MASTER BtliLDiRS

Construction Industry Occupational Health and Safety Manual

S O U T H A F R I C A

The working platforms should be fully and closely boarded.

Guard rails and toe-boards (including intermediate rails) fitted on all four sides and comply with the requirements of
the Regulations.

SUSPENDED scaffold has to have a safety factor of 4 or more. The

outriggers must be made of steel or any similar material.

The outriggers must be properly supported, suitably spaced and securely anchored, other than by means of weights, at
the inner ends; provided that an Inspector may approve of an arrangement whereby outriggers are anchored by means
of weights; and provided with a stop or other effective means at the outer end to prevent displacement of the ropes.

The working platform of every suspended scaffold must hang from:

• Blocks, sheaves, winches or lifting machines of the correct size for the ropes being used;
• At least two independent steel wire ropes in the case of a platform which is not wider than 912 ,mm and at least
four independent steel wire ropes in the case of a working platform which is wider than 912 mm; and steel wire
ropes of which the factor of safety is not less than ten based on the maximum load which each rope is required
to carry.

The hand or power operated machinery associated with the lifting or lowering of the working platform of a suspended
scaffold shall be so constructed and maintained that the uncontrolled movement of the working platform is prevented.
This machinery must also be so situated that it can be easily operated and inspected.

The rope connections to the outriggers are vertically above the attachments to the working platform, and where the
working platfonn is suspended by two ropes only, that the attachment of the ropes to the platform shall be of adequate
height above the level of the platfonn in order to ensure the stability of the platform.

The working platform of every suspended scaffold is not less than 600 mm and not more than 1-380 mm wide.

The working platform shall be suspended as close as practicable to the structure on which work is being performed
and for other than light work secured at every working position to prevent rotative horizontal movement between the
platfonn and the structure.

The platform must have substantial guard rails at least 900 mm and not more than 1-000 mm (and include intenne-
diate rails) above and on all sides of the platform except the side facing the structure; provided that in the case of a
platform suspended by two ropes only the guard rail shall be on all sides.

Provided on all sides with toe boards not less than 150 mm above the level of the platfonn and in the case of timber
not less than 25 mm thick and so installed that no open space exists between toe board and the platform.

SPECIAL SCAFFOLDS, i.e. Cantilever, Jib and Truss-out scaffolds should be erected and checked by specialists.

REFERENCES

SABS Code of Practice - 1396/83 - Wooden Scaffold Boards

SABS Code of Practice - 085/88 - Erection, Use and Inspection of Access Scaffolding.
Construction Regulations
Occupational Health and Safety Act (85 of 1993).

402 Reviewed
2006/01