Posted By Des Daly With the recent cold spell in Kent I find that I have been asked at least once a day about whether our outdoor scaffolding operations should cease or continue in the icy/snowy weather. Some clients have closed their sites whilst others have tried to carry on. It seems that my stock response of ' Is it safe to work? Yes, carry on. No, then stop' always needs to be qualified. So, for example, I have been asked 'What, in my opinion is unsafe about adverse weather'. I have been patient and explained about slipping over and dropping materials etc.- but it all sounds somewhat wishy washy even to my tired old safety managers ears. I do appreciate that stopping work during the middle of an huge concrete pour may not be on and that stopping work due to weather must have an impact on a project's program, but, as it is such a tough shot to call. I thought that I would try and find out if quidelines for working outside in adverse weather exist. Can anyone through some light on this topic?

Posted By Stuart Nagle Des. I think there are provision in the Construction (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations that may affect the situation. 1) Reg 24(2): 'Every place of work outdoors shall, where necessary to ensure the the health and safety of persons at work there, be so arranged that, so far as is reasonably practicable and having regard to the purpose for which that place is used and any protective clothing or equipment provided for the use of any person at work there, it provides protection from adverse weather'. This would seem to suggest that a scaffold should protectedfrom, so far as is reasoably practicable, advesre weather conditions, and 2) Schedule 2 Safety on working platforms (5)(d) 'be so erected and used, and maintained in such condition, as to prevent, so far as is reasonably practicable, (i) the risk of slipping and tripping; or (etc) This would appear to identify that slipping and tripping hazards (that could include snow and ice etc) should be removed, so far as is reasonably practicable, to prebvent slipping an tripping (although snow and ice are not specifically identified, nor are other hazards here!!) - reasonable foreseeablilty would appear to be the crux.... Taken together, scaffold protected from the weather if reasonably practicable, and snow and ice slip etc hazards identified prior to work and removed so far as reasonably practicable (maintained in a safe condition), which would appear to suggest that pre-stift/work inspection (although scaffold inspection not required except as prescribed) this would more of a workplace - safe to set to work inspection.... Stuart