Safety Precautions on Mobile Scaffolding
Mobile scaffoldings, also known as rolling towers, are practical tools for maintenance and construction. Mobile scaffolding equips construction workers with a safe, effective, portable and practically inexpensive platform.
Types of Mobile Scaffolding
The most typical kind of mobile scaffolding is a singular bay supported scaffolding tower held up by casters. Mobile scaffolding may be assembled in different ways – with tubes and coupler, fabricated frame or modular type scaffold. They can also be configured in various ways just like any supported scaffold.
However, as with the construction business, there are occupational health and safety hazards concerning scaffolding.
Requirements for Mobile Scaffolding
- Mobile scaffolding should be assembled with a cross, horizontal or diagonal braces, or any mix of these to avoid racking and secure a firm structure.
- It should be precise, flat and squared with all brace connections tightly attached.
- It casters should have positive wheel and swivel locks to avoid movement of the scaffolding when people are standing on it.
- The physical force used to move the mobile scaffold must be applied near to the base if feasible, but not more than 5 feet above the worktop.
- Construction workers must not set foot on the mobile scaffold except under specific conditions, most especially when it is being transported.
- The scaffolding platforms must not be bigger than the supporting base, except only if outrigger frames or the like are utilised to make sure it is stable.
- Wheel stems and caster must be screwed or tightened in the scaffolding legs or adjustment screws.
- Finally, mobile scaffolding should also abide by the rules for tube and clamp scaffolding requirements.
Design of Mobile Scaffolding
- Because a mobile scaffolding can’t be tied down to make sure it’s stable, its height should not exceed its base width times four. To achieve a wider base, outriggers may be utilised instead.
- At the base of the mobile scaffold, horizontal diagonal braces should be pinned in and must be present at every 21-foot intervals. In the absence of horizontal diagonal braces, fabricated decks with hooks may be used instead at the platform.
- The size, load capacity and configuration of mobile scaffolding depends on the load rating of the casters. Mobile scaffolding must be designed with the least probable number of casters. An expert engineer should be the one to design wide area mobile scaffolding.
- The platform should not go beyond the base’s footprint. That means side brackets or cantilevered platforms should not be used on a mobile scaffolding, or else it could lead to tipping.
- Before even designing a mobile scaffolding, the designer should know how and where the scaffolding is to be applied, what types of load will be put on top of it, how it will be transported, the size of the platform, and the height of the platform.
- Mobile scaffolding must only be utilised on hard flat surfaces.
- Stick to the manufacturer’s allowable load capacity for the casters, scaffolding components and platforms, together with the prescribed bracing, to secure the tower.
To know more about mobile scaffolding, do not hesitate to call Scaff Connect and we’d be glad to shed some light on the subject.