SCAFFOLD INSTALLATION

AUSTRALIAN SCAFFOLDS are  scaffolding  contractors supplying and erecting  scaffolding throughout Sydney, NSW. Australian Scaffolds supply and erect scaffold equipment, scaffold towers, access bridge scaffolds, gantry’s, loading towers and platforms, crash decks, internal birdcages and cantilever scaffolds.

We have a team of experienced qualified scaffolder's ready to take on your next job. From one wall to a whole house, we can do it all. All our scaffold products are manufactured to conform to Australian Safety Standards. Our experienced estimator can visit the site, take measurements and see what is the best solution to suit the needs of your project.

We are interested in developing long term relationships with clients and has the experience, knowledge, technical backup and service support of a customer focused organisation.

Design, Supply & Erection * Maintenance Contracts * Pumping stations * Protection & Safety Screening * Staircases

Walkways * Towers * Full Public Liability Insurance * 24 Hour Service

10 points to consider before you employ a scaffolder

1. Have you allowed for your scaffolding costs in your contract price ?

If you quote the job without considering the types of scaffolds and the quantities of scaffolding equipment you need to do the work safely and legally, you could lose big money when WorkCover makes you provide the necessary scaffolding.

2. Are your scaffolder's properly certificated ?

You must make certain that anyone constructing, or directly supervising the workers constructing any scaffold from which a person or materials could fall more than 4 metres, has a valid certificate of competency appropriate to that type of scaffold. This also applies to any alterations to the scaffold or dismantling of the scaffold. Insist that the scaffolder's show you their certificates. Keep an up-to-date site register of certificate holders.

3. Is the scaffold strong enough for the loads ?

Bricklayers, stonemasons, concreters and demolition workers need heavy duty scaffolds which can safely support up to 675 kg per platform per bay. Carpenters and general trades may need at least medium duty scaffolds which can safely support up to 450 kg per platform per bay. Light duty scaffolds are limited to 225 kg per platform per bay. In estimating loads on scaffold platforms, a person is assumed to weigh 80 kg. Check the supplier's information for the type of scaffolding systems you are using.

4. Is the scaffold stable?

Scaffolds can collapse if they are built on soft ground without timber sole plates to properly distribute the load, if they are too close to trenches or excavations, if they are not properly braced and tied to the supporting structure, or if they are badly out of level.

5. Does the scaffold protect the workers and other people ?

Planks should be genuine scaffold planks in good condition, of uniform thickness (to prevent trip hazards) and secured against uplift. Platforms should be fully decked across their full width and free of gaps. All platforms higher than 2 metres should have guardrails, mid rails and toe boards (or brick guards) fixed to each open side and end. Where debris from the work can cause danger, it may be necessary to sheet the scaffold in shade cloth. Never use hessian because it can very easily catch fire.

6. Is there safe access to every scaffold platform ?

Properly constructed temporary stairways or ladder access is needed to all working platforms. Climbing up and down the scaffold framework is very dangerous. Ladders should be securely fixed to prevent movement, pitched at a gradient not less than 1 in 4 nor more than 1 in 6, and they should extend at least 900 mm above the platform so they can be safely climbed.

7. Are scaffolds a safe distance from power lines?

No part of a metal scaffold should be closer than 4.6 metres horizontally or 5.0 metres vertically from any live power lines.

8. Are your scaffolder's working safely ?

While it is under construction, the scaffold should be isolated from other workers and the general public. Scaffolders' tools should be stowed in holders on their scaffold belt. Scaffolders should work from a full deck of planks whenever possible. They should fix a guardrail for their own protection as they go, leaving it in place until that part of the scaffold is dismantled. Scaffolder's working underneath should wear safety helmets. On large jobs, they should have the scaffolding equipment crane lifted, or they should use a winch or gin wheel to reduce manual handling risks.

9. Are your scaffold users working safely ?

Workers must use the scaffold safely. They must not overload the platforms or store material in a dangerous way where it could be knocked off the scaffold. Clear access should be maintained along the full length of platforms. They should not climb on guardrails to get extra height. They should not make the scaffold unsafe by removing planks, ties or guardrails.

10. Are your scaffolds being regularly inspected?

You must not allow work to start from a scaffold until the construction of the scaffold is complete. Get the scaffolder in charge of the work to fill in a handover certificate and keep it on site until the scaffold has been dismantled. Make sure a certificated scaffolder or other competent person inspects all alterations or additions to the scaffold. Have a thorough inspection done at least every month and keep a copy of the inspection record on site. Get any necessary repairs to the scaffold done before it is put back into use.