Scaffold

A scaffold is a temporary structure erected to support access or working platforms. Scaffolding refers to the individual components of a scaffold, such as standards, transoms and ledgers.

Baseline often uses scaffolds to establish safe, stable working platforms, access and egress and edge protection for roofs and other work areas where workers cannot undertake works from the ground or finished floor.

The risks associated with scaffolds include falls from heights, falling objects, manual handling and temporary structure collapse, which may impact both scaffolders undertaking scaffold work, workers using the structure or workers and other people in the vicinity of the scaffold.

These include: working near energised overhead electric lines / mobile plant and traffic / fixed plant / mixing scaffold components / falls from height / falling objects / scaffold collapse / unauthorised access / use or alteration / ground conditions / hazardous manual tasks

The nominated project manager must arrange a pre-construction risk review meeting with the project team to identify all known and potential risks relating to scaffolding including access.

The risks arising from scaffolds are to be identified, assessed and controlled in the Project Risk Register, in accordance with the hierarchy of controls.

The Baseline Scaffold Design Brief meeting type MUST be conducted to identify all scaffold requirements

Note: Industry best practice 1m erection methodology MUST be followed, unless not possible, task specific SWMS MUST be provided and approved

All contractors must identify any High Risk activity within their scope of work, evidence of experience carrying out this activity, provision for full time supervision, relevant licenses and competencies of supervisor and workers

All contractors are required to develop and submit, a specific safe system of work, e.g. SWMS, for this High Risk activity to the Baseline site representative for approval (7days) prior to commencing works

This MUST include an Emergency Procedure / Rescue Plan, evidence that supervisors and workers are trained in the procedure

The Baseline expectation is that our contractors will follow all safety requirements listed within our standards

Scaffolds must conform to the following minimum requirements and relevant legislation, codes of practice and Australian standards:

− It is designed by an appropriately qualified scaffolder (refer to Scaffold Licencing) and endorsed by a an appropriately qualified engineer, who will also review and approve any design variations

− The plan includes a site layout, engineer approved drawings for scaffold

− Includes documented design parameters provided by the scaffold manufacturer.

− Includes any considerations raised in the Scaffold Design Brief meeting

− Include a structural and/or geotechnical assessment

Proposed methodology to be reviewed by Project Team and assess for need to conduct activity specific High Risk Workshop.

1m erection methodology MUST be followed, unless not possible, task specific SWMS MUST be provided and approved and High Risk Workshop to be conducted with contractor undertaking activity and Baseline Project Team.

Methodology, competencies and timing MUST be confirmed and agreed with all stakeholders

Any considerations raised in the Scaffold Design Brief meeting − Include a structural and/or geotechnical assessment of building structures, materials or foundations and their results.

Confirmation scaffold structure is designed by an appropriately qualified scaffolder (refer to Scaffold Licencing) and endorsed by a an appropriately qualified engineer

Prior to commencing scaffold erection/dismantle and where the work cannot conform to the 1m rule a Work at Heights Permit MUST be submitted by the subcontractor supervisor and approved by the Baseline site manager.

Where 1m rule cannot be followed, a task specific toolbox talk MUST be conducted by a Baseline Project Team member immediately prior to commencing works, and include all workers involved in the activity and detail the rescue plan

Note: Work at Heights Permit will be required where a harness must be worn

Baseline site manager / supervisor MUST monitor the scaffold erection activity until the work activity has been completed.

A Task Observation should be conducted by a Baseline Project Team member to record the works being carried out as per approved SWMS.

The Subcontractor Supervisor MUST be present at all times to ensure the permit (where required) is being adhered to and rescue plan can be activated

At the end of the activity the subcontractor scaffold supervisor MUST conduct a scaffold inspection with the Baseline site manager to confirm the scaffold had been erected in accordance with approved engineer endorsed design and provide a scaffold handover certificate to confirm.

A scafftag MUST be placed at all scaffold access points and scaffold re-inspected every 30 days or as per Australian standard

Any Work at Height Permits MUST be closed out

Where possible works are to be conducted from ground level, e.g. fabricating items on the ground prior to installation at heights

A less hazardous form of scaffolding or access system (based on the requirements of its use i.e., resistance, weight load, occupancy load etc) is to be selected.

Exclusion zones must be established around scaffold works (e.g., during erection, modification and dismantling) to protect other works from potential object fall from height hazards.

Scaffolds are to be designed in accordance with the relevant Australian standards by an appropriately qualified scaffolder (refer Scaffold Licencing), and where required, the drawings endorsed by a qualified structural engineer

Persons erecting, altering or dismantling scaffolds MUST be appropriately licenced

Harnesses should be utilised as a control measure only where the process for erection and dismantling only when the 1m rule cannot be followed