Spotlight........ |
NASC SG4:05 Appendix A Interim Guidance on Collective Fall Prevention Systems in Scaffolding |
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Falls from height are an ever-present hazard within many
construction related activities and are still the most common cause of
fatal injury. After the introduction of the NASC's guidance SG4:05 in
2000, the number of falls recorded from scaffold platforms by NASC members
reduced by 40%. This new Appendix has been issued pending an update to SG4
planned for 2010 and has been prepared following the HSE statement that
the widely used "tunnelling" or "traversing" erection methods were no
longer acceptable. For detailed information regarding these regulations click
here. |
The Work at Height regulations in Brief |
| The Regulations place duties on employers, the self-employed, and any
person that controls the work of others. The Regulations do not apply to
the provision of paid instruction or leadership in caving or climbing by
way of sport, recreation, team building or similar activities. As part of the Regulations, duty holders must ensure:
The regulations provide a simple hierarchy for managing and selecting equipment for work at height, you must:
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What do these regulations mean for the Scaffolding and Access industry? |
| The Hierarchy of Controls in the Work at Height Regulations require that where it is reasonably practicable to prevent a fall, these precautions should be taken. As we have seen, tunnelling is no longer acceptable because of the presence of an unprotected edge and scaffolders should be provided with Collective Fall Prevention Systems. |
How can ASP help? |
| The ideal protection for the scaffolder is to be working at all times behind suitable guardrails on a boarded lift. ASP can supply two Collective Fall Prevention Systems which satisfy this requirement and which are amongst those recommended in SG4:05 Appendix A. |
ScaffStep® | ||||||
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 The
simplest system is the scaffolders' "step-up", which allows the operative
to stand at guardrail level on the lower lift and install the permanent
guardrails on the lift above while protected by the foot ledger at the
next lift which acts as a waist rail. ASP's innovative (patent pending)
solution is the ScaffStep®.
ScaffStep® has the unique advantage of an integrated ladder, which allows
a safe means of access to the platform. The scaffolder connects his
lanyard to the ledger above before climbing the ScaffStep®, then the
scaffolder is protected by a guardrail which is already part of the
scaffold structure, eliminating the need for additional parts to be fixed.
ScaffStep® can be used in any position along the ledger, not just at a
standard. It provides protection for the scaffolder working with tube and
fittings as well as all systems using tubular ledgers. Often used in
pairs, with two operatives working together. ScaffStep® has many unique
features, UK and EU patents are pending:
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PreGuard® | ||||||
 ASP's
second practical solution is PreGuard®, a telescopic advance
guardrail system which provides two guardrails at the next lift above,
easily erected from the working platform below. PreGuard® offers
simplicity, durability and the ability to fit a wide range of scaffolding
systems including tube and fittings and all popular modular systems.
PreGuard® is an advance guard rail system that enables scaffolders to
install edge protection on the lift above prior to commencement of works
at that level. This avoids the classic problem of a scaffolder having no
edge protection when initially starting work at a new level. PreGuard® is
a simple and robust system, using telescoping guardrails attached to a
innovative vertical post which mounts to the scaffold standard. PreGuard®
is a portable system, taken from job-to-job and requires minimal capital
investment.PreGuard works with all popular system scaffolds as well as
conventional tube and fittings and provides a collective means of fall
prevention as recommended by SG4:05 and WAHR.
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Get in touch | ||||||
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