To increase Occupational Health and Safety / Environmental awareness and to contribute to raising awareness on certain topics beyond training sessions, we have prepared the tenth issue of our OHS-E Bulletin:

“USE OF SCAFFOLDING IN THE CONSTRUCTION SECTOR”

A large portion of occupational accidents in the construction sector occur as a result of falls from height. Some of these accidents are caused by scaffolds that are not constructed in accordance with their intended purpose. In our country, there is a particular need for scaffold installation teams consisting of trained professionals on this subject. With this bulletin, it is aimed to provide information on the safe use of scaffolding in the construction sector and to raise awareness among our employees against possible scaffolding-related problems

Communiqué on Facade Scaffolding

According to the communiqué published on September 19, 2014, for projects where façade scaffolding will be used for wall, plaster, thermal-sound-water insulation, cladding, painting, assembly works, restoration, demolition-dismantling and similar construction works, as well as repair and strengthening works, scaffold detail drawings and static calculations must be submitted to the administration at the permit stage.

Scaffolds must be inspected by a competent person assigned by the employer in the following cases, and an inspection report containing the matters specified in the special precautions regarding scaffolds must be prepared. Work may only be carried out on scaffolds that are determined to be safe as a result of the report:

• Before first use,
• At least once a week,
• When modifications are made,
• When not used for a certain period of time,
• When exposed to adverse weather conditions such as seismic tremors or strong winds, or to other conditions that may affect their balance and strength.

Steel Facade Scaffolds

The same communiqué also provides technical details for wooden and steel scaffolds. Accordingly, the implementation principles for steel scaffolds are as follows:

• The maximum loads that scaffolds can carry must be written on plates and hung in suitable and visible places on the scaffold. Care must be taken to ensure that these specified loads are evenly distributed on the scaffold, and loads exceeding these limits must not be placed on scaffolds.
• In accordance with Occupational Health and Safety in Construction Works, façade scaffolds must have standard guardrail systems, toe boards, and netting that prevents materials from falling without disrupting the static stability of the scaffold.
• In cases where night work is necessary and mandatory, or where daylight is insufficient, suitable and adequate lighting must be provided. Electrical cables and devices must be positioned in a way that does not create danger for either the scaffold or the workers.
• It must be ensured that existing work areas and passages on work scaffolds do not become slippery due to natural factors such as ice, snow, and rain, or other factors such as dirt, rust, and oil, through preventive measures and regular maintenance.
• When calculating the system, the greatest loads and working wind load must be applied separately, both perpendicular and parallel to the façade.
• The horizontal stability of scaffolds must be ensured by fastening the scaffold to the adjacent building with anchors.
• Work areas should be as horizontal as possible. In cases where the slope exceeds 1/5, foot retainers firmly fixed across the entire width of the platform must be provided.
• Dismantling of scaffolds must begin from the top, and building connections must be dismantled from top to bottom after all platforms have been removed.
• Main, secondary, and connection elements that are deformed or corroded must not be used in scaffold systems.
• Metal elements used in the construction of scaffolds must be properly grounded against static electricity.
• If the height between the uppermost platform surface and the lower edge of the base plate exceeds 24 meters, calculations must be made outside standard system configurations.
• The headroom between working areas must be at least 190 cm.
• During the use of cranes or similar machinery, necessary precautions must be taken to prevent the loaded material from getting caught on the scaffold.

Mobile Scaffolds

The requirements for mobile scaffolds, which are used especially in mechanical, electrical, and architectural works on construction sites, are as follows:

• The maximum loads that scaffolds can carry must be written on plates and hung in suitable and visible places on the scaffold. Care must be taken to ensure that these specified loads are evenly distributed on the scaffold, and loads exceeding these limits must not be placed on scaffolds.
• Mobile scaffolds must be manufactured from suitable materials with sufficient strength in terms of durability and the loads they will carry. In mobile scaffolds, legs or load-bearing middle beams must be made without joints.
• The legs of mobile scaffolds must be placed on level and solid surfaces. The scaffold must be fixed with diagonal bracing elements.
• Guardrail systems must be installed around the working platform against the risk of falling.
• Only ladders must be used to access working platforms.
• Working platforms must be fully decked.
• Mobile scaffolds must have standard guardrail systems.
• Movable mobile scaffolds must have stabilizers and wheel locking systems.
• Mobile scaffolds must have standard toe boards.

Suspended Scaffolds

The precautions to be taken for suspended scaffolds, which are used especially in exterior painting and cleaning works on construction sites, are as follows:

• The ropes to be used for the scaffold support system, the mechanical installation and motor mechanism that provide movement, brake systems, working platform, and other safety equipment must be checked every day before starting work.
• Before the machinery, equipment, and hoists that provide the movement of scaffolds are put into use, documents stating that they are suitable for use must be prepared by authorized technical personnel who carried out the installation, and these documents must be kept at the workplace.
• Scaffolds must be kept suspended without moving to the right, left, forward, or backward during work.
• The maximum load capacity of scaffolds must be indicated, and loads exceeding this amount must not be placed on them. Ladders must not be used on suspended scaffolds.
• Scaffolds must be equipped with stopping brake systems that can be activated in the working position. In addition, scaffolds must have fall prevention equipment and secondary brake systems. In rope lifting mechanisms, a separate holding brake that is automatically activated in the event of power failure in the working position must be provided. Necessary precautions must be taken to ensure that safety measures such as fall prevention equipment, holding brakes, and secondary brake systems are not used to stop the system during operation.
• Power-driven rope suspended scaffold systems must include safety systems such as overload detection systems, automatic speed detection systems, rope-end limit switches that activate at the lowest and highest working levels, anti-collision devices if there is a hazardous condition arising from the structure, and inclination sensors that keep the scaffold platform in a horizontal plane.
• In scaffold systems, vertical lifelines must be established equal to the number of employees. Employees must be provided with full-body harness systems together with connection devices and rope grabs, and their use must be ensured. The upper ends of vertical lifelines must be securely and safely fixed to a suitable location.
• In rope systems, measures must be taken to prevent ropes from coming out of the mechanical equipment around which they are wound and through which they pass, and to prevent the ropes from slipping in the pulling system during movement.

Conclusion

We must not forget that scaffold installation, use, maintenance, and dismantling works are of vital importance in the construction sector. When the causes of accidents in the construction sector in our country are examined, falls from height rank first; when the category of falls from height is detailed, scaffold-related accidents rank second. In this context, we must not neglect to include safe scaffold working principles in our work programs and plans.

EPY / HSE REPORT 010: “USE OF SCAFFOLDING IN THE CONSTRUCTION SECTOR”