The use of damaged or sub-standard timber scaffold boards could cause serious accidents on construction sites, the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) is warning.
The regulator recommends that only boards manufactured to the BS 2482:2009 standard should be used and that all boards should be: undamaged; cleaned prior to inspection; inspected before use, and regularly thereafter; stored and stacked to allow for ventilation — preferably under cover and clear of the ground; and checked in both directions, if machine tested.
Scaffold boards manufactured to BS 2482:2009 can be identified by markings on the end bands, as follows:
Failure of a new board graded to this standard is unlikely when first used, says the HSENI — however, all scaffold boards must be checked regularly for damage, rot, or other defects that could reduce their strength.
BS 2428 provides guidance and limits on the acceptability of defects in scaffold boards. Damaged, or defective boards are weaker; they do not provide safe footing, and can cause injury when handle. Warning signs include: broken, or damaged end bands; loose, or broken knots; excessive cuts in the faces of boards caused by hand saws, circular saws, or angle grinders; transverse cracks caused by overloading; distortion caused by exposure to the elements; insect infestation; and fungal decay.
During site visits, HSENI inspectors find boards that look sound superficially, but which are, in fact, dangerously weakened on account of misuse. Examples of misuse include: using boards to assist vehicles over soft ground; driving vehicles over boards accidentally; using boards as ramps for wheelbarrow access; throwing, or dropping boards from heights; and overloading, or storing heavy objects on boards.
For more information, visit www.hseni.gov.uk or call 0800 0320 121.
