Posted By Andrew Shaw
I've visited a couple of our sites recently where we're carrying out our re-fit work and noticed that the Air-Con contractor is using mobile scaffolds that only have a handrail on one side.

When I asked them about this, the response was "that is how they came from the Hire Shop" which was HSS. I asked our site foreman to call HSS - he did and it turned out to be true. These scaffolds only come with one hand rail.

Has anyone else noticed this ???

Surely this significantly reduces the benefit of using scaffold instead of a ladder.

All I can think is that these scaffolds are supposed to be used whilst working up against a solid wall where only a rear hand rail would be required.

I'm minded to put a stop to it and insist all mobile scaffolds have handrails front and back.

Any thoughts ?

Posted By thesafetyconsultancy.com
Most definately, clear them off site.

Contact HSS, they are a good company in my past dealings and they will send you the other gurad rails.

But must be fully guarded with toeboards.

Regards

Posted By Crim
I attended a meeting yesterday with two HSE inspectors who recently visited a site and saw a member of the workforce working on a tower scaffold with no edge protection at all.

The individual was also required to attend the meeting and has been formally written to with a warning that any further breach of sec. 7 he will be liable to prosecution.

The company had been issued a P N immediately on site.

Does that answer your question?

Posted By A Thomas
I'm a Health and Safety Advisor for HSS and I'd like to reassure you that we take our safety responsibilities very seriously (which is why we are still the only tool and equipment company with a 4 star British Safety award) and we would not supply equipment that was not compliant or without the necessary operating instructions.

ALL towers from HSS are supplied with the correct components to make them compliant with the 2005 Working at Height Regulations and the PASMA approved 3T erection method. All our access systems are supplied with sufficient braces to provide 4 handrails for the working platform, as is required. If there are not sufficient braces, it may well be that the tower has not been erected correctly or completely. We would also always happily provide a reasonable number of additional braces if a customer required additional safety measures.

All HSS equipment is supplied with a corresponding ‘Operating and Safety Guide’ and we can provide 3T/PASMA training if a customer is not competently trained.