Tower Scaffolds

Question 1

What kind of work are tower scaffolds designed for?

Answer 1

Long term, heavy duty work

Question 2

What is the name of the qualification needed to qualify you as a a competant person when it comes to erecting tower scaffolds?

Answer 2

PASMA qualification
or the
Pre-fabricated Access Suppliers and Manufacturers Association

Question 3

What qualities does the planned ground for the scaffold need to have?

Four qualities

Answer 3

• Level
• Firm
• Clear
• Safe

Question 4

True or false:
All tower scaffolds are the same

Answer 4

False.
Different manufacturers will have different instructions and they should be followed to the letter.

Question 5

What should you check (regarding the components) before assembling a tower scaffold?

Two factors

Answer 5

That all parts are:
* Available
* Free from damage

Question 6

What is the distance that the castors should be adjusted to?

Answer 6

50mm

Question 7

When assembling a tower scaffold…

What is the first step?

Answer 7

Ensuring that all components are present and free from damage

Question 8

When assembling a tower scaffold…

Once all components are determined to be in good condition, which are the first components to be put together?

Answer 8

The castors need to go into the bottom sections of the structure.

Question 9

When assembling a tower scaffold…

Once the castors are in place and they are locked in all the way, how should the sections be held?

Answer 9

Vertically, allowing for easier access of the horizontal support braces.

Question 10

When assembling a tower scaffold…

When fitting the horizontal braces, how should the claws be oriented when slotting them into their places? Why is this?

Answer 10

With the claw facing outwards, to prevent the assembly from slipping.

Question 11

When assembling a tower scaffold…

Walk through the process of making the tower scaffold level.
What are other important things to note about this process?

Answer 11

To make the scaffold level, one puts a spirit level across all of the horizontal support beams and adjusting the nuts above the castor wheels until the level says it is level.

Additionally, this must be done before increasing the height of the tower and this cannot be used to increase the height of the tower, but is only used to ensure it is level.

Question 12

When assembling a mobile tower scaffold…

How does one prevent the tower scaffold from moving?

Answer 12

By engaging the brakes on the castor wheels.

Question 13

When assembling a tower scaffold…

How does one increase the height of a mobile tower scaffold?

Answer 13

By lifting the next components vertically over the spiggots and locking them into place with pins.

Question 14

When assembling a tower scaffold…

How does one secure the upper sections of the tower to the lower sections, therefore increasing stability?
Is there anything specific about how these should be installed?

Answer 14

By using diagonal braces, colour coded and longer than the horizontal pieces.

These should be installed in opposite directions from one another, ensuring that the support is balanced.

Question 15

When assembling a tower scaffold…

Which platform should be installed into the scaffold first?

Answer 15

The bottom platform, then adding platforms higher up.

Question 16

When assembling a tower scaffold…

True or false: you cannot stand up on the tower scaffold without handrails being installed.

Answer 16

True.
This is unsafe.

Question 17

When assembling a tower scaffold…

Where should the trapdoor be placed when installing platforms inside the tower scaffold?

Answer 17

On the ladder side

Question 18

When assembling a tower scaffold…

Why must you never climb a tower scaffold from the outside?
Also, why must you never stand on the horizontal braces?

Answer 18

Because the tower could topple over, all forces applied to the tower should come from the inside.

Secondly, the horizontal braces are not designed to take the weight of a human, and could be warped, reducing structural integrity.

Question 19

When assembling a tower scaffold…

Where should the intermediate rail be placed?

Answer 19

In between the handrail at the top of the structure and the working platform.

Question 20

When assembling a tower scaffold…

True or false:
You can work on a scaffold if there are no toe boards present.

Answer 20

False.
You muppet.

Question 21

What are the two other kinds of scaffolds that you are likely to come across in your work?

Answer 21

• Putlog scaffold
• Independant scaffold

Question 22

What are the questions you should ask yourself before starting work on a scaffold, or even climbing up the scaffold?

Answer 22

• Does it look safe?
• Are the scaffold tubes plumb and level?
• Is there a sufficient level of braces and scaffold boards?
• Are there adequate toe boards and guard rails present?
• Is it free from excessive loads? (eg. bricks)
• Is there proper access from a ladder?

Question 23

What must be checked in the boarded area of a scaffold?
Why is this important?

Answer 23

• That there aren’t any gaps between boards
• That a toe board and guard rail are fitted

It is important because this is the area in which you will be working.

Question 24

True or false:
All mobile tower scaffolds are mounted with castor wheels.

Answer 24

False.
It depends on what it is actually used for, it may have wheels or it may be a static tower with base plates.

Question 25

What is the acceptable height ratio for a scaffold in **external** or **exposed** conditions to assure maximum stability?

Answer 25

The height of the tower scaffold must be no larger than three times the base dimension. For example, if the tower has a base dimension of 2x3 metres, then the maximum height in such conditions will be 6 metres.

Question 26

What is the acceptable height ratio for a scaffold in **internal** conditions to assure maximum stability?

Answer 26

The maximum height of the tower scaffold must be 3.5 times the base dimensions of the tower. For example, if the base dimensions of the tower are 2x3 metres, the maximum height is 7 metres.

Question 27

At what height **must** a tower scaffold be fitted with guard rails and toe boards?

Answer 27

Above 2 metres.

Question 28

Between what two heights must the guardrail or 'knee rail' be fitted from the working platform on a tower scaffold? What must it consist of?

Answer 28

Between 0.4m and 0.7m above the working platform. It must consist of two horizontal beams.

Question 29

Where must the handrail be placed in relation to the working platform of a tower scaffold?

Answer 29

No more than 910mm from the working platform.

Question 30

True or false: When a tower scaffold is being used, the wheels must be locked.

Answer 30

True. Pretty obvious really.

Question 31

True or false: You can move a tower scaffold at any time, even if there are people, tools or material on there.

Answer 31

False. You...ooooo you bastard.

Question 32

What is the best ratio of base to height to provide good stability to a tower scaffold?

Answer 32

1:3

Question 33

What can be added to increase the stability of a tower scaffold? How must this be attached to the scaffold? What else must be done to these additional parts to make them safer?

Answer 33

Outriggers, to increase the stability These must be attached to all four corners of the scaffold, not just on one side. The outriggers must be marked and made clearly visible as this constitutes a trip hazard.

Question 34

Above what height must a scaffold tower be secured to the building?

Answer 34

Above 9 metres.

Question 35

What is the maximum height that a standard scaffold tower can be built?

Answer 35

12 metres. Any higher than this and it will require towers specifically designed for this purpose.

Question 36

What might you need from the local authourity if you were to erect a scaffold on the pavement?

Answer 36

A pavement license.