Scaffolding Method Statement

Below is a precise method statement for scaffolding installation for any kind of project.

The following method statement is written to provide a safe and efficient system of work for the installation of general working scaffold to all areas of construction sites within the project.

It will also cover all scaffold adaption’s to general scaffold and any safety and maintenance checks to be held under current legislation.

Prequalification documents are submitted for scaffolding materials to consultant and approved by consultant. Design calculations of scaffolding are also submitted for approvals.

All operatives shall be provided with personnel protective equipment (PPE) and it shall be worn at all times during site working hours.

Hard hats safety boots/shoes and company safety jackets/ overalls shall be worn at all times.

Additional equipment such as safety harnesses, gloves, goggles, dust masks, ear mufflers as necessary shall also be provided and shall be used when and where necessary.

The Contractor is solely responsible for the on site safety and in this respect he shall deploy qualified personnel to maintain and adhere to safety standards and construction regulations where applicable.

Roles and Responsibilities

The responsibilities and authorities of Project personnel shall be assigned as per the project requirements. The Site construction activities shall be headed by the Project in charge.

Project in Charge / Manager shall be responsible for the overall arrangement and erection of scaffolding works.

Project Engineer / Section Engineer/Site Engineer shall be responsible to engage trained and certified scaffolder and ensure safety measures and use of PPE, also responsible to check scaffoldings are being erected as per drawing.

Scaffolding inspector is responsible for scaffolding inspection and maintenance. He will check the scaffolding and give approval by installing scaff tag (green tag). Scaffolding shall be inspected by inspector in every seventh day and shall be signed on the scaff tag.

HSE Engineer / Safety Officer (SO) shall be responsible for the on site safety implementation at all times and shall carry out daily inspections including inspections on plant, trained personnel, and report to the Project in charge.

Scaffolding Erection Procedure

Ensure the following tasks are carried out prior to the erection of the scaffold:

  • Establish whether the person’s erecting the scaffold require a certificate of competency.
  • Identify risks and hazards,
  • Take appropriate precautionary measures and install necessary barricading etc.

Basing out the scaffold

Each erector will require a “Kwikstage type” hammer, a scaffold “key”, a one meter ruler, a small magnetic spirit level and a leather belt and “frogs” to carry these tools.

Level the ground and/or clear the area on which the scaffold is to be erected of any debris

Determine the point at which to start building the scaffold (placement of the first standard). This will be normally at the high point of the slope.

Place a sole board on the ground ensuring that it bears evenly along its full length.

Place an adjustable base jack (jack) on the sole board.

Place a standard 3000 (vertical member) on the jack. This is the 1 st  “standard”. (An “inside” standard.)

While one person holds the first standard upright a second member of the crew lays a transom (platform support) at 90 degrees to the building from the base of the 1 st  standard

The second person then places a jack and 3000 standard on the sole board. This is the 2 nd “Standard”. (An “Outside” Standard).

While one person holds the two standards erect (one standard in each hand) the second person places the transom into the “v” pressing (connection point) on the inside of each standard to create an “H” type arrangement.

The second person then places a ledger (Horizontal spacing member) into the “v” pressing of each standard at 90 degrees to the transom.

Using a suitable hammer, the second person can now, firmly but without excessive force, knock the wedges on the ledgers and transoms into the “v” pressings of the first two  standards.

You now have an “L” shaped configuration that, once the wedges have been knocked in, will support itself if laid over onto the ends of the ledgers.

Repeat above steps to create a second “H” type arrangement. The inside standard is 3000 (the 3rd  standard); the outside standard is 3000 (the 4 th standard).

While one person holds the standards plumb the second person carefully raises the ends of each ledger and locates them in the appropriate “v” pressing on the second set of standards (“H” type arrangement).

It should be noted that this procedure is much easier and therefore safer using a third person in the crew.

Knock the wedges of the ledgers firmly into the “v” pressings on the standards.

Place a spirit level on the first transom and wind the second jack up or down until the transom is level.

Place the spirit level on the inside of the ledger and wind the third jack up or down until it is level.

Place the spirit level on the second transom and wind the fourth jack up or down until it is level.

You have erected now one “bay” of scaffold – (The rectangular area between 4 adjacent standards).

Make sure the “bay” is parallel to the structure and is “square” –  adjust as required.

Scaffold Lift Installation

Place the second transom between 1 st   and 2nd   and the 3rd   and 4th standards 1.5 meter above the lower set of transoms.

Place a second ledger between the 1 st   and 3rd   standards and 2nd   and 4th standards 1.5 meter apart, i.e. at the same level as the upper and second set of transoms.

You have now erected the first “lift” of scaffold –   a lift is the area between 2 vertically adjacent rows of transoms and ledgers.

The effective top working platform is 2 meter above the supporting surface.

The working platform is created by placing a platform on and between the second set of transoms.

A double handrail (guardrail) should be fixed to the standards on any side of the working platform from which a person could fall.

A toe board (kick board) must be fitted immediately underneath all handrails using toe clip boards or some other suitable means of fixing.

Repeat steps above as required to base out the complete area to be scaffold.

Increasing the height of scaffold

The erectors carrying out this procedure should hold a current scaffold certificate and be properly trained and supervised.

During the erection process the erectors must observe and adhere to the following key points.

All lifts to be decked and complete with toe boards and double handrails, these to be left in position for the lifetime of the scaffold.

They must access each working platform from a properly constructed access.Scaffolding Method Statement

They must raise and lower materials using a “Rope & Wheel” or by the manual handling method known as the “handballing”. Whichever method is used erectors must at all times work from a minimum of a decked working platform which has a handrail on all sides.

“Splice” a 2000 meter standard on top of all existing standards of the scaffold.

If it is intended to extend the height of the scaffold more than on 2 meter lift it is recommended that 3000 meter standards are used.

Fix ledgers and transoms in the “v” pressings 2 meter above the existing working platform to create the next 2 meter lift.

A diagonal cross brace shall be fixed as mentioned in the drawing.

The height of the scaffold is to extended as required the procedure outlined shall be repeated ensuring that the bracing and ties are secured at the appropriate phase of the erection process.

Work shall be proceeded (reinforcement and shuttering) after certifying scaffold by scaffolding inspector (green scaff tag to be placed).

Scaffolding shall be inspected every seventh day and signed by scaffolding inspector.

Dismantling of Scaffolding

Dismantling of the scaffold shall be in the reverse of the erection procedure above.

GENERAL SAFETY ISSUES

Staff should wear correctly PPE and enter the site.

Operators must have valid certificate for proper equipment operation.

Operators must maintain daily equipment complying with operation requirement.

Barriers / earth bund to be arranged to separate the working place and prevent accident.

Regular safety checks will be performed to eliminate all potential hazards and to conform to safety regulations.

Emergency contact should be informed to all staff before the start of work.

Work place should be checked by the engineer before working in any high-risk areas or the carrying out of high-risk operations such as hot work or working confined space.

The site shall always be kept in clean condition, rubbish and waste materials shall be frequently and regularly removed off the site.

Adequate number of rubbish collectors or designated areas shall be provided for waste disposal.

Materials shall be stacked safely and securely.

Plant, equipment and material shall be positioned as far as possible in order not to cause obstruction to the site accesses.


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