Scaffold is used as a temporary working platform for various trades’ people during construction work. All reputable scaffold subcontractors are members of the NASC (National Access & Scaffold Confederation) – www.nasc.org.uk NASC has been established over 60 years and is recognised as the national trade body for the access & scaffolding industry in the UK.
All major scaffold companies are also members of the CISRS (The Construction Industry Scaffolders Record Scheme) which aims to ensure that operatives erecting, altering or dismantling scaffolds are properly trained and have sufficient experience to carry out work safely and correctly. CITB Construction Skills issues record cards to operatives who have completed the required training, gained appropriate experience and achieved the relevant NVQ/SVQ. The scheme is afflicted to CSCS and currently has over 22,000 registered members. Four types of cards are available based on training, experience and position.
Scaffolding – Products & Services:
Scaffolds are designed to fit in or around buildings and can be constructed using traditional tube & fittings or using system scaffolds.
TRADITIONAL TUBE & FITTING – Tube and fittings remains the preferred method of providing temporary access across England and Wales.
The benefits are:
1. Total flexibility, lift heights, positions of standards and tie positions can be infinitely variable to fit the requirements of the scaffold user.
2. Adaptability, a tube and fitting scaffold is the most adaptable of all scaffold solutions.
3. Cost effectiveness - it remains the most cost effective approach for the majority of standard solutions. This is especially the case where scaffolds are likely to be erected for periods in excess of 4 weeks
The negatives may include the perceived complexity of erection methods; this can be overcome by ensuring only properly trained and supervised scaffolders are allowed to erect, alter or dismantle any scaffold on site.
SYSTEM SCAFFOLD – comes in many forms and is perceived to allow for more rapid erection. It is true that on appropriate scaffolds a system will bring benefits, the key is using it when those benefits can be realised; usually low level, fast turnaround, simple scaffolds not requiring alteration.
All system scaffolds are in fact quicker to erect and dismantle than traditional tube & fitting, and are generally lighter to handle and the modular nature can give an instantly pleasing regularity of appearance however the maximum lengths in system are shorter than the lengths in tube & fitting. Most systems are of “spannerless” construction the positive connections being made by various innovative designs. This however renders a system scaffold easily ‘adaptable’ by the untrained worker – an undesirable option. Scaffold temporary works managers need to plan the material requirements for a system scaffold and not merely send out a mixed load of material and leave it to the scaffolders (as can be done with traditional tube & fittings. From a subcontractor's point of view system materials need more storage space in yards and are more bulky to transport needing more journeys to deliver and collect. System material can be difficult to repair in the event of sustaining damage and are therefore more costly.
• Edge Protection – can be in tube & fitting or a specific proprietary system. The benefits are it complies with the Working at Height Regulations hierarchy i.e. provides collective fall prevention. It can also prevent the likelihood of falling materials. And it is a more cost effective option than traditional tube & fitting in terms of productivity as it is a lot quicker to install rather than erecting scaffolds from ground level.
Within both of these schemes a number of products are used:
• Wooden Boards
• Metal Fittings
• Sheeting (if required)
Scaffold - Innovation
There have been no quantum leaps in scaffold innovation over the past few years. The industry has only seen incremental improvements taking place. The major ground breaking ideas such as system scaffolding & mast climbers were over 20 years ago.
Recently introduced product innovations:
• Safety Gates – Traditionally ladder access points were either unguarded or provided with handrails. Neither option was ideal as it either allowed for a potential fall or made access more difficult. The safety gate overcomes this problem.
• Improved loading bay gates – As part of the drive towards fall prevention improvements in the design of loading bay gates make it harder for the unthinking operative to approach an unprotected edge.
• Adjustable Transforms – An innovation with tube and fitting scaffolds which has significantly enhanced the adaptability of scaffolds. This approach has proven to be particularly beneficial on modular/ pod building and cladded structures.
• Stair cases – in a significant number of instances the provision of staircase access is now a legal requirement under the Working at Height Regulations. Even without legislation the safety and efficiency benefits of providing staircases rather than ladder access has seen a huge increase in the usage on site.
• Increased use of weather protection – fast track builds cannot afford time lost to bad weather. More thoughtful project managers have increasingly turned to the use of temporary roofs and shelters to protect against down time. Proper planned weather protection may allow fit out to be accelerated while building is still on going.
Recently introduced service innovations:
• Inspections – The requirement to carry out statutory inspections is an onerous legal duty. Scaffold subcontractors are the scaffold experts and are now taking on this duty. This is a significant risk management gain and quality improvement.
• Design & Tender Support – Major scaffold subcontractors offer a design and pricing service upfront. This enhances the finished planning of the project and leads to a more realistic cost estimate.
• H&S – Change in Attitude – Preferred scaffold subcontractors have invested in behavioural modification training. This improves the general level of risk awareness amongst the operatives on site.
• Training – In Scaffold Awareness & Working at Height – Increasingly, contractors are recruiting graduate managers who lack direct ‘shop floor’ skills or experiences. Preferred scaffold subcontractors provide training to the site management in scaffold awareness.
• On Site Management – This contrasts with the traditional approach of visiting supervision. On site supervision enhances safety, efficiency, quality control and communication.
• Scaffolder Training:
Scaffolders & Supervisors – The increased ability to create projects that require supervisors has enabled preferred scaffold subcontractors to create a new class of operative ‘the full time on site scaffold supervisor’. Having defined the role, training is now being provided for that role.
Induction and on going training – Major scaffold subcontractors provide professional induction and on going training for all employees. They have made a commitment to enhance the skills of their workforce.
Behavioural Training – This is now part of the training regime for all scaffolders. This approach aims to change the safety ‘values’ of the workforce, making them more risk aware.
Mechanical Handling – Traditional handling of materials is costly and unproductive. Major scaffold subcontractors have made significant investments in mechanical handling such as telehandlers, sideloaders and lorry mounted cranes.
Why so slow with Innovation? It takes a very long time for products to get acceptance in the industry; reuse of equipment due to high capital costs and not enough profit in the industry have all contributed to the lack of innovation. Furthermore engineering constraints (i.e. cannot make it work due to safety requirements) on scaffolding has been a major stumbling block. Constant diversion of effort into other non core areas may also impact on the ability to innovate.
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The benefits are:
