Occupational Health and Safety Act, 1993 (Act No. 85 of 1993)RegulationsGeneral Safety Regulations, 198613D. Scaffold framework |
| 1) | An employer shall ensure that— |
| a) | Scaffold standards are properly propped against displacement and are secured vertically on firm foundations: Provided that putlog scaffolds shall incline slightly towards the structure; |
| b) |
| i) | steel scaffold standards with 'heavy', 'medium', 'light', or 'very light', platform loadings which shall not exceed 320, 240, 160 and 80 kg/m2 respectively, are spaced not more than 1.8 m, 2 m, 2.5 m and 3 m apart, respectively; and |
| ii) | wooden scaffold standards are spaced not more than 3 m apart; |
| c) | ladders are spaced vertically not more than 2.1 m apart; |
| d) | putlogs or transoms— |
| i) | which do not support a platform, are spaced at the same distances as the distances prescribed in paragraph (b) in respect of scaffold standards. |
| ii) | which support a platform, are spaced not more than 1.25 m apart if the platform is constructed of solid timber boards; and |
| e) | every part of a wooden scaffold frame has a diameter of at least 75 mm or a section of similar strength. |
| 2) | No employer shall use a scaffold, or permit it to be used unless it— |
| a) | is securely and effectively braced to ensure stability in all directions; |
| b) | is secured at suitable vertical and horizontal distances to the structure to which work is being done, unless it is designed to be completely free-standing; |
| c) | is so constructed that it has a throughout factor of safety of at least two; and |
| d) | is inspected at least once a week and every time after bad weather by a person who has adequate experience in the erection and maintenance of scaffolds, and all findings are recorded in a register or report book. |
| 3) | No employer shall require or permit that— |
| a) | a scaffold with a supporting wooden framework exceeds a height of 10m; and |
| b) | a scaffold is erected, altered or dismantled by or under the supervision of a person other than a person who has had the necessary training and experience of such work and who has been appointed by the employer in writing for this purpose. |