Working with Scaffold Towers

Knowing the limits of your scaffold tower will ensure your safety whilst using it. Following the manufacturer’s guides can help you achieve the maximum performance of your equipment without risking your safety.

Other than the proper assembly of the scaffold towers, safety is also important using them. Safety is paramount to every person that has something to do with the scaffold towers, just like the worker using it and the manufacturer who made it. Any equipment has its limits on their usage. Even if they are sturdy, they also have limited capacity and workload.

Exceeding the Safe Working Height of a Scaffold Tower

Every tower system has its own safe working height. These systems are designed as safe freestanding structures. Scaffold towers can reach heights between twelve and sixteen metres. There used to be a simple rule: the safe working height needs to be three times the size of the base. This no longer applies to current safety standards. The safety standards for stability are much stricter than what they used to be. You should check the manufacturer's assembly guide to see exactly how high you can safely go.

Also, if it is needed to go higher than the limits for the basic tower, you can use either outriggers or stabilisers. You will require different sizes for different heights. So once again, you would need to refer to the manufacturer's guidance notes for specifications. In addition, when fitting outriggers or stabilisers, you need to have a larger base for the tower. This may permit you to go up another level or two. In cases where you don't have the space for outriggers, tying the scaffold towers to a rigid structure can be a good alternative.

Using Ladders or Other Access Systems

Never climb up the end frame of the scaffold towers unless they are specifically designed as ladders. You should only climb inside the scaffold towers through a properly designed ladder. The ladder must be long enough to safely reach either the working platform or an intermediate access platform.

Safety on the Working Platforms

The tower’s guard rails must always be fitted. Two guard rails, the top being one metre high and the other halfway between that and the toe board, are required because they help prevent tools, materials, equipment, and the workers from falling off the scaffold towers. Also, keep the boards of the mobile scaffold towers free from clutter. Never use general scaffold boards with a mobile structure. Only use the correct size of pre-formed platform that comes with the scaffold towers.

Safe Working Load

The scaffold towers have a safe working load capacity and this will be marked on the tower itself and will certainly be in the manufacturer's recommendations. The safe working load does not just include the tools and materials but also the weight of the people who will be working up there and the weight of the platform itself. It should be able to support up to four times it maximum work load without failing. It is also a good idea to consider doubling the platforms to increase safety and the amount of materials that can be used whilst working.

And finally, it is always best to inspect the scaffold towers before and after use to see if there are any misplaced bolts or misaligned railings. Proper assembly and usage of the scaffold tower can at least lower the risk of injuries. Accidents can never be avoided but at least it can be prevented.

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