Erecting and dismantling tower scaffolds

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Level 2 Diploma in Painting and Decorating
PowerPoint
presentation
Unit 220: Erecting and dismantling access
equipment and working platforms
Erecting and dismantling tower scaffolds

2. © 2013 City and Guilds of London Institute. All rights reserved.
Level 2 Diploma in Painting and Decorating
Online resource (HSE website):
www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/cis10.pdf
• An assessment must be undertaken before starting any work at
height (requirement of Work at Height Regulations 2005).
• If there is no alternative to working at height, suitable work equipment
must be selected, taking into account the nature of the work.
Regulation

3. © 2013 City and Guilds of London Institute. All rights reserved.
Level 2 Diploma in Painting and Decorating
• Mobile access towers are widely used and can provide an
effective and safe means of gaining access to work at height.
• Inappropriate erection and misuse of towers are the cause of
numerous accidents each year.
• Aluminium and thin-wall steel towers are light and can easily
overturn if used incorrectly.
Risks

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Level 2 Diploma in Painting and Decorating
• All parts must be in place to ensure
adequate strength.
• Towers can collapse if sections are left out.
• Before selecting or specifying a tower, you
must be satisfied that it is the most suitable
item of equipment for the job.
Risks

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Level 2 Diploma in Painting and Decorating
Many types of mobile access towers are available.
Erecting a tower

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Level 2 Diploma in Painting and Decorating
• Towers should be erected following a safe method of work.
• The manufacturer or supplier has a duty to provide an instruction
manual explaining the erection sequence, including any bracing
requirements.
• If the tower has been hired, the hirer has a duty to provide this
information to the person erecting the tower.
Erecting a tower

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Level 2 Diploma in Painting and Decorating
There are two approved methods:
Method 1:
• An advance guard rail system uses specially designed temporary
guard rail units, locked in place from the level below and moved up to the
platform level.
• These will stop the user from falling, and are in place before they fit the
permanent guard rails.
• Gradually fitting guard rails from a protected area at a lower level means
the user is never working on an unguarded platform.
Methods for erecting a tower

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Level 2 Diploma in Painting and Decorating
Method 1: advance guard rail

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Level 2 Diploma in Painting and Decorating
Method 2:
The through-the-trap (3T) method allows the person erecting the tower
to install guard rails to the next level from a low-risk position.
• The operator works from the trap door of the platform, from where they
can add or remove the components which act as the guard rails on the
level 1 above the platform.
• The operative never stands on an unguarded platform, but installs the
components to a particular level while positioned within the trap door of
that level.
Methods for erecting a tower

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Level 2 Diploma in Painting and Decorating
Method 2: 3T

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Level 2 Diploma in Painting and Decorating
Remember…
Stability
Make sure the tower is resting on
firm, level ground with the locked
castors or base plates properly
supported.
Never use bricks or building
blocks to take the weight of any
part of the tower.
Always check the safe
working height by referring to
the instruction manual.
Towers should never be erected to
heights above those recommended
by the manufacturer.

12. © 2013 City and Guilds of London Institute. All rights reserved.
Level 2 Diploma in Painting and Decorating
Unless the tower has been specifically designed for such use, avoid:
• sheeting or exposure to strong winds
• loading with heavy equipment
• using the tower to hoist materials or support rubbish chutes.
Remember…

13. © 2013 City and Guilds of London Institute. All rights reserved.
Level 2 Diploma in Painting and Decorating
Using the tower
• Ensure there is a safe way to get to and from the work platform.
• This must be on the inside of the tower by an appropriately designed
built-in ladder.
• It is not safe to climb up the rungs on the end frames unless the rungs
have been specifically designed for the purpose of getting to and from
the working platform.
• There is rung spacing of between 230mm and 300mm and an anti-slip
surface.
• If you are in doubt, consult the instruction manual.
.

14. © 2013 City and Guilds of London Institute. All rights reserved.
Level 2 Diploma in Painting and Decorating
• as a support for ladders, trestles or other access equipment
• in weather conditions which are likely to make it unstable
• with broken or missing parts
• with incompatible components.
Never use a tower…

15. © 2013 City and Guilds of London Institute. All rights reserved.
Level 2 Diploma in Painting and Decorating
• reduce the height to a maximum of 4m
• check there are no power lines or other obstructions overhead
• check that the ground is firm, level and free from potholes
• push or pull using manual effort from the base only – never use
powered vehicles
• never move it while there are people or materials on the tower
• never move it in windy conditions.
When moving a tower…

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Level 2 Diploma in Painting and Decorating
Any questions?