Scaffold Tower Maintenance
Any scaffolding structure or scaffolding tower must be checked regularly to ensure that it is always in good condition. Safety comes first on a construction site so not only must the workers always be wearing appropriate gear, the scaffolding structure too must fulfil all safety and maintenance requirements. For example, it is of the utmost importance to report any fault or deficiency, however minor, to the authorities concerned.
Scaffold Tower Safety
Before selling or purchasing a scaffolding tower, the structure must be subject to product safety testing and certification by companies such a the Underwriters Laboratory Inc. in Northbrook, Illinois or, more generally, the OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration, in the United States) or the EU-OSHA (European Agency for Safety and Health at Work). Companies such as these are independent, third party companies which focus on testing products, materials, components, tools and equipments for their safety.
Safety Certification
Once a structure has passed the tests it will be rewarded with a sticker or a label signalling this achievement. From time to time it may happen that maintenance department officers will come by and check a scaffold structure for its safety standard, the first thing they will look for is this certification sticker so it is really important for a scaffolding tower seller to obtain this sticker.
Scaffolding Regulations
Until the tower is purchased it is the producer's or seller's responsibility to ensure that it is in good condition and complies with all updated regulations. Once it is bought or rented, it becomes the purchaser's task to ensure not only that the scaffold is used properly but also that it is maintained in accordance with regulations valid for that country.
Scaffolds must rest upon suitable footing when in use. They must have guardrails installed at all open sides and ends of the scaffolds. Bearings should be replaced regularly to ensure that all equipment always performs to ones satisfaction. The planking used need not be officially classified as scaffold planking but must be of similar quality. Rust must be removed regularly, bolts and screws always pulled tight etc. These are a few things that one should look out for generally in the maintenance of all scaffolds generally.
Mobile Scaffold Towers
If, however one is dealing with mobile scaffold towers it is important to also note a few additional points such as the following: adequate provision must be made to stabilize the mobile tower scaffold structure while this is being moved from one location to another, and a ladder or stairway must be attached to or built into the scaffold in such a manner that the structure will not be at risk of tipping over. The casters upon which a mobile scaffold is built must have functioning locking installed to hold the scaffold in place. The entire tower must be braced properly by horizontal and cross bracing and all brace connections must be correctly secured. The structure, if it is free-standing, must be restricted in height to four times the minimum base dimension.
It is of utter importance that these points are taken seriously as a failure to do so could result in fatal injuries or incidents.