A Scaffold is an elevated working platform used in supporting workers and materials or both. Scaffolds are in use when the work is not requiring the use of a ladder or other means.
Scaffold also means any temporary structure on to or from which persons perform work, or which enables persons to obtain access or to which enables materials to be taken to any place at which such work is performed.
In the construction industry, over 2 million workers work on scaffolds frequently. That figure alone makes scaffolding a good topic to talk about.
Why do we need scaffolding?
Workers die most often when working at height. They make use of ladders for jobs that require a scaffold. With scaffolds, such deaths are averted and the work is done safely. Scaffolds provide access to the workplace. When you are to work at a height or an elevating level beyond the reach of normal human height. A scaffold is used. It provides protection to people against fall hazards. There is a possibility for workers to fall while working at height but scaffolds prevent such occurrence.
Scaffold basic components.
Though we have many types of scaffolds, the basic components that are available in them include Standards, ledgers, Transoms, Bracing, Baseplates, sole boards, guard rails, toe boards, and working platforms.
Standards: They are vertical tubes. They support the load to the ground. They can be called upright.
Ledgers: they are horizontal tubes. It ties the structure longitudinally. It usually runs parallel to the face of the building. It acts as a support for the transoms.
Transoms: Most of all, they are short horizontal tubes. Shorter than ledgers. It spans across ledgers. Normally at right angles. It can be used to support a working platform.
Bracing: They are diagonal tubes. They are placed with respect to the vertical or horizontal members of a scaffold. They increase the stability of a scaffold.
Base plate: Small square metal plates. The standards rest on the base plate to ensure it does not sink into the ground.
Sole boards: Mostly, another name is sole plate. It can be timber, concrete or a metal spreader used to distribute the load from a standard or base plate to the ground.
Work platform: The deck from which workers carry out building operations.
Guardrails: It is a tube fixed to the structure to prevent the fall of a person from a platform or an accessway.
Toe board: It is an upstand at the edge of a platform that prevents materials from slipping off the platform.
Coupler: A component used to fix scaffold tubes together.
Types of scaffolds.
There are three basic types of scaffolds. We have the Supported scaffold, suspended scaffold, and other scaffolds.
Supported scaffolds.
It consists of one or more platforms supported by rigid, load-bearing members. The load-bearing members are poles, legs, frames, outriggers etc. Supported scaffolds include ladder jack scaffolds, pole scaffolds, mobile scaffolds, pump jack scaffolds, Tube, and coupler scaffolds.
Suspended scaffolds.
They are one or more platforms suspended by ropes or other non-rigid overhead support. Examples are a single point, two points, multi-point scaffold, catenary, Needle beam, and multilevel.
Other scaffolds.
They can be man lifts or personal hoists. Though, they are vehicles but can be another type of supported scaffold.
In conclusion.
Scaffolds are important in construction sites. Your knowledge of it will go a long way to ensure you have a clear erection, modification, dismantling, inspection and supervision of it.
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Onyeka Emma is a QHSE Professional with more than 10 years of experience in occupational health and safety, which spans many industries such as construction, beverage, oil and gas, etc. He has many health and safety certifications, including NEBOSH IGC, ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, and ISO 45001:2018 Lead auditor certificate. A member of IOSH, ISPON, and Nigeria Red Cross Society. He is interested in business, entrepreneurship, Speaking, and motivating people to do better for themselves. He enjoys leisure with a good motivational book.
