DUTY OF CARE ACT

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY ACT 1984

STATUTE LAW COMMON LAW

EMPLOYER EMPLOYEE

SECTION 19 SECTION 20
• Provide and maintain workplaces and safe • To ensure the health and safety of yourself
system of work, employees are not exposed and workmates and the public
to hazards
• Comply with safety and instructions given by
• Provide, instruction and training. Supervision employer and safety reps
so that employees are not exposed to hazards
• Use P.P.E. supplied by employer
• Consult with Health & Safety Reps regarding
• Report any hazards or problems regarding
the workplace
safety in the workplace
• Provide any P.P.E. required to complete job
• Report any damage of any equipment
safety
• Provide equipment that is maintained & safe
to use
 BASIC SCAFFOLDING - CERTIFICATION

DUTIES NOT ALLOWED

• Erect, dismantle and alter any • Any tube and fitting scaffold
form of Modular Scaffolding
• Any Swing Stage
• System
• Boatswains Chairs
• Frame
• Mast Climbers
• Alloy Tower
• Man and material hoists
• Hand Rail System
• Pre Fab Loading Bays
• Safety Net
• Material Hoists
• Tube and Fittings “ONLY” to tie
scaffold in or modify scaffolding
where components cannot be
used

NOTE:- Certificate required over 4.0m high

 DUTY SHEET (LIVE LOADS)

DUTY LENGTH WIDTH MAX. LOAD PER BAY

MAX. MIN. MAX.
5x 5x
HEAVY 1.8m BOARDS BOARDS 675kg
1000mm 1275mm

4x 8x
BOARDS BOARDS
MEDIUM 2.4m 450kg
950mm 1800mm

2x 10 x
BOARDS BOARDS
LIGHT 3.0m 225kg
450mm 2400mm
 TIES SUPPORTED AND UNSUPPORTED
1. UNSUPPORTED
Vertical Minimum requirement every 2 x lifts or 4.0m
Horizontal Minimum requirement every 3 x bays
USE PLAN BRACES
EG:-

2. SUPPORTED
Vertical Every 4 x lifts (minimum requirement)
Horizontal Every 6 x bays (maximum requirement)
Plan Braces must always be fixed with 90o couplers
Vertical Fixed from Ledger to Ledger (with 90o’s)
END ELEVATION
TIES

NOTE: YOU MUST TIE FROM A FIXED POINT

TIES TIES

PLAN VIEW
 TIES (CONT’D)
USING BUTTRESS SYSTEMS:-

FREE STANDING SCAFFOLDS

RULE OF THUMB:-
The height should never exceed
3 x times that of the least base width.

4
10 .
TIES
. 0
0 m
8
m
.
0
m
RAKER TUBE

1.2m x 3 = 3.6m x 3 = 10.8m

TUBE FIXED
1200mm 1200mm 1200mm TO GROUND
 EDGE PROTECTION

HAND RAILS:-
ANY SCAFFOLD OVER 2.0m 150mm
900 to 1100mm
TOP RAIL
Min
REQUIRES HAND RAILS AND
KICKBOARDS

• Double Handrails required on all platform elevations except working face.

• Toe Boards (Kickboards) are also required on all platform elevations except working face.
• Toe Board minimum height 150mm (Scaffold Board on edge).
• Handrail post (eg. on slabs etc.) maximum 3.0m apart.
• Formwork Handrails, Oregon, Hardwood minimum size 100 x 50mm.
• Masonary work:- minimum requirement – brickguards or 17mm plywood.
• Dustproofing:- (not Hessian) – shade cloth; fill in all elevations of scaffold.
• Maximum gap allowed between building and scaffold = 225mm or 1 x board wide
• Maximum mesh hole size on brickguard or similar = 50mm x 50mm x 4mm wire thickness
 ACCESS AND EGRESS
1m

4m

LADDER ACCESS 1m

• Ladder Pitch
• Top of ladder must exceed at least 900mm above top landing
• Maximum distance between ladder landings 6.0m or 3 x lifts
• If ladder is inside working platform, handrails or a trapdoor are required (alloy tower and
mobiles)

LADDERS:- NOT TO BE USED

* EXTENSION * STEP LADDER * DOMESTIC

TO BE USED
* MUST BE INDUSTRIAL APPROVED TO AUSTRALIAN STANDARDS
* LADDERS MUST BE FIXED BOTH AT TOP & BOTTOM
* MUST BE INSIDE SCAFFOLD
 WORKING PLATFORM ACCESS
UNOBSTRUCTED ACCESS
* For transporting materials:- Minimum 675mm 1.0m
(3 x boards wide)
* For persons with Handtools only:- Minimum 450mm
(2 x boards wide)

WORKING PLATFORM
Planks to be lashed together using: 8mm Dia. Fibre Rope
or 4mm Dia. F.S.W.R.

* All Timber Boards must be lashed or pinned.

No more than 250mm
* Lapping Board only on:- returns or bridging on or less than 150mm
modular scaffold.
* Boards of different thickness not to be used on same platform.
* 45.0m high scaffold can support without approval
2 x full length working platform (steel scaffold).
* 15.0m high scaffold can support without approval
4 x full length working platform (steel scaffold).
* 45.0m high alloy scaffold can support only
1 x full length working platform.
 WORKING PLATFORMS (CONT’D)
MAXIMUM SPAN OF SOLID TIMBER SCAFFOLD BOARDS
AUSTRALIAN STANDARDS 1577
THICKNESS OF BOARD MAX. SPAN BETWEEN PUTLOGS
KARRI (HARDWOOD) 32mm 1.0m
OREGON 38mm 1.5m
OREGON 50mm 2.0m
OREGON 63mm 2.5m
BOARD OVERHANG

1.0m

Min. 150mm (if butted)

Max. 250mm (if butted)
 BRACING

END ELEVATION FRONT ELEVATION

END BRACE DENOTES: On the job extra brace

Min. requirement:- on each end of Scaffold DENOTES: Min. brace requirement

FRONT BRACE DENOTES: Face brace if tube and fittings are used
Min. requirement:- every 4th bay
(3 clear bays)
 EQUIPMENT

* 90o COUPLER:- W.L.L. 630kg 150mm

* Screw Jack:- W.L.L. 3000kg

750mm

600mm

150 x 150mm
SCAFFOLD TUBE:-
WALL THICKNESS
4mm (STEEL) SCREW JACK
4.5mm (ALLOY)

48mm STEEL AND ALLOY

BOARDS:-
KARRI Width 220 – 225mm (allow shrinkage)
OREGON:- Width min. 225mm
 BRACKET SCAFFOLDS
TANK BRACKETS:-
225mm
6mm THICK LUG OR SADDLE PIECES
MIN. REQUIREMENT FULLY WELDED
50mm ACROSS THE TOP

LUG WELDING:- MIN. REQUIREMENT NOT LESS THAN A

5mm FILLET WELD.
MALE
CONNECTOR HAND RAIL POST

FIX FOR HAND

RAIL TUBE

SHUTTER BRACKET SCAFFOLDS:-

Min. width working platform = 900mm

STUD BRACKET SCAFFOLDING:-

Min. width working platform = 900mm
BOARD SPANS:-
As per max. Putlog spacings
 MOBILE SCAFFOLDING
• Only to be used on hard firm surface.
• The mobile must never be located closer than 1.0m to any edge of slab, penetration or
stepdown unless guarded by handrail or fence etc.
• Must never be located closer than min. requirements to live power lines (4.0m)
• Mobile must be fitted (base lift only) with a plan brace to stop tower from twisting.
• Only to be moved by persons not machine.
• Must be fitted with wheel locks.
• Tyres must be of solid type only. And approved + sleeved 150mm min.+ locked to
standard
• Free standing mobile base width over 1.2m least base width x 3 = max. height eg. 2.0m
base width x 3 = 6.0m to working platform.
• Free standing alloy base width over 1.2m
Inside: Least base width x 3 Max height
Outside: Least base width x 2 Max height
• Free standing mobile base width under 1.2m should not exceed 2 x the base width.
• Alloy mobile only one working platform. Ladder access – Interval.
• Max. height of alloy mobile without approval = 9.0m only.
 ALUMINIUM TOWER – FRAME SCAFFOLDS

• Alloy Tower – Frame scaffold is light duty

225kg W.L.L. (2 x men & hand tools).
• Max. Height without approval must not exceed 9.0m unless approved by a
component sheet supplied by supplier.
• Max. of 1 x working platform without approval.
• Ladder should be inside tower and have trapdoor on working platform.
• Using steel couplers:- make sure that they are compatible and do not
distort the components.
 MODULAR SYSTEMS
HOP UP BRACKETS
• 1 x Board Bracket only to be used on fully decked out working level.
• 2 x Board Bracket can be used between lifts providing that:- you have 2 x fully
decked working levels, 1 x directly above and 1 x below
Brackets only to be used on working face always use tie bar to fix brackets together (spreader)

2 x Board
Hop Up
Bracket
between
2 x lifts
of boards
} Working Levels
 HAZARDS
PROXIMITY TO POWER LINES
Minimum distance from electrical conductors for the erection & dismantle of scaffold.
Note:- To work closer, power supply company to cover lines with non-conductive material

LINE VOLTAGE SPAN MIN. DISTANCE

NOT EXCEEDING 66KV MAX 125m 4.0m

EXCEEDING 66KV MAX 125m 5.0m

GREATER THAN 125m
ANY VOLTAGE 6.0m
BUT LESS THAN 250m
GREATER THAN 250m
ANY VOLTAGE 8.0m
BUT LESS THAN 500m
AS AGREED WITH POWER SUPPLY
ANY VOLTAGE EXCEEDING 250m
AUTHORITY NOT LESS THAN 8.0m

4.0m NOTE:- MIN. DISTANCE 4.0m

U STEEL AND ALLOY
MIN. DISTANCE 1.5m WOODEN AND
FIBREGLASS SCAFFOLDING
4.9m NOTE:- MIN. DISTANCE FOR COVERS
PAST EACH END OF
SCAFFOLD = 4.9m
 GINNY WHEELS
COUPLER EITHER SIDE
X X

MAX. UNSUPPORTED LENGTH WITHOUT SPUR = 600mm

X X

* MIN. ROPE DIAMETER FOR WHEEL = 16mm

* MIN. ROPE DIAMETER FOR HAND LINE = 12mm
* MAX. LOAD OF WHEEL = 50kg
* WHEEL MUST HAVE ROPE GUIDES
* CHECK WHEEL WITH FITTING EITHER SIDE OF FIXING RING
 CANTILEVER BUILDERS HOISTS

• Hoists must be set on adequate foundation and maintained vertically.

• Needles and screw jacks should be packed with timber sole boards and levelled.
• Tower section should not freestand more than 3.0m above last tie.
• Towers should be braced irrespective of their height.
• Towers should be tied in with lateral braces (ties) no more than 6.0m apart.
• Horizontal clearance between the edge of the moving platform and any landing or slab
25mm to 100mm
• The overrun clearance between the attachment of the hoist rope to the platform and the
head sheave on the tower should be not less than 1.5m while the moving platform is at the
highest level. A top limit hoisting device that disengages the drive mechanism should be
fitted at this level.
• 8mm F.S.W.R. min
 CANTILEVER BUILDERS HOISTS (Cont’d)

• Ensure the area at the base of the tower is effectively guarded with suitable
material secured in position at a height of 1.0m above the moving platform
and set back min. 800mm from the edge of the platform.
• Effective overhead protection should be provided for the hoist driver.
• W.L.L. should be clearly marked on the platform.
• A notice stating that:-

PERSONS ARE PROHIBITED FROM

RIDING ON THE PLATFORM

Min. lettering = 75mm

• Min. height of gate on landing = 1.8m

• Max. only up to 11.0m then get approval.
 INDUSTRIAL SAFETY NET

SAFETY
x FITTINGS x SAFETY
NET
SAFETY
NET x

SPUR
SAFETY
x FITTINGS

x
SAFETY
FITTINGS

* Min. horizontal fall distance on an Outrigged Safety Net

= 2/5 or 40% of the fall height + 2.0m.
* Max. gap allowed between scaffold and net = 200mm.
* Max. spacing for ties to hold net = 750mm apart.
* Max. mesh hole size = 100mm x 100mm.
* Min. and max. sag allowed in net = ¼ 1/5 of the shortest side.
* Min. ground clearance between net and the ground
= 2/3 of the shortest side 2.0m.
* Max. fall distances that will be marked on safety net
= between 1.0m or 6.0m.
FLEX. STEEL WIRE ROPE (F.S.W.R.)

* NOTE:- In rigging, F.S.W.R. safety factor is 1/5 of the

breaking load (5).

In scaffolding, we use a factor of (6) eg. 1/6 of the

breaking load.
* Rule of Thumb:- If it does not have a test certificate or
W.L.L sign or tag
W.L.L = 7.5 x (Diameter in mm2) = kg
eg. For a rope with a diameter of 12mm
W.L.L 7.5 x 12 x 12 = 1080kg

* To select the smallest diameter of rope needed to support

known load, use this formula:-
Diameter = [(Load in kg) –.. 7.5mm]
eg = 750kg
D = (750 –.. 7.5)
= 100
= 10mm = Rope diameter
 TO FIND LIVE LOAD
To calculate the portion of Duty Live Load transmitted to standards.
* NOTE:- This is achieved by:
- Dividing the duty live load by 3.
- Multiply the answer by the number of working
bays supported by a standard.

Eg:-
STANDARD [“A”]
Heavy Duty: 675kg –.. 3 = 225kg x 2 = 450kg
Med. Duty: 450kg –.. 3 = 150kg x 2 = 300kg
Light Duty: 225kg –.. 3 = 75kg x 2 = 150kg

STANDARD [“B”]
Heavy Duty: 675kg –.. 3 = 225kg x 1 = 225kg
Med. Duty: 450kg –.. 3 = 150kg x 1 = 150kg
Light Duty: 225kg –.. 3 = 75kg x 1 = 75kg

ADD DEAD LOAD + LIVE LOAD

 LOAD BEARING

LOAD ON SOLE BOARD

To calculate the load distributed over a surface area:-
* Step 1:- Add the dead load (standard) and the live load
to determine the total load carried by the base
plate.
* Step 2:- Divide by the ground bearing pressure (kg/m2).
* Step 3:- The result is then divided by the width of sole
board = metres.

.
.. The correct length of sole board =
Dead Load + Live Load
–.. Ground Bearing Pressure
–.. Width of Sole Board
= Answer (round up to nearest 10mm)
 DEAD LOAD
STANDARD “A” & “B”

COMPONENTS SIZE WEIGHT % “A” WT. “B” WT.

STANDARDS 3.0 18kg 100% 1 18kg 1 18kg
LEDGERS 2.4 10kg 50% 8 40kg 4 20kg
TRANSOMS 1.2 8kg 50% 2 8kg 4 16kg
BRACES 3.6 17kg 50% 1 8.5kg 1 8.5kg
BRACES 2.0 10kg 50% 0 0 1 5kg
BOARDS 2.4 20kg 25% 10 50kg 5 25kg

SCREW JACK 750mm 7kg 100% 1 7kg 1 7kg

“A” “B”