h e d i s t a n c e a n d c o n s e q u e n c e s o f a fall. In
p r a c t i c a l t e r m s s c a f f o l d e r s M U S T b e c l i p p e d o n w h e n e x p o s e d t o t h e r i s k o f a fall w h i l s t w o r k i n g
o u t s i d e ( o r w i t h i n I m o f t h e e n d ) o f g u a r d r a i l p r o t e c t i o n (see Figure 9 ) .

79 H o w e v e r , w h e r e i t c a n b e d e m o n s t r a t e d t h a t i t is n o t r e a s o n a b l y p r a c t i c a b l e t o p r o v i d e

g u a r d r a i l p r o t e c t i o n , t h e n p e r s o n a l fall p r o t e c t i o n e q u i p m e n t (Safety harnesses) m u s t b e u t i l i s e d

by scaffolders and t h e y M U S T remain continually attached.

80 In o r d e r t o t r a v e r s e a l o n g an u n p r o t e c t e d p l a t f o r m a m i n i m u m s y s t e m o f w o r k w o u l d b e
r e q u i r e d u t i l i s i n g d o u b l e o r t w i n - t a i l e d l a n y a r d s . A n e x a m p l e o f t h i s s y s t e m is s h o w n in Figure 43.

81 T o m i n i m i s e t h e p o t e n t i a l fall d i s t a n c e i t is p r e f e r a b l e f o r s c a f f o l d e r s t o utilise a n c h o r d e v i c e s

t h a t f i x t o t h e s t a n d a r d (ideally t h e inside s t a n d a r d f u r t h e s t f r o m t h e e d g e ) r a t h e r t h a n t h e l e d g e r

b e l o w f o o t level (see Section 4 - Personal fall protection equipment).


Preventing Falls in Scaffolding Section 3 - Collective fall arrest systems

Section 3 - Collective fall arrest systems

82 C o l l e c t i v e fall a r r e s t s y s t e m s a r e n o w c o m m o n place t h r o u g h o u t t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n i n d u s t r y
a n d i n c l u d e fall a r r e s t s a f e t y n e t s , i n f l a t a b l e a i r bags, safety d e c k i n g a n d o t h e r s o f t l a n d i n g s y s t e m s
(Figure 45).

83 T h e i r a p p l i c a t i o n m a y b e l i m i t e d in m o s t s c a f f o l d i n g o p e r a t i o n s , d u e t o t h e g e n e r a l l y h i g h e r
p o t e n t i a l fall distances s c a f f o l d e r s a r e e x p o s e d t o , a n d t h e r e q u i r e m e n t s o f t h e W o r k a t H e i g h t
Regulations f o r e m p l o y e r s t o m i t i g a t e a n y p o t e n t i a l fall d i s t a n c e . A l s o logistical p r o b l e m s , space
l i m i t a t i o n s a n d lack o f s u i t a b l e a n c h o r a g e c a n b e r e s t r i c t i o n s in t h e i r u s e .

84 If s c a f f o l d e r s n e e d t o access o r w o r k o n r o o f s , w h e r e t h e r e is a r i s k o f a fall t h r o u g h a f r a g i l e
s u r f a c e , s u c h as, a s b e s t o s c e m e n t sheets o r f r a g i l e r o o f lights, a n d i t is n o t p r a c t i c a l t o c o v e r t h e
fragile m a t e r i a l , fall a r r e s t safety n e t s c o u l d b e r i g g e d t o t h e u n d e r s i d e o f t h e s t r u c t u r e t o p r o t e c t
against a n y s u c h fall (Figure 44).

Safety net

Figure 44 Foil arrest netting rigged to protect against falls through


a fragile roof light.

85 W h e r e c o l l e c t i v e fall a r r e s t s y s t e m s a r e c h o s e n , t h e y m u s t b e i n s t a l l e d in a c c o r d a n c e w i t h
m a n u f a c t u r e r i n s t r u c t i o n s a n d a n y r e c o g n i s e d t r a i n i n g s c h e m e s u c h as t h e Fall A r r e s t Safety
E q u i p m e n t Training (FASET) scheme.
30 Section 3 - Collective fall arrest systems Preventing Falls in Scaffolding

Safety net fan provides protection for erecting temporary edge Soft landing systems,
protection.

Inflatable air bags. Safety decking systems.

Figure 45 Examples of other collective fall arrest systems.


Preventing Falls in Scaffolding Section 4 - Personal fall protection equipment

Section 4 - Personal fall protection equipment

86 Scaffolders w h o r e l y o n s y s t e m s o f w o r k u t i l i s i n g p e r s o n a l fall a r r e s t e q u i p m e n t o n l y ( i . e .
safety harness a n d l a n y a r d , i n e r t i a r e e l , h o r i z o n t a l lines e t c . ) still f a c e r i s k o f injury. H o w e v e r , i t is
i m p o r t a n t t o r e c o g n i s e t h a t p e r s o n a l fall a r r e s t m a y b e t h e m o s t s u i t a b l e , o r only, o p t i o n in
c e r t a i n c i r c u m s t a n c e s . Fall a r r e s t e q u i p m e n t is used t o a r r e s t a fall s h o u l d i t o c c u r , p r e v e n t i n g t h e
w o r k e r f r o m h i t t i n g t h e g r o u n d ( o r o t h e r surface) o r s t r u c t u r e . T h e fall a r r e s t e q u i p m e n t a n d
anchorage points must be capable o f withstanding t h e forces involved and minimising those forces
t o an a c c e p t a b l e level.

87 T h e t e r m ' p e r s o n a l fall a r r e s t ' m e a n s a s y s t e m o f w o r k i n g w h e r e i n d i v i d u a l w o r k e r s r e l y


u p o n t h e use o f special p e r s o n a l p r o t e c t i v e e q u i p m e n t (PPE) a n d w o r k e q u i p m e n t t o p r o t e c t
against t h e r i s k o f falling. T h e s e s y s t e m s t y p i c a l l y i n c l u d e e q u i p m e n t such as harnesses, lanyards,
e n e r g y a b s o r b e r s , lines, i n e r t i a reels, c o n n e c t o r s a n d a n c h o r a g e p o i n t s . A l l p e r s o n a l fall
p r o t e c t i o n s y s t e m s a r e classed as a c t i v e p r o t e c t i o n t h a t is o n l y e f f e c t i v e if used c o r r e c t l y (e.g. a
fall a r r e s t harness a n d l a n y a r d s y s t e m r e q u i r e s a s u i t a b l y s e c u r e a n c h o r p o i n t a n d a m i n i m u m
c l e a r a n c e d i s t a n c e t o a r r e s t a fall), u n l i k e c o l l e c t i v e p r o t e c t i o n ( s o m e t i m e s r e f e r r e d t o as passive
protection) that offers p r o t e c t i o n continuously.

88 It is w i d e l y a c c e p t e d t h a t t h e r e is an i n h e r e n t r i s k o f a fall in all s c a f f o l d i n g o p e r a t i o n s , w h i c h
c a n n o t b e c o m p l e t e l y e l i m i n a t e d . T h e use o f fall a r r e s t e q u i p m e n t d o e s n o t p r e v e n t a fall
o c c u r r i n g and does n o t eliminate t h e risk o f injury completely.

89 W h e n a p e r s o n a l fall a r r e s t s y s t e m is u s e d , c o n s i d e r a t i o n m u s t b e g i v e n t o r e d u c i n g t h e
d i s t a n c e a p e r s o n is liable t o fall a n d t h e c o n s e q u e n c e s o f t h e fall, p a r t i c u l a r l y t h e ease o f r e s c u e
o f a p e r s o n s u s p e n d e d in a harness (see Section 5 - Rescue).

90 It is r e c o g n i s e d t h a t t e m p o r a r y w o r k i n g p l a t f o r m s a n d g u a r d r a i l s t h a t f o r m t h e 'Safe Z o n e '
d o n o t c o m p l e t e l y e l i m i n a t e t h e n e e d f o r p e r s o n a l fall a r r e s t e q u i p m e n t . T h e r e f o r e , all s c a f f o l d i n g
o p e r a t i v e s i n v o l v e d w i t h w o r k i n g a t h e i g h t s h o u l d w e a r a n d use p e r s o n a l fall a r r e s t e q u i p m e n t
(harnesses e t c . ) a t all t i m e s , in a c c o r d a n c e w i t h t r a i n i n g a n d i n s t r u c t i o n r e c e i v e d .

91 W h e n c h o o s i n g p a r t i c u l a r p e r s o n a l fall p r o t e c t i o n e q u i p m e n t , as p a r t o f a r i s k a s s e s s m e n t t o
establish a safe s y s t e m o f w o r k , e m p l o y e r s m u s t e n s u r e t h a t t h e e q u i p m e n t is s u i t a b l e , having
b e e n d e s i g n e d a n d t e s t e d f o r t h e p u r p o s e t h a t i t is i n t e n d e d t o b e u s e d . A l w a y s r e a d t h e
i n s t r u c t i o n s c a r e f u l l y a n d if in a n y d o u b t s e e k a d v i c e f r o m t h e supplier.

92 It is i m p o r t a n t t o n o t e t h a t s o m e fall a r r e s t e q u i p m e n t is o n l y d e s i g n e d , t e s t e d a n d
m a n u f a c t u r e d t o m e e t t h e m i n i m u m E u r o p e a n s t a n d a r d a n d w i l l o n l y b e safe t o use w i t h i n c e r t a i n
l i m i t a t i o n s . F o r e x a m p l e , a s t a n d a r d r e t r a c t i n g i n e r t i a r e e l m a y o n l y b e used if a t t a c h e d a b o v e t h e
s c a f f o l d e r a n d t r a v e r s i n g h o r i z o n t a l l y is l i m i t e d t o t h e m a x i m u m angle f r o m t h e v e r t i c a l , as
specified by t h e manufacturer.
P r e v e n t i n g Falls i n S c a t t o l d i
Section 4 - Personal fall protection equipment

,3 M o t e t h a t e m p l o y e r s m u s t c o n f e r „ , available fa„ a r r e s t < ^ ^ ^ * *


. , - f w j k i n o r d e r t h a t t h e d i s t a n c e a n d c o n s e q u e n c e s of a n y p o t e n t i a l fall a r e
C d A h X I " eTo r o t e c t l o n m a y b . sained by e , e c , i n some o , t h e alternative
S 8

A minimum suggested personal fall arrest system.


Figure 46

A high specification harness and lanyard system.


Figure 47
Preventing Falls in Scaffolding Section 4 - Personal fall protection equipment

94 W h e n using fall a r r e s t e q u i p m e n t , i t is i m p o r t a n t t o p o s i t i o n y o u r a n c h o r p o i n t as h i g h as
p o s s i b l e a n d t o use as s h o r t a l a n y a r d as p o s s i b l e , t o m i n i m i s e t h e p o t e n t i a l fall d i s t a n c e . T h e ideal
fall a r r e s t s y s t e m w o u l d utilise an a n c h o r p o i n t a n d l a n y a r d w i t h v i r t u a l l y n o fall d i s t a n c e a t all,
e f f e c t i v e l y c r e a t i n g a 'Fall f a c t o r z e r o ' . Figure 48 e x p l a i n s fall f a c t o r s I a n d 2 in m o r e d e t a i l .

Fall F a c t o r = Fall d i s t a n c e Length o f lanyard

Fall F a c t o r I Fall F a c t o r 2
Attached at waist height or above Attached to ledger below

Figure 48 Fall factors.

Figure 49
Fall factor zero. Shows an
adjustable lanyard that has
been shortened to minimise the
potential fall distance and a
special scaffold hook designed
to attach to a standard.
Section 4 - Personal fall protection equipment Preventing Falls in Scaffolding

95 T h e r e is an i n h e r e n t r i s k o f i n j u r y w i t h t h e use o f a n y p e r s o n a l fall a r r e s t s y s t e m , s h o u l d a fall


o c c u r . In o r d e r t o m i n i m i s e t h e r i s k o f i n j u r y t h e r e m u s t b e a d e q u a t e c l e a r a n c e b e l o w . T h e
c l e a r a n c e d i s t a n c e r e q u i r e d w i l l v a r y d e p e n d i n g u p o n t h e t y p e o f fall a r r e s t e q u i p m e n t s e l e c t e d
a n d t h e m a n n e r in w h i c h i t is u s e d .

96 F o r e x a m p l e , a s c a f f o l d e r using a fall a r r e s t s y s t e m w i t h a full b o d y harness, a 1 . 7 5 m l a n y a r d

i n c o r p o r a t i n g a energy a b s o r b e r and 5 5 m m o p e n i n g scaffold h o o k w i l l only start t o b e c o m e

e f f e c t i v e if a t t a c h e d t o t h e l e d g e r a t t h e 4 m level o r a b o v e .

97 T h e o p t i m u m l e n g t h o f a f i x e d l e n g t h l a n y a r d f o r s c a f f o l d i n g is 1 . 7 5 m ; h o w e v e r t h e

m a x i m u m overall length must n o t exceed 2 metres, including connectors.

Ideal 1.75 m

Max 2.0 m

Figure 50 The maximum length of fixed length lanyard.

S i n g l e fall a r r e s t l a n y a r d s

98 Personal fall a r r e s t s y s t e m s t h a t utilise a single fall a r r e s t l a n y a r d a r e o n l y e f f e c t i v e if


c o n t i n u o u s l y a t t a c h e d w h i l s t e x p o s e d t o a r i s k o f a fall. If t h e s c a f f o l d e r has t o c h a n g e a n c h o r
p o s i t i o n s t o o v e r c o m e an o b s t r u c t i o n t h e y w o u l d b e w i t h o u t fall p r o t e c t i o n , e.g. passing
t r a n s o m s w h e n s l i d i n g a s c a f f o l d h o o k a l o n g a ledger. Scaffolders u t i l i s i n g a p e r s o n a l fall a r r e s t
s y s t e m , w i t h a single l a n y a r d a n d s c a f f o l d h o o k only, a r e N O T p e r m i t t e d t o t r a v e r s e o u t s i d e o f
g u a r d r a i l p r o t e c t i o n , as t h e y w i l l b e e x p o s e d t o t h e r i s k o f a fall, if t h e a n c h o r p o i n t n e e d s t o b e
r e p o s i t i o n e d . S c a f f o l d e r s w o r k i n g w i t h i n I m o f an u n p r o t e c t e d e d g e (e.g. t h e e n d o f g u a r d r a i l
w h e r e t h e r e is a fall r i s k ) m u s t r e m a i n c l i p p e d o n (see Figure 9).

D o u b l e fall a r r e s t l a n y a r d s

99 Certain scaffolding operations w i l l require


s y s t e m s o f w o r k t h a t use t w o e n e r g y a b s o r b i n g
lanyards o r t w i n - t a i l e d l a n y a r d s , c o m m o n l y
r e f e r r e d t o as d o u b l e lanyards (Figures 50 and
51). P a r t i c u l a r l y w h e n s c a f f o l d e r s have t o access
s t r u c t u r e s w i t h o u t a b o a r d e d p l a t f o r m e.g.
b r i d g i n g using b e a m s o r t e m p o r a r y r o o f s
e r e c t e d in s i t u . T h e m a i n b e n e f i t o f using a
d o u b l e l a n y a r d s y s t e m o f w o r k is t h a t i t a l l o w s
t h e scaffolder t o remain clipped o n w h e n
c r a b b i n g a l o n g a b e a m , using t h e p r o t e c t e d
t r a v e r s i n g t e c h n i q u e (see page 28) o r c l i m b i n g
Figure 51 Twin-tailed/double lanyard that shares a common
a s t r u c t u r e (last r e s o r t ) . energy absorber.
Preventing Falls in Scaffolding Section 4 - Personal fall protection equipment

100 A t w i n t a i l e d e n e r g y a b s o r b i n g l a n y a r d s h o u l d ideally be used w i t h a c o m m o n e n e r g y


a b s o r b e r , b e c a u s e t w o s e p a r a t e lanyards a n d e n e r g y a b s o r b e r s m a y b e less e f f e c t i v e a n d increase
t h e loads t r a n s f e r r e d i n t o t h e b o d y . W h e n using o n l y o n e o f t h e d o u b l e lanyards t h a t shares a
c o m m o n energy absorber, scaffolders should N O T w r a p t h e spare lanyard a r o u n d t h e i r b o d y o r
a t t a c h it b a c k t o t h e harness o r t o o l b e l t , as t h i s c o u l d cause t h e e n e r g y a b s o r b i n g l a n y a r d t o fail.
T h e s p a r e l a n y a r d , w h e n n o t in use, s h o u l d e i t h e r be c l i p p e d o n t o t h e s a m e a n c h o r p o i n t , h a n g
f r e e o r b e c l i p p e d t o a p u r p o s e d e s i g n e d sacrificial l a n y a r d p a r k i n g p o i n t o n t h e harness.

A n c h o r points, c o n n e c t o r s and a n c h o r devices

101 P e r s o n a l fall p r o t e c t i o n s y s t e m s a r e t o t a l l y r e l i a n t o n b e i n g a t t a c h e d t o a s u i t a b l e
a n c h o r a g e . To e n s u r e t h e safe p e r f o r m a n c e o f t h e s y s t e m , t h e l i k e l y loads t h a t w o u l d b e
t r a n s f e r r e d i n t o t h e a n c h o r a g e a n d t h e a b i l i t y o f an a n c h o r p o i n t a n d any s u p p o r t i n g s t r u c t u r e t o
resist t h o s e f o r c e s , m u s t b e e s t a b l i s h e d .

102 V e r y high loads can be t r a n s f e r r e d i n t o an a n c h o r a g e w h e n a fall is a r r e s t e d ( u p t o 6 k N ) .

103 M a n u f a c t u r e r s a n d s u p p l i e r s o f p e r s o n a l fall a r r e s t e q u i p m e n t s h o u l d p r o v i d e i n f o r m a t i o n

o n p o t e n t i a l a n c h o r loads.

A n c h o r a g e to t u b e and fitting scaffolds

104 Scaffolds m u s t b e e r e c t e d in a c c o r d a n c e w i t h t h e r e l e v a n t B r i t i s h a n d E u r o p e a n s t a n d a r d s
(e.g. BS E N 1281 I a n d N A S C T G 2 0 : 0 8 ) so t h a t t h e y a r e a d e q u a t e l y s t a b l e . W h e r e ties a n d
s t a b i l i t y m e a s u r e s (e.g. b u t t r e s s i n g , k e n t l e d g e , guys a n d a n c h o r s e t c . ) a r e r e q u i r e d t h e y s h o u l d b e
installed a n d r e m o v e d as w o r k p r o g r e s s e s t o e n s u r e o p t i m u m s t a b i l i t y against o v e r t u r n i n g /
c o l l a p s e o f t h e s t r u c t u r e . T h i s i n c l u d e s t h e use o f any t e m p o r a r y ( d u m m y ) s t a b i l i t y m e a s u r e s
r e q u i r e d solely f o r e r e c t i n g , altering and dismantling purposes.
Section 4 - Personal fall protection equipment Preventing Falls in Scaffolding

105 It has b e e n e s t a b l i s h e d b y t h e N A S C , t h r o u g h i n d e p e n d e n t t e s t i n g , t h a t s t e e l t u b e a n d

f i t t i n g s c a f f o l d i n g has b e e n d e m o n s t r a t e d t o p r o v i d e a safe a n c h o r p o i n t f o r any s c a f f o l d e r

w e a r i n g a full b o d y harness a n d a t t a c h e d b y a l a n y a r d w i t h an e n e r g y a b s o r b e r (see s u i t a b l e

scaffold a n c h o r points b e l o w ) .

106 W h e r e a l t e r n a t i v e s c a f f o l d i n g m a t e r i a l s a r e u s e d , s u c h as, a l u m i n i u m o r glass r e i n f o r c e d

plastic ( G R P ) , t h e users m u s t c o n t a c t t h e s u p p l i e r t o e n s u r e a n c h o r a g e t o t h e s t r u c t u r e is

appropriate.

S u i t a b l e scaffold a n c h o r points:

• Ledgers and t r a n s o m s s u p p o r t e d w i t h load bearing couplers.

S t a n d a r d s , b u t o n l y w h e n using a s u i t a b l e a n c h o r d e v i c e d e s i g n e d f o r t h e p u r p o s e (see

Figure 5 5 ) a n d n o j o i n t s b e t w e e n lift a n d t h e a t t a c h m e n t p o i n t .

• Guardrails s u p p o r t e d w i t h load bearing couplers (guardrails w i t h i n a scaffold s t r u c t u r e ) .

• T r a n s o m s s u p p o r t e d by t h e l e d g e r s in t h e lift a b o v e f i x e d at b o t h ends by single c o u p l e r s .

U n s u i t a b l e scaffold a n c h o r points:

L e d g e r s o r g u a r d r a i l s s u p p o r t e d w i t h p u t l o g clips o r single c o u p l e r s .

• "Ledgers or guardrails WitVim aYiay wYiere'YtYias a p m t

S t a n d a r d s - unless a s u i t a b l e a n c h o r d e v i c e is u s e d d e s i g n e d f o r t h e p u r p o s e .

• S t a n d a r d s w i t h a j o i n t b e t w e e n t h e lift a n d t h e a t t a c h m e n t p o i n t .

• Puncheons.

• T r a n s o m s b e l o w f o o t level.

Putlog transoms o r bridle tubes.

Transoms w h e n underslung b e l o w ledgers o n non-load-bearing c o u p l e r s .

Reveal o r p r o p t i e a s s e m b l i e s .

• Braces o r o t h e r diagonal t u b e s .

• O t h e r t u b e o p e n e n d e d o r n o t s u p p o r t e d b o t h sides o f t h e a t t a c h m e n t p o s i t i o n

e.g. p r o t r u d i n g e n d o f a t r a n s o m , n e e d l e o r d r o p p e r .
Section 4 - Personal fall protection equipment
Preventing Falls in Scaffolding

^ 7 ^ e — s p e e d y d e v e l o p for use os encnor devrces to seffoid

standards.

, 07 P r o p r i e t a r y a n c h o r d e v i c e s f o r a n c h o r i n g t o s c a f f o l d i n g a r e n o w available t h a t e n a b l e

s c a f f o l d e r s t o a t t a c h t h e i r l a n y a r d t o v e r t i c a l s t a n d a r d s (Figure 54). T h i s m e a n s t h a t s c a f f o l d e r s c a n

r vantage o f a higher anchor position in preference t o attaching t o t h e ledger b e l o w he,r

K a r a b i n e r s t h a t a r e d e s i g n e d e s p e c i a l l y f o r a t t a c h i n g t o scaffo.d s t a n d a r d s m a k e a n e f f e c , e

n d e f f i c i e n t a n c h o r d e v i c e . A n o t h e r d e s i g n i n c l u d e s special c o u p l e r s t h a t c a n b e P re-asse b,ed


m

o n s t a n d a r d s b e f o r e t h e y a r e e r e c t e d as p a r t o f a p l a n n e d s y s t e m o f w o r k . T h . s P r o ^

s c a f f o l d e r s w i t h a l t e r n a t i v e a n d c o n v e n i e n t a n c h o r p o s i t i o n s as t h e y access an " f ^ ™

eg t h e p r o t e c t e d t r a v e r s e s y s t e m o f w o r k (see m e t h o d s o f creating a Safe Zone -page 16).

A l w a y s r e f e r t o t h e m a n u f a c t u r e r ' s i n s t r u c t i o n s t o e n s u r e safe u s e .

A n c h o r a g e t o p r o p r i e t a r y scaffolding s y s t e m s

, 08 T h e N A S C r e c o m m e n d s t h a t t h e system scaffold m a n u f a c t u r e r ' s instructions are f o l l o w e d

o d e J r m i n e s u i t a b l e a n c h o r p o i n t s f o r p e r s o n a , fall p r o t e c t i o n e q u i p m e n t . T h e r e c r e m e n t s o f

I n l c l e r s - t o c o n s i d e r fall p r e v e n t i o n a n d p r o t e c t i o n f o r t h e i r p r o d u c t s - ,s o u t „ n e d ,n a
l a t e r s e c t i o n (see Proprietary system scaffolding - Page 51).

Guidelines for anchorage on other structures

,09 Alternative anchor points t h a t m a y need t o b e considered f o r scaffolding operations should

I w a y s T e c h e c k e d t o e n s u r e t h e y a r e s u i t a b l e a n d s u f f i c i e n t a n d w h e r e necessary a p p r o v a must

e si ght c m t h e c l i e n t o r o w n e r . If a n a l t e r n a t i v e a n c h o r p o i n t is r e q u i r e d (e.g. . s t e e earn)

h e n an a s s e s s m e n t m a y n e e d t o b e m a d e b y a c o m p e t e n t e n g i n e e r . A., p e r m a n e n t l y i n s t a l l e d

a n c h o r a g e p o i n t s o r s y s t e m s m u s t h a v e a c u r r e n t i n s p e c t i o n a n d t e s t c e r t i f i c a t e available, ,n

accordance w i t h t h e relevant British and European standard.


Section 4 - Personal fall protection equipment Preventing Falls in Scaffolding

I 10 O t h e r possible anchorage points c o u l d include, f o r e x a m p l e :

• Beams;
Girders;

• A n y other structural steelwork;


W i r e systems; and,

P e r m a n e n t l y installed a n c h o r a g e p o i n t s .

Girder loop and strops Mobile man anchor

Figure 55 A selection of special connectors and anchor devices.

A n c h o r a g e to lightweight mobile access t o w e r s (MATs)

I I I T h e P r e f a b r i c a t e d A c c e s s S u p p l i e r s & M a n u f a c t u r e r s A s s o c i a t i o n ( P A S M A ) states t h a t
p e r s o n a l fall a r r e s t e q u i p m e n t s h o u l d n o t b e u s e d o n l i g h t w e i g h t m o b i l e access t o w e r s , as t h e y
d o n o t p r o v i d e a suitably stable o r secure anchorage. P A S M A have d e v e l o p e d a system o f w o r k
f o r t h e e r e c t i o n , use a n d d i s m a n t l i n g o f MATs t h a t m i n i m i s e s t h e r i s k o f a fall. T h e N A S C
r e c o m m e n d s t h a t S c a f f o l d e r s r e q u i r e d t o e r e c t , a l t e r o r d i s m a n t l e MATs s h o u l d b e t r a i n e d in
a c c o r d a n c e w i t h t h e P A S M A C o d e o f Practice.
Preventing Falls in Scaffolding Section 4 - Personal fall protection equipment

Inertia reels

I 12 R e t r a c t a b l e line fall a r r e s t d e v i c e s a r e c o m m o n l y k n o w n as i n e r t i a reels o r lines. A steel

c a b l e o r m a t e r i a l w e b b i n g line e x t r a c t s a n d r e t r a c t s a u t o m a t i c a l l y a n d , s h o u l d a fall o c c u r , a

b r a k i n g m e c h a n i s m s t o p s t h e line p a y i n g o u t t o a r r e s t a fall, s i m i l a r t o t h e o p e r a t i o n o f a c a r seat

belt.

I 13 I n e r t i a reels a r e available in v a r i o u s l e n g t h s , sizes o f b l o c k a n d - c r i t i c a l l y - w e i g h t s , as t h e y

are r e q u i r e d t o be manually handled. C a r e m u s t be t a k e n w h e n considering a system o f w o r k

using i n e r t i a reels, as t h e y m u s t b e s u i t a b l e f o r t h e s c a f f o l d i n g o p e r a t i o n a n d b e used in

a c c o r d a n c e w i t h t h e m a n u f a c t u r e r ' s i n s t r u c t i o n s . A l l r e t r a c t a b l e line fall a r r e s t d e v i c e s m u s t b e

m a n u f a c t u r e d a n d t e s t e d in a c c o r d a n c e w i t h BS E N 3 6 0 .

I 14 T h e a n c h o r p o i n t m u s t b e a b o v e t h e s c a f f o l d e r t o l i m i t t h e d i s t a n c e t h e s c a f f o l d e r c a n fall
t o a m i n i m u m k n o w n as a 'Fall f a c t o r I ' (Figure 48). T h i s is d u e t o t h e f a c t t h a t m a n y i n e r t i a reels
h a v e n o e n e r g y a b s o r p t i o n c a p a b i l i t y s h o u l d a fall o c c u r . I n e r t i a reels s h o u l d o n l y b e used in a
b r o a d l y v e r t i c a l plane w i t h m i n i m a l h o r i z o n t a l m o v e m e n t , t h u s m i n i m i s i n g t h e p e n d u l u m e f f e c t
s h o u l d a fall o c c u r (e.g. Slung s c a f f o l d (Figure 57)). T h e w o r k i n g a r e a a n d h o r i z o n t a l t r a v e r s i n g is
r e s t r i c t e d because, t h e angle o f t h e line f r o m v e r t i c a l can b e n o g r e a t e r t h a n t h a t s p e c i f i e d b y t h e
manufacturer, t o r e d u c e t h e risk o f injury f r o m t h e p e n d u l u m effect (figure 56).

Figure 56 The pendulum effect. This illustration shows the Figure 57 A slung scaffold being erected by a scaffolder utilising
dangers of the pendulum effect. The faller will swing an inertia reel as part of the personal fall protection
like a pendulum, striking the structure or the ground. system.

Figure 58 (inset) Webbing connection strop for use with lines.


They provide ease of connection by the scaffolder and
emergency release in rescue when using steel lines.
Section 4 - Personal fall protection equipment Preventing Falls i n Scaffolding

I 15 I n e r t i a reels a r e ideally s u i t e d f o r d r o p lift o r h u n g s c a f f o l d s t r u c t u r e s , w h e r e a s u i t a b l e

a n c h o r p o i n t c a n b e e r e c t e d a b o v e a n d s c a f f o l d e r s a r e able t o e r e c t , a l t e r a n d d i s m a n t l e lift(s)

b e l o w whilst remaining attached.

I 16 W h e n specifying inertia reels, c o n s i d e r a t i o n m u s t be m a d e f o r rescue and r e c o v e r y should


a fall o c c u r . W h e r e necessary, r e t r i e v a b l e i n e r t i a reels s h o u l d b e s p e c i f i e d t h a t a l l o w c o l l e a g u e s t o
w i n c h t h e casualty u p o r d o w n t o safety b y d e p l o y i n g a n i n t e g r a l h a n d l e o r s i m i l a r d e v i c e (see
Section 5 - Rescue). W h e r e steel i n e r t i a lines a r e s p e c i f i e d t h e n w e b b i n g c o n n e c t i o n s t r o p s s h o u l d
b e u s e d . T h i s w i l l e n a b l e a r e s c u e r t o r e l e a s e t h e p r i m a r y fall a r r e s t e q u i p m e n t b y c u t t i n g t h e
w e b b i n g s t r o p , if n e c e s s a r y (Figure 63).

H o r i z o n t a l line systems

I 17 T h e t h r e e m a j o r factors t h a t need t o be considered w h e n selecting a suitable h o r i z o n t a l

line s y s t e m a r e :

I. T h e a m o u n t o f d e f l e c t i o n in t h e line a n d t h e c l e a r a n c e r e q u i r e d b e l o w t h e a t t a c h m e n t
p o s i t i o n e.g. s o m e s y s t e m s a t 2 0 m in l e n g t h c a n d e f l e c t m o r e t h a n 6 m , w h e r e o t h e r s a r e
h a v e a d e f l e c t i o n o f less t h a n 2 m . T h e r e f o r e , if a s y s t e m is used t h a t has a m a x i m u m
d e f l e c t i o n o f 6 m w i t h a 1 . 7 5 m l a n y a r d t o a t t a c h t o t h e line, it w o u l d o n l y b e an e f f e c t i v e
p e r s o n a l fall a r r e s t s y s t e m a t t h e 1 0 m ( 5 t h lift) level o r a b o v e .

T h e line c r e a t e s a ' V s h a p e as i t d e f l e c t s b e t w e e n s u p p o r t s w h e n a r r e s t i n g a fall. T h e u s e r

t r a v e l s t o t h e c e n t r e o f t h e ' V causing a s w i n g fall r i s k . T h i s r i s k is g r e a t e r f o r m u l t i p l e user

systems.

II. T h e s u p p o r t i n g s t r u c t u r e f o r a n c h o r i n g t h e e n d s o f t h e line s y s t e m .

W i t h s o m e s y s t e m s e n d loads i n t o t h e a n c h o r p o i n t s n e e d t o b e c a l c u l a t e d a l l o w i n g 2 4 k N
( a p p r o x i m a t e l y 2.4 t o n n e s o f f o r c e ) . If a t t a c h e d t o s c a f f o l d c o m p o n e n t s (e.g. t h e s t a n d a r d s )
t h e f o r c e s g e n e r a t e d in a fall c o u l d s i g n i f i c a n t l y d e f o r m t h e s t r u c t u r e a n d m a y a f f e c t its
stability o r t h e security o f t h e anchorage. C o n s i d e r a t i o n needs t o be given t o t h e suitability
a n d d e s i g n o f a n c h o r p o s i t i o n s f o r line s y s t e m s , in a c c o r d a n c e w i t h t h e p o t e n t i a l e n d l o a d i n g ,
s p e c i f i e d in t h e m a n u f a c t u r e r ' s i n s t r u c t i o n s .

III. T h e m a x i m u m n u m b e r o f p e r s o n s t h a t can b e a t t a c h e d t o t h e s y s t e m a t a n y o n e t i m e .
L i n e s y s t e m s a r e available t h a t o f f e r p r o t e c t i o n t o o n l y o n e o r t w o s c a f f o l d e r s a t a t i m e ( i . e .
if a s y s t e m is o n l y s u i t a b l e f o r o n e p e r s o n a n d t w o s c a f f o l d e r s r e q u i r e p r o t e c t i o n , t h e n t w o
separate systems w o u l d be r e q u i r e d ) .

Figure 59
A proprietary line system
specifically developed for
use by up to two
operatives.
Preventing Falls in Scaffolding Section 4 - Personal fall protection equipment

I n s p e c t i o n a n d m a i n t e n a n c e o f p e r s o n a l fall a r r e s t e q u i p m e n t

I 18 Fall a r r e s t e q u i p m e n t m a d e f r o m r o p e o r w e b b i n g m a t e r i a l s is p a r t i c u l a r l y v u l n e r a b l e t o
d a m a g e a n d w e a r a n d t e a r d u r i n g n o r m a l use b y s c a f f o l d e r s . T h e r e f o r e all s c a f f o l d i n g c o n t r a c t o r s
m u s t e n s u r e a d e q u a t e a r r a n g e m e n t s a r e m a d e f o r t h e s t o r a g e a n d i n s p e c t i o n o f all fall p r o t e c t i o n
e q u i p m e n t , s o t h a t i t is m a i n t a i n e d f i t f o r u s e .

I 19 T h e H e a l t h a n d Safety E x e c u t i v e (HSE) a n d t h e N A S C r e c o m m e n d t h r e e levels o f i n s p e c t i o n


f o r all p e r s o n a l fall p r o t e c t i o n e q u i p m e n t , as a m i n i m u m r e q u i r e m e n t as d e s c r i b e d in H e a l t h a n d
Safety E x e c u t i v e (HSE) b o o k l e t I N D G 3 6 7 a n d N A S C Safety G u i d a n c e N o t e s S G 1 6 a n d S G 1 7 .

I. P r e - u s e c h e c k s

T h i s level o f i n s p e c t i o n s h o u l d b e c a r r i e d o u t b y t h e u s e r f o r b o t h harnesses a n d lanyards a t t h e


b e g i n n i n g o f e a c h s h i f t a n d a r e a m e a n s o f c h e c k i n g t h a t t h e r e a r e n o visible o r s u r f a c e defects
w i t h t h e e q u i p m e n t . Pre-use c h e c k s s h o u l d b e t a c t i l e a n d visual. T h e w h o l e l a n y a r d a n d h a r n e s s
s h o u l d b e s u b j e c t t o t h e c h e c k , b y passing it s l o w l y t h r o u g h t h e hands (e.g. t o d e t e c t s o f t e n i n g o r
h a r d e n i n g o f f i b r e s o r ingress o f c o n t a m i n a n t s ) . A visual c h e c k s h o u l d b e u n d e r t a k e n in g o o d light
and w i l l n o r m a l l y take just a f e w m i n u t e s .

A n y d e f e c t s o r c o n c e r n s i d e n t i f i e d d u r i n g t h e pre-use c h e c k s h o u l d b e raised w i t h t h e e m p l o y e r
b e f o r e t h e e q u i p m e n t is u s e d . A s u i t a b l y c o m p e t e n t p e r s o n , having r e c e i v e d a p p r o p r i a t e t r a i n i n g ,
m u s t c a r r y o u t a d e t a i l e d i n s p e c t i o n t o e i t h e r satisfy t h e m s e l v e s t h a t t h e e q u i p m e n t is safe t o use
o r d e s t r o y t h e e q u i p m e n t d e p e n d i n g u p o n t h e defect a n d c o n c e r n raised.

T h e r e s h o u l d b e a d d i t i o n a l harnesses a n d lanyards available t o use as r e p l a c e m e n t s in t h e e v e n t


t h a t d e f e c t i v e e q u i p m e n t has b e e n t a k e n o u t o f u s e .

II. D e t a i l e d i n s p e c t i o n s

These are m o r e f o r m a l in-depth inspections looking at t h e e q u i p m e n t f o r underlying defects o r

p r o b l e m s t h a t m a y n o t b e i d e n t i f i e d d u r i n g t h e pre-use checks.

F o r f r e q u e n t l y used lanyards, p a r t i c u l a r l y t h o s e used in a r d u o u s c o n d i t i o n s (such as s c a f f o l d i n g )


t h e N A S C r e c o m m e n d t h a t a f o r m a l l y r e c o r d e d d e t a i l e d i n s p e c t i o n is u n d e r t a k e n a t least e v e r y
3 months.

III. I n t e r i m i n s p e c t i o n s

T h e s e a r e also i n - d e p t h i n s p e c t i o n s a n d m a y b e c a r r i e d o u t w h e n n e c e s s a r y b e t w e e n detailed
inspections. T h e need f o r interim inspections and t h e i r frequency should b e identified t h r o u g h
risk assessment. Examples o f situations w h e r e i n t e r i m inspections m a y b e a p p r o p r i a t e include:

A r d u o u s w o r k e n v i r o n m e n t s involving paints, chemicals o r grit blasting o p e r a t i o n s ;


Preventing Falls i n Scaffolding
Section 4 - Personal fall protection equipment

V e r y h o t e n v i r o n m e n t s o r t h e r i s k o f c o n t a c t w i t h h o t m a t e r i a l s o r surfaces ( f o u n d r i e s ,

steel w o r k s , w e l d i n g , b u r n i n g , c u t t i n g w i t h a b r a s i v e w h e e l s e t c . ) ;

• A c i d i c o r alkaline e n v i r o n m e n t s ( n o t e t h a t s o m e f a b r i c s o f f e r l o w r e s i s t a n c e t o acids o r

alkalis).

120 Y o u m u s t r e c o r d t h e r e s u l t s o f all d e t a i l e d i n s p e c t i o n s f o r e a c h p i e c e o f e q u i p m e n t . If

defects are identified t h e y must be r e c o r d e d . Records o f inspections should be k e p t until t h e

e q u i p m e n t is d e s t r o y e d .

121 If a n y d e f e c t s o r c o n c e r n s a r e i d e n t i f i e d as a r e s u l t o f a pre-use c h e c k o r d e t a i l e d i n s p e c t i o n
t h e n t h e e q u i p m e n t m u s t b e w i t h d r a w n f r o m use a n d d e s t r o y e d . A n y l a n y a r d o r harness t h a t has
b e e n used t o a r r e s t a fall s h o u l d n e v e r b e re-used a n d t h e e q u i p m e n t d e s t r o y e d . W h e r e
e q u i p m e n t is r e m o v e d f r o m use a n d d e s t r o y e d t h i s s h o u l d b e r e c o r d e d in t h e i n s p e c t i o n register.

P e r s o n a l fall a r r e s t e q u i p m e n t m a n u f a c t u r e r s ' i n s t r u c t i o n s

122 U n d e r t h e r e g u l a t i o n s a n d B r i t i s h / E u r o p e a n s t a n d a r d s o n PPE, p r o d u c t i n f o r m a t i o n m

be s u p p l i e d b y t h e m a n u f a c t u r e r . T h i s i n f o r m a t i o n s h o u l d b e r e a d a n d u n d e r s t o o d b y t h e us<

b e f o r e t h e e q u i p m e n t is u s e d .
Section 5 - Rescue
Preventing Falls in Scaffolding

Section 5 - Rescue

123 Rescue m u s t b e an i n t e g r a l p a r t o f a n y s y s t e m o f w o r k i n v o l v i n g fall a r r e s t e q u i p m e n t . T h i s

s e c t i o n o u t l i n e s t h e c o n s i d e r a t i o n s t h a t n e e d t o b e m a d e f o r r e s c u e p l a n n i n g s h o u l d an a r r e s t e d

fall o c c u r a n d a s c a f f o l d e r ( s ) b e c o m e s s u s p e n d e d b y t h e i r p e r s o n a l fall a r r e s t e q u i p m e n t .

124 T h e r e a r e h e a l t h risks a s s o c i a t e d w i t h a n y p e r s o n s u s p e n d e d in a fall a r r e s t harness,

t h e r e f o r e an a d e q u a t e p l a n m u s t b e in p l a c e f o r e v e r y s c a f f o l d i n g o p e r a t i o n , w h e r e fall a r r e s t

e q u i p m e n t is u s e d , t o e n s u r e a s p e e d y rescue.

125 T h e rescue techniques and e q u i p m e n t selected w i l l d e p e n d u p o n t h e t y p e and c o m p l e x i t y

of t h e scaffold s t r u c t u r e .

126 A n y r e s c u e plan m u s t c o n s i d e r t h e p o t e n t i a l d a n g e r in w h i c h r e s c u e r s m a y h a v e t o place

themselves, t o carry o u t a rescue. T h e r e f o r e , w h e n selecting rescue e q u i p m e n t , priority should

be given t o e q u i p m e n t and techniques t h a t w o u l d minimise t h e risk o f f u r t h e r accidents and

injuries t o t h e rescuers.

127 Rescue e q u i p m e n t t h a t m a y b e used r e m o t e l y f r o m a 'Safe Z o n e ' o u g h t t o b e c o n s i d e r e d

f i r s t . F o r e x a m p l e , if a p e r s o n a l fall p r o t e c t i o n s y s t e m using i n e r t i a reels is s e l e c t e d f o r a h u n g o r

s u s p e n d e d s c a f f o l d , t h e n a r e t r i e v a b l e t y p e r e e l s h o u l d b e s p e c i f i e d . R e t r i e v a b l e i n e r t i a reels

i n c o r p o r a t e a w i n c h m e c h a n i s m t h a t enables colleagues t o r e c o v e r a s u s p e n d e d s c a f f o l d e r s h o u l d

a fall o c c u r (Figure 60).

128 T h e N A S C has p r o d u c e d a s e p a r a t e g u i d a n c e n o t e (SG 19) t o h e l p s c a f f o l d i n g c o n t r a c t o r s in

c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h clients p r e p a r e a rescue plan as p a r t o f t h e risk assessment process f o r each j o b .

Figure 61 Example of remote rescue equipment. This shows the


Figure 60 Retrievable type inertia reel.
emergency services using a MEWP to recover an accident
casualty from height. However rescue plans must not rely upon
the emergency services to recover a person suspended by
personal fall protection equipment.
Section 5 - Rescue Preventing Falls in Scaffolding

Case Study 3

A s c a f f o l d e r s u f f e r e d an a r r e s t e d fall w h i l s t e r e c t i n g an i n d e p e n d e n t t i e d s c a f f o l d . H i s
c o l l e a g u e s w e r e able t o f a c i l i t a t e a r e s c u e b y m o v i n g p l a t f o r m b o a r d s t o a l o w e r lift t o
i m p r o v i s e a t e m p o r a r y p l a t f o r m a t t h e s a m e level as t h e casualty. H e w a s p u l l e d o n t o t h e
safe p l a t f o r m u n t i l t h e e m e r g e n c y s e r v i c e s a r r i v e d . In t h e m e a n t i m e f i r s t a i d w a s
a d m i n i s t e r e d a n d safe access w a s p r o v i d e d t o t h e t e m p o r a r y p l a t f o r m .

Assisted r e s c u e (without specialist r e s c u e e q u i p m e n t )

129 In m a n y cases w h e r e s c a f f o l d e r s s u f f e r an a r r e s t e d fall, t h e y m a y b e able t o r e c o v e r


t h e m s e l v e s , o r t h e i r c o l l e a g u e s c o u l d assist a r e s c u e , w i t h o u t t h e use o f specialist r e s c u e
e q u i p m e n t . It is feasible f o r a s c a f f o l d e r t o pull t h e m self i n t o t h e s c a f f o l d s t r u c t u r e a t a l o w e r lift
f o r e x a m p l e , p r o v i d i n g t h e y a r e n o t s e r i o u s l y i n j u r e d o r u n c o n s c i o u s . If c o m p l e t e s e l f - r e c o v e r y
is n o t p o s s i b l e , m e r e l y s u p p o r t i n g t h e m s e l v e s o n a l e d g e r o r o t h e r p a r t o f t h e s t r u c t u r e u n t i l
r e s c u e d , w i l l s i g n i f i c a n t l y r e d u c e t h e risks f r o m t h e affects o f s u s p e n s i o n in a safety harness.
E m p l o y e r s m a y also c o n s i d e r s u p p l y i n g special s u p p o r t s , available f r o m m a n u f a c t u r e r s , t h a t a r e
a t t a c h e d o r i n t e g r a t e d d u r i n g m a n u f a c t u r e i n t o t h e harness. T h e s e s u p p o r t s e n a b l e t h e s c a f f o l d e r ,
in t h e e v e n t o f a n a r r e s t e d fall, t o r e l e a s e t h e s t r a p s a n d a d j u s t t h e m o v e r t h e i r f e e t . T h e i r b o d y
w e i g h t c a n t h e n b e s u p p o r t e d b y t h e i r f e e t u n t i l r e s c u e d , t h e r e b y r e d u c i n g t h e risks f r o m
s u s p e n s i o n f a i n t i n g ( o t h e r w i s e k n o w n as S y n c o p e ) .

Figure 62 Examples of remote rescue equipment for scaffolding applications.


Preventing Falls in Scaffolding Section 5 - Rescue

130 A r e s c u e plan m a y i n c l u d e t h e use o f site access e q u i p m e n t , such as, a M o b i l e E l e v a t i n g


W o r k Platform ( M E W P ) o r a crane w i t h basket that could facilitate a rescue.

Specialist rescue equipment

131 Rescue k i t s a r e available t h a t can b e d e p l o y e d q u i c k l y b y t r a i n e d o p e r a t o r s t o f a c i l i t a t e a


r e m o t e r e s c u e using t e l e s c o p i c p o l e s , special c o n n e c t o r s a n d r o p e p o s i t i o n i n g s y s t e m s . T h e s e
r e m o t e r e s c u e kits e n a b l e r e s c u e r s t o a t t a c h t h e e q u i p m e n t t o t h e harness o f t h e s u s p e n d e d
s c a f f o l d e r a n d e i t h e r raise t h e m t o a safe p l a t f o r m o r l o w e r t h e m t o t h e base (Figure 62).

132 W h e n c h o o s i n g a r e s c u e k i t e n s u r e t h a t it is s u i t a b l e f o r t h e s c a f f o l d i n g a p p l i c a t i o n . T h i s
includes f o r e x a m p l e :

• is t h e r e s u f f i c i e n t r o p e l e n g t h t o l o w e r a p e r s o n t o t h e g r o u n d f r o m t h e h i g h e s t p o s i t i o n
if necessary?

d o e s t h e d e v i c e a l l o w casualties t o b e raised o r l o w e r e d ?

• is t h e d e v i c e a d e s c e n d e r o n l y t y p e , w h i c h m a y n o t b e s u i t a b l e f o r c e r t a i n s i t u a t i o n s s u c h
as w o r k o v e r w a t e r o r v e r y h i g h level w o r k w h e r e a large q u a n t i t y o f r o p e w o u l d be
required?

• is t h e r e s c u e e q u i p m e n t r e a d i l y available
at all t i m e s w h e n w o r k i n g at height?

are t h e r e sufficient n u m b e r s of trained


p e r s o n n e l available at all t i m e s d u r i n g
w o r k at h e i g h t t h a t can use t h e
equipment?

133 E q u i p m e n t a n d t e c h n i q u e s can be used


t h a t r e q u i r e a r e s c u e r t o d e s c e n d ( o r abseil)
d o w n t o t h e s u s p e n d e d scaffolder, a t t a c h h i m s e l f
t o t h e r e s c u e r and t h e n release t h e s c a f f o l d e r ' s
p r i m a r y fall a r r e s t d e v i c e (e.g. l a n y a r d ) . T h e
r e s c u e r m a y t h e n e i t h e r raise o r l o w e r t h e
casualty t o safety ( d e p e n d i n g u p o n t h e e q u i p m e n t
used). T h i s t y p e o f e q u i p m e n t a n d t e c h n i q u e
places a r e s c u e r at g r e a t e r risk and s h o u l d o n l y be
c o n s i d e r e d as a last r e s o r t (Figure 63).

Figure 63 Fully assisted rescue situation. The rescuer has attached


the casualty to himself and is cutting the lanyard
webbing using a special cutting device that reduces the
risk of accidentally cutting the rescue equipment.
Section 5 - Rescue Preventing Falls in Scaffolding

134 Specialist r e s c u e e q u i p m e n t m u s t b e s u b j e c t t o m a i n t e n a n c e a n d an i n s p e c t i o n r e g i m e t o
e n s u r e t h a t i t is in g o o d o r d e r w h e n e v e r i t is r e q u i r e d t o b e used. M a i n t e n a n c e a n d i n s p e c t i o n o f
r e s c u e e q u i p m e n t s h o u l d b e in a c c o r d a n c e w i t h t h e m a n u f a c t u r e r s ' i n s t r u c t i o n s .

Rescue training

135 E m p l o y e r s m u s t e n s u r e w h e n s p e c i f y i n g specialist r e s c u e e q u i p m e n t as p a r t o f a r e s c u e
p l a n , t h a t a n a d e q u a t e n u m b e r o f s c a f f o l d e r s h a v e b e e n s u i t a b l y t r a i n e d in its use, i n c l u d i n g a n y
r e f r e s h e r t r a i n i n g a n d e x e r c i s e s necessary.

136 Rescue m u s t b e an i n t e g r a l p a r t o f all s c a f f o l d e r t r a i n i n g a n d i n s t r u c t i o n in a c c o r d a n c e w i t h

this N A S C guide.
Preventing Falls i n Scaffolding Section 6 - Methods of access and egress

Section 6 - Methods of access and egress

137 Safe access f o r use b y s c a f f o l d e r s s h o u l d b e i n c l u d e d as e a r l y as p o s s i b l e in t h e e r e c t i o n

p r o c e s s a n d r e m o v e d as late as p o s s i b l e d u r i n g d i s m a n t l i n g , r e m o v i n g t h e n e e d f o r s c a f f o l d e r s t o

climb t h e scaffold s t r u c t u r e .

138 It is r e c o m m e n d e d t h a t w h e r e v e r p r a c t i c a b l e scaffolds s h o u l d i n c o r p o r a t e a staircase o r


l a d d e r bay. A s y s t e m o f w o r k i n g s h o u l d b e a d o p t e d , w h e r e p o s s i b l e , t h a t e n a b l e s t h e s c a f f o l d e r s
t o w o r k p r o g r e s s i v e l y a w a y f r o m a n d b a c k t o w a r d s t h e i r m e a n s o f access a n d egress (i.e. l a d d e r
bay o r staircase) w h e n e r e c t i n g , a l t e r i n g o r d i s m a n t l i n g t h e n e x t lift. T h i s w i l l a v o i d a n y
u n n e c e s s a r y c l i m b i n g o f t h e s t r u c t u r e b e t w e e n lifts.

Figure 64 Scaffolder raising platform boards to the next lift above working progressively backwards towards the ladder access bay.
Section 6 - Methods of access and egress Preventing Falls in Scaffolding

139 Falls f r o m l a d d e r s a r e b y f a r t h e m o s t c o m m o n t y p e o f fall f r o m h e i g h t a c c i d e n t in t h e


c o n s t r u c t i o n i n d u s t r y . T h e s e falls a r e usually c a u s e d as a r e s u l t o f u n s u i t a b l e access e q u i p m e n t
b e i n g s e l e c t e d f o r t h e t a s k , o r m i s u s e o f l a d d e r s . C l i e n t s a n d c o n t r a c t o r s w h o s p e c i f y access a n d
egress t o a n d f r o m s c a f f o l d i n g s h o u l d c o n s i d e r t h e f o l l o w i n g h i e r a r c h y :

• Staircases (Figure 65).

• L a d d e r access bays w i t h single lift l a d d e r s (Figure 66).

• L a d d e r access bays w i t h m u l t i p l e lift l a d d e r s .

• I n t e r n a l l a d d e r access w i t h p r o t e c t e d l a d d e r t r a p (Figure 67).

• E x t e r n a l l a d d e r using a s a f e t y g a t e (Figure 68).

140 Special s c a f f o l d s t r u c t u r e s t h a t d o n o t n o r m a l l y i n c l u d e a m e t h o d o f access ( e . g . f a l s e w o r k ,


s h o r i n g , l o a d i n g bays e t c . ) , c o n s i d e r a t i o n m u s t b e g i v e n in t h e p l a n n i n g p r o c e s s f o r t h e use o f
l a d d e r s e t c . t o a v o i d c l i m b i n g t h e s t r u c t u r e w h e r e v e r p o s s i b l e (Figure 69).

141 F o r f u r t h e r i n f o r m a t i o n o n t h e d i f f e r e n t m e t h o d s o f access a n d egress r e f e r e n c e s h o u l d b e

m a d e t o N A S C Safety G u i d a n c e N o t e S G 2 5 .

fixed down

Figure 65 Proprietary system scaffold stair-tower preferred to Figure 66 Ladder access bays with single lift ladders,
ladder.
Preventing Falls in Scaffolding Section 6 - Methods of access and egress

Figure 67 Internal ladder access with a protected ladder trap Figure 68 Pole ladder external access using a safety gate as an
as an example of good practice. example of good practice.

L aading bay g ate


/
/

3-^ C c
\ Scaffolders'
1
guardrail

3 C y
1= C
| Ladders

[1

3 £
/

; c
=

lb u]1 11 u LU

Figure 69 A stand alone loading tower with access built in and left for dismantling purposes only.
Section 7 - Other applications Preventing Falls i n Scaffolding

Section 7 - Other applications

Temporary edge protection

142 Examples o f g o o d planning t o avoid w o r k at height include t h e prefixing o f handrails t o


s t e e l w o r k p r i o r t o f i x i n g at h e i g h t (Figure 3).

143 W h e r e p o s s i b l e all t e m p o r a r y e d g e p r o t e c t i o n s h o u l d b e installed a n d r e m o v e d f r o m b y


M E W P t o p r o v i d e c o l l e c t i v e p r o t e c t i o n (Figure 70). F o r f u r t h e r i n f o r m a t i o n o n t h e use o f
M E W P ' s in s c a f f o l d i n g see S e c t i o n 2, use o f M E W P ' s .

144 For f u r t h e r guidance o n t e m p o r a r y edge p r o t e c t i o n reference should be made t o N A S C


Safety G u i d a n c e N o t e S G 2 7 Temporary edge protection on open steelwork.

145 C o l l e c t i v e fall a r r e s t safety n e t f a n s y s t e m s p r o v i d e useful s o l u t i o n s f o r c o n g e s t e d o r


r e s t r i c t e d sites w h e r e M E W P access is n o t p o s s i b l e (Figure 71). S c a f f o l d e r s c a n access t h e l e a d i n g
edge o f t h e f l o o r t o erect t e m p o r a r y edge p r o t e c t i o n .

Figure 70 Scaffolder erecting roof edge protection from a MEWP Figure 71 Safety net fan system provides protection for erecting
temporary edge protection.

Case Study 4

A scaffolding c o n t r a c t o r utilised inertia blocks fixed t o t h e steel s u p e r s t r u c t u r e a b o v e a n e w


s t a i r w e l l f r o m a M E W P T h i s e n a b l e d t h e e r e c t i o n o f t e m p o r a r y handrails t o a n e w staircase
a n d p r o v i d e d c o n t i n u a l fall p r o t e c t i o n f o r t h e s c a f f o l d e r s .
Preventing Falls in Scaffolding Section 7 - Other applications

146 A n o t h e r c o m m o n challenge facing


s c a f f o l d i n g c o n t r a c t o r s is t h e safe e r e c t i o n o f
t e m p o r a r y handrails f o r t h e installation o f
p e r m a n e n t s t a i r w a y s in c o n s t r u c t i o n . A g a i n
g o o d planning b e t w e e n clients and t h e i r
s u b c o n t r a c t o r s has s e e n pre-cast concrete
staircases m a n u f a c t u r e d t o a c c o m m o d a t e
h a n d r a i l p o s t s t h a t can b e installed o n t h e
g r o u n d p r i o r t o t h e m b e i n g c r a n e d i n t o place.
T h e r e b y eliminating o r minimising the need
f o r s c a f f o l d e r s t o w o r k at h e i g h t .

147 Erecting edge p r o t e c t i o n t o existing


r o o f s can be p a r t i c u l a r l y p r o b l e m a t i c f o r
s c a f f o l d i n g c o n t r a c t o r s t o p r o v i d e safe s y s t e m s
o f w o r k , especially if M E W P access is n o t
p o s s i b l e o r t h e r e is an a b s e n c e o f s u i t a b l e
a n c h o r p o i n t s f o r using p e r s o n a l fall p r o t e c t i o n
e q u i p m e n t . In s u c h cases s c a f f o l d e r s m a y n e e d Figure 72 Scaffolder utilising an installed fall protection system

t o r e l y u p o n m o b i l e a n c h o r d e v i c e s , fall r e s t r a i n t for roof access.

systems o r w o r k positioning e q u i p m e n t (for


f u r t h e r guidance reference should be m a d e t o BS 8 4 3 7 : 2 0 0 5 Code of practice for selection, use
and maintenance of personal fall protection systems and equipment for use in the workplace).

148 W h e r e e x i s t i n g p e r m a n e n t l y installed fall p r o t e c t i o n s y s t e m s a r e available f o r r o o f access


t h e n t h e s e s h o u l d b e u t i l i s e d (Figure 72). Employers should seek advice f r o m t h e occupiers o r
o t h e r s r e s p o n s i b l e f o r t h e p r o p e r t y , a n d m u s t e n s u r e t h e y a r e used in a c c o r d a n c e w i t h t h e
m a n u f a c t u r e r ' s i n s t r u c t i o n s , i n c l u d i n g c h e c k i n g m a i n t e n a n c e a n d i n s p e c t i o n r e c o r d s b e f o r e use.

P r o p r i e t a r y s y s t e m scaffolding

149 M a n u f a c t u r e r s a n d s u p p l i e r s o f s c a f f o l d i n g s y s t e m s h a v e legal d u t i e s t o c a r r y o u t
a p p r o p r i a t e research and testing o f t h e i r p r o d u c t s and t o p r o v i d e i n f o r m a t i o n and instructions t o
e n s u r e it can be u s e d safely m e e t i n g t h e p r o v i s i o n s o f t h e W o r k at H e i g h t Regulations a n d any
o t h e r s t a t u t o r y r e q u i r e m e n t s o r i n d u s t r y g u i d a n c e , r e g a r d i n g falls f r o m h e i g h t .

150 In a d d i t i o n t o t h e m i n i m u m r e q u i r e m e n t s o f any B r i t i s h o r E u r o p e a n m a n u f a c t u r i n g

s t a n d a r d s , m a n u f a c t u r e r s s h o u l d u n d e r t a k e a p r o d u c t r i s k assessment. T h e p u r p o s e o f a p r o d u c t

r i s k a s s e s s m e n t in t h i s case is t o e n s u r e t h a t safe e r e c t i o n , a l t e r i n g , use a n d d i s m a n t l i n g p r o c e s s e s

are specified.

15 I S c a f f o l d i n g c o n t r a c t o r s w h o use s y s t e m s c a f f o l d i n g m u s t e n s u r e t h a t it is e r e c t e d , a l t e r e d
a n d d i s m a n t l e d in a c c o r d a n c e w i t h t h e m a n u f a c t u r e r ' s i n s t r u c t i o n s f o r safe use. P a r t i c u l a r l y t h e
use o f s u i t a b l e a n c h o r p o s i t i o n s f o r p e r s o n a l fall a r r e s t e q u i p m e n t .
Section 7 - Other applications Preventing Falls in Scaffolding

152 A l l s c a f f o l d e r s m u s t r e c e i v e all n e c e s s a r y i n f o r m a t i o n , i n s t r u c t i o n , t r a i n i n g a n d s u p e r v i s i o n

in t h e safe e r e c t i o n , a l t e r i n g a n d d i s m a n t l i n g o f all p r o p r i e t a r y s y s t e m s c a f f o l d i n g u s e d , in

a c c o r d a n c e w i t h t h e m a n u f a c t u r e r ' s i n s t r u c t i o n s a n d ideally t h e CISRS S y s t e m Scaffold Product

T r a i n i n g S c h e m e (SSPTS).

Hoist towers and debris chutes

153 Hoist t o w e r s and debris chutes, c o m m o n l y erected f r o m traditional t u b e and fitting


s c a f f o l d i n g m a t e r i a l s , r e q u i r e p a r t i c u l a r c o n s i d e r a t i o n . Scaffold b o a r d s a r e o f t e n over-spanned
because t h e bay m u s t be k e p t clear o f o b s t r u c t i o n s t h a t w o u l d be created b y t r a n s o m s t o
s u p p o r t s t a n d a r d s c a f f o l d b o a r d s . P r o p r i e t a r y stagings o r b a t t e n s s h o u l d b e used t h a t a r e c a p a b l e
o f s p a n n i n g t h e bay w i t h o u t t h e n e e d f o r b o a r d b e a r e r s .

Figure 73 Debris chute or hoist tower construction.


Preventing Falls i n Scaffolding Section 7 - Other applications

B i r d c a g e a c c e s s scaffolds

154 T h e basic p r i n c i p l e s o f SG4 can b e a p p l i e d t o b i r d c a g e access s c a f f o l d s . T h e m a i n r i s k o f a


fall is a s s o c i a t e d w i t h raising a n d l o w e r b o a r d s o v e r a large s u r f a c e area. S c a f f o l d e r s s h o u l d plan
t h e e r e c t i o n a n d d i s m a n t l e b y s y s t e m a t i c a l l y w o r k i n g a w a y f r o m a n d b a c k t o w a r d s t h e access
p o s i t i o n . B i r d c a g e scaffolds n o r m a l l y c o n s i s t o f o n e w o r k i n g p l a t f o r m a n d s c a f f o l d e r s have t w o
o p t i o n s w h e n e r e c t i n g t h e i n t e r m e d i a t e lifts:

I. F u l l y b o a r d t h e w h o l e a r e a - t h i s m e a n s t h a t all bays w i l l r e q u i r e t r a n s o m s a n d all o f


t h e b o a r d s w i l l have t o b e raised systematically. S c a f f o l d e r s m u s t r e m a i n c l i p p e d o n
w h e n e n c r o a c h i n g less t h a n I m f r o m t h e l e a d i n g e d g e . O n l y t h e p e r i m e t e r o r o u t e r
e l e v a t i o n s o f b i r d c a g e (if e x p o s e d ) w i l l r e q u i r e g u a r d r a i l s .

II. P a r t i a l l y b o a r d - t h i s m e a n s c o n s t r u c t i n g s c a f f o l d e r s safe z o n e s in r u n s f o r t h e e r e c t i o n
o f t h e b i r d c a g e s c a f f o l d . I n t e r n a l falls m u s t b e p r o t e c t e d w i t h g u a r d r a i l s . T h i s s y s t e m o f
w o r k is f e a t u r e d in S G 2 3 - Safe system of work for birdcage scaffolds.

Figure 74 Example ofSG23 Birdcage scaffold - system of work. Shows scaffolders 'Safe Zones' used in runs for the
erection of a birdcage scaffold. All bays can be reached to fix ledgers, transoms and braces without the
requirement to fully board the entire structure.
Section 7 - Other applications Preventing Falls in Scaffolding

Protection fans and cantilevered structures

155 T h e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f p r o t e c t i o n fans a n d o t h e r c a n t i l e v e r e d s t r u c t u r e s r e q u i r e s s c a f f o l d e r s
t o f i x t h e n e e d l e s f r o m t h e m a i n s c a f f o l d ( b a c k o r h o r s e s c a f f o l d ) a n d t y p i c a l l y relies o n t h e use o f
p e r s o n a l fall p r o t e c t i o n e q u i p m e n t s o l e l y f o r c o m p l e t i n g t h e s t r u c t u r e . I n e r t i a reels a r e o f t e n used
f o r t h i s p u r p o s e (see Section 4 - Personal fall protection equipment).

H \\
\4 U «
H U /'
j|

x rr Ms/
n i —
j 1 —
J m \ ||

i i >J i

m
x;

n d pr/ C=Atry
(

11 Ti I
|! '

Figure 75 Falling object protection fan being erected using an inertial reel.

T e m p o r a r y roofs

! 56 T h e e r e c t i o n , m o d i f i c a t i o n a n d d i s m a n t l i n g o f t e m p o r a r y r o o f s has s i m i l a r hazards
associated w i t h t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f p e r m a n e n t r o o f s t r u c t u r e s a n d c o v e r i n g s . H o w e v e r the
t e m p o r a r y nature and p u r p o s e o f t e m p o r a r y roofs o f t e n doesn't facilitate t h e same m e t h o d s o f
w o r k a n d safety p r e c a u t i o n s . F o r e x a m p l e M E W P access isn't n o r m a l l y a p r a c t i c a l o p t i o n f o r
b u i l d i n g t h e t e m p o r a r y s t r u c t u r e as it is n o r m a l l y e r e c t e d o v e r a n o t h e r e x i s t i n g b u i l d i n g t o
p r o v i d e w e a t h e r p r o t e c t i o n . A l s o fall a r r e s t safety nets m a y n o t be u s e d , as t h e s u p p o r t scaffolds
c a n n o t sustain t h e a n c h o r loads, o r t h e r e is i n s u f f i c i e n t c l e a r a n c e in t h e v o i d b e t w e e n t h e
p e r m a n e n t r o o f and t h e t e m p o r a r y s t r u c t u r e .

157 A n u m b e r o f p r o p r i e t a r y t e m p o r a r y r o o f s y s t e m s have i n t r o d u c e d i n n o v a t i v e a n d safer


m e t h o d s f o r a s s e m b l i n g a n d e r e c t i n g t e m p o r a r y r o o f s (Figure 76).
Preventing Falls i n Scaffolding Section 7 - Other applications

Modular roof section assembled on the ground and craned into A wide gable-end bay is provided for erecting roof sections from a
position avoiding the need for scaffolders to crab the beams. 'Safe Zone'. Modular sections are rolled out on special rail and
caster systems, to avoid the need for scaffolders to crab the beams.

Temporary eaves walkways constructed with guardrail protection to allow


sheeting operations to be completed from o scaffolders' 'Safe Zone'.

Figure 76 Examples of proprietary temporary roof systems using innovative methods of erection.

158 Safe systems o f w o r k f o r t r a d i t i o n a l t y p e


t e m p o r a r y r o o f s e r e c t e d in situ r e l y u p o n
scaffolders c r a b b i n g b e a m s w i t h d o u b l e lanyards
t o construct t h e r o o f structure. Perimeter edge
p r o t e c t i o n can be f i x e d p r i o r t o installing s h e e t i n g
m a t e r i a l s . Scaffolders can utilise h o r i z o n t a l line
systems f o r a t t a c h i n g t h e i r p e r s o n a l fall
p r o t e c t i o n e q u i p m e n t f o r fall a r r e s t o r r e s t r a i n t
w h i l s t h a n d l i n g a n d f i x i n g r o o f sheets (see Section
4 - Personal fall protection equipment). For further
information reference should be made t o N A S C
Technical g u i d a n c e T G 9 - Guide to the design and
construction of temporary roofs and buildings.
Figure 77 An example of a traditional temporary roof erected in
situ with perimeter edge protection and safe access
Gantries and pavement frames to the roof surface via a cantilevered eaves walkway.

159 W h e n c o n s t r u c t i n g s c a f f o l d g a n t r i e s a n d p a v e m e n t f r a m e s s c a f f o l d e r s w o u l d be r e q u i r e d t o

e r e c t e d g e p r o t e c t i o n , c r a b t h e b e a m s using a d o u b l e l a n y a r d s y s t e m o f w o r k a n d full b o a r d t h e

g a n t r y so t h e r e a r e n o u n p r o t e c t e d gaps w h e r e s o m e o n e m a y fall.
Section 7 - Other applications Preventing Falls in Scaffolding

Falsework and formwork structures

160 T h e m a i n f o c u s o f t h i s g u i d a n c e is a i m e d t o w a r d access s c a f f o l d i n g , h o w e v e r t h e basic


p r i n c i p l e s o f t h i s g u i d a n c e can b e a p p l i e d , w h e r e s c a f f o l d e r s c o n s t r u c t o t h e r s i m i l a r s t r u c t u r e s in
s c a f f o l d i n g a n d p r o p r i e t a r y f a l s e w o r k a n d f o r m w o r k s y s t e m s . C o l l e c t i v e fall p r o t e c t i o n m e t h o d s ,
c r e a t i n g t h e s c a f f o l d e r s 'Safe Z o n e ' , a n c h o r p o i n t s f o r a t t a c h i n g p e r s o n a l fall p r o t e c t i o n
e q u i p m e n t a n d m e t h o d o f access a n d egress m u s t b e c o n s i d e r e d b y e m p l o y e r s at p l a n n i n g stage.
T h e e q u i p m e n t a n d m e t h o d s o f w o r k f e a t u r e d in t h i s g u i d a n c e f o r access s c a f f o l d i n g s h o u l d b e
u t i l i s e d w h e r e p o s s i b l e in o t h e r s c a f f o l d i n g s t r u c t u r e s e.g. d e a d s h o r e , r a k i n g s h o r e , f l y i n g s h o r e ,
s c a f f o l d i n g f a l s e w o r k scaffolds, f a c a d e r e t e n t i o n e t c .

Figure 78 Falsework system erected on the ground or slab to avoid the need to work at height.

Figure 79 Fully decked and guardrailed working platform to


form a 'Safe Zone' with safe access and egress, used
for the erection, alteration and dismantling of a
falsework system.
Preventing Falls in Scaffolding Appendix 1 - Relevant Health and Safety Law

Appendix 1 - Relevant Health and Safety Law

Relevant Health and Safety L a w :

• T h e H e a l t h a n d Safety a t W o r k e t c . A c t 1 9 7 4

• T h e M a n a g e m e n t o f H e a l t h a n d Safety a t W o r k Regulations 1999

• T h e W o r k a t H e i g h t R e g u l a t i o n s 2 0 0 5 (as a m e n d e d )

• T h e C o n s t r u c t i o n ( D e s i g n a n d M a n a g e m e n t ) Regulations 2 0 0 7

T h e W o r k p l a c e ( H e a l t h , Safety a n d W e l f a r e ) R e g u l a t i o n s 1 9 9 2

• T h e Provision and U s e o f W o r k E q u i p m e n t Regulations 1998

• T h e Personal P r o t e c t i v e E q u i p m e n t ( H e a l t h a n d Safety) Regulations 1 9 9 2

• T h e H e a l t h a n d Safety (Safety signs a n d signals) R e g u l a t i o n s 1996


Appendix 2 - British and European standards Preventing Falls i n Scaffolding

Appendix 2 - British and European standards

British a n d European standards:

• BS I 139 Parts 1-6 M e t a l S c a f f o l d i n g

• BS 2 4 8 2 : 2 0 0 9 S p e c i f i c a t i o n f o r t i m b e r s c a f f o l d b o a r d s

BS 8 4 3 7 : 2 0 0 5 C o d e o f p r a c t i c e f o r s e l e c t i o n , use a n d m a i n t e n a n c e o f p e r s o n a l fall

p r o t e c t i o n s y s t e m s a n d e q u i p m e n t f o r use in t h e w o r k p l a c e

BS 8 4 5 4 : 2 0 0 6 C o d e o f p r a c t i c e f o r t h e d e l i v e r y o f t r a i n i n g a n d e d u c a t i o n f o r w o r k a t

height and rescue.

• BS E N 1281 l - l : 2 0 0 3 Scaffolds. P e r f o r m a n c e r e q u i r e m e n t s a n d g e n e r a l d e s i g n .

BS E N 1 3 3 7 4 : 2 0 0 4 T e m p o r a r y e d g e p r o t e c t i o n s y s t e m s -

Product specification, test m e t h o d

BS E N 3 5 4 : 2 0 0 2 Personal p r o t e c t i v e e q u i p m e n t against falls f r o m a h e i g h t .

Lanyards

BS E N 3 5 5 : 2 0 0 2 Personal p r o t e c t i v e e q u i p m e n t against falls f r o m a h e i g h t .

Energy absorbers

• BS E N 3 6 0 : 2 0 0 2 P e r s o n a l p r o t e c t i v e e q u i p m e n t against falls f r o m h e i g h t .

R e t r a c t a b l e t y p e fall a r r e s t e r s

BS E N 3 6 1 : 2 0 0 2 Personal p r o t e c t i v e e q u i p m e n t against falls f r o m a h e i g h t .

Full b o d y harnesses

' BS E N 3 6 2 : 2 0 0 4 Personal p r o t e c t i v e e q u i p m e n t against falls f r o m a h e i g h t .

Connectors

BS E N 3 6 4 : 1993 P e r s o n a l p r o t e c t i v e e q u i p m e n t against falls f r o m a h e i g h t .

Test m e t h o d s

BS E N 3 6 5 : 2 0 0 4 Personal p r o t e c t i v e e q u i p m e n t against falls f r o m a h e i g h t .


G e n e r a l r e q u i r e m e n t s f o r i n s t r u c t i o n s f o r use a n d f o r m a r k i n g

BS E N 7 9 5 : 1 9 9 7 P r o t e c t i o n against falls f r o m a h e i g h t . A n c h o r devices.

Requirements and testing

BSI

389 C h i s w i c k High Road, L o n d o n W 4 4 A L


www.bsigroup.com
Tel: 0 2 0 8 9 9 6 9 0 0 1 ( C u s t o m e r Services)
Preventing Falls in Scaffolding References and further reading

References and further reading

National Access r : Scafolding Confederation


4 t h Floor. 2 3-:•=.-.= - ace. L o n d o n E C 4 V 6 A P

e n q u i r i e s g . raasc : r j * _

w w w . n a s c . c g u4
Tel: 02C " E l l \
Fax: 0 2 : " E l l ~-2

• SG- ":»- 1
_ :e- g . c e t o S G 4 : 1 0 P r e v e n t i n g falls in s c a f f o l d i n g

• SG 6 I - s a e c t i o n o f lanyards a n d h a r n e s s e s
• SG 7 : 1 0 F a i arrest e q u i p m e n t and y o u

• SG I Saner- Harnesses - r e s c u e p r o c e d u r e a n d r i s k assessment flowchart

• 2 2 2. 2 r e s y s t e m o f w o r k f o r b i r d c a g e scaffolds
2-_ ce t o t h e design a n d c o n s t r u c t i o n o f t e m p o r a r y r o o f s a n d b u i l d i n g s

• ~ 2 2 " 35 2 - d e t o g o o d practice f o r scaffolding w i t h t u b e and fittings

HSE E : :
I IE : 9 9 9 , S u d b u r y , S u f f o l k , C O 10 2 W A

Te : ~E~ :-E z: I 787 313995

• - 2 2 5C - e a t h a n d s a f e t y in c o n s t r u c t i o n

• - :' I . . - e a i t h a n d safety in r o o f w o r k
• - 1 221- '""a.-aging h e a l t h a n d safety in c o n s t r u c t i o n

• ' 2 2 x ~ r s o e c t i n g fall a r r e s t e q u i p m e n t m a d e f r o m w e b b i n g o r r o p e
• M
5Ca - r _
e . a n t i n g falls f r o m b o o m - t y p e e l e v a t i n g p l a t f o r m s
• • a:: - 16 Falls f r o m h e i g h t - P r e v e n t i o n a n d risk c o n t r o l e f f e c t i v e n e s s

" : : 1
::ass S u p p l i e r s ' a n d M a n u f a c t u r e r s ' A s s o c i a t i o n (PASMA)
- 2 : 1: :
: :
2 a i g c v G3 9 D R

~e 3MB I : : m Fac 0845 2 3 0 4 0 4 2

• 2 jmsra n ! 2 a r e of Practice

InCE • :
sred Access Federation (IPAF)
K
' z n E" i ! ullage, C r o o k l a n d s , C u m b r i a L A 7 7 N U
Te : " :2 :
a. 01539 566084
Acknowledgements Preventing Falls i n Scaffolding

Acknowledgements

T h e N A S C w o u l d like t o a c k n o w l e d g e t h e f o l l o w i n g m e m b e r s in t h e p r e p a r a t i o n o f t h i s g u i d a n c e :

B e n c h m a r k Scaffolding L i m i t e d

Harsco Infrastructure

H e a l t h a n d Safety E x e c u t i v e ( C o - o p t e d member)

J.EE. A t t r i d g e S c a f f o l d i n g S e r v i c e s C o . L i m i t e d

L y n d o n S c a f f o l d i n g Pic
Scaffold E r e c t i o n Services L i m i t e d (Chairman)
Simian Risk M a n a g e m e n t L i m i t e d (Technical A u t h o r )

W e e x t e n d o u r t h a n k s t o all o t h e r o r g a n i s a t i o n s a n d t h e i r e m p l o y e e s w h o h a v e p r o v i d e d

i n f o r m a t i o n a n d assisted in t h e p r o d u c t i o n o f t h i s g u i d a n c e .

W h i l s t e v e r y e f f o r t has b e e n m a d e t o e n s u r e t h e a c c u r a c y o f a d v i c e g i v e n , t h e N A S C a n d Simian

Risk M a n a g e m e n t L i m i t e d c a n n o t a c c e p t liability f o r loss o r d a m a g e arising f r o m t h e use o f t h e

i n s t r u c t i o n s s u p p l i e d in t h i s g u i d a n c e .

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