We have all driven past a construction site and seen workers precariously perched on scaffolding swaying in the wind and held our breath on their behalf. And anyone who lives in Johannesburg has marvelled at the complex scaffolding that has marked the landscape since the construction of the Gautrain began in earnest. But how many of us have even wondered how many people get the necessary training to erect and work with scaffolding? I had never really thought about it too much until last month when a friend of mine who owns a construction company landed a huge contract but needed to send his workers for scaffolding training before they would be able to work on the project. He asked me to help him find out how and where he could send them for top quality scaffolding training and I willingly agreed to help as I was in between contracts at the time and I had a training background, which I thought might come in useful, although I knew virtually nothing about scaffolding.
After doing a little bit of research I learned very quickly that there seems to be a dire shortage of both scaffolding workers that have undergone the appropriate training and of scaffolding training facilities that focus on this field across the country. A lot of major construction companies bring in a scaffolding training expert or company from abroad to train their workers on site, but this is obviously a very costly option. I also, during this research, read of numerous accidents on building sites and infrastructure projects that have been caused by workers not having been given the correct scaffolding training, suggesting that this is a serious shortcoming in the market. Scaffolding is an intrinsically high risk occupation and to send workers out without the necessary training is not only unethical, but highly dangerous. Further, there is legislation in place to regulate scaffolding practices, and companies that fail to provide workers with the correct training could face some serious penalties especially in the event of a death in the course of duty where the company is unable to prove that the correct and accredited scaffolding training was provided to the deceased.
I managed to find a few institutions that specialize in scaffolding training and, besides a very good introductory course that should be completed by anyone who even works in the vicinity of scaffolding, there are two courses that provide training in the erection and dismantling of scaffolding that seem to cover all the necessary elements. The first course teaches people how to build and dismantle an independent tied scaffold; a putlog scaffold; a static and mobile tower; a birdcage scaffold; a system scaffold; an interlocking frame scaffold; a protective fan; and a rubbish chute. At the next level of training in building and dismantling scaffolding people are taught how to interpret drawings; all about height restrictions, classifications, usage and safety factors; as well as design and calculations requirements for access scaffolding. In additon traiining is given in building and dismantling a pavement gantry; a circular scaffold; a cantilever platform; an aluminium tower;; a bridge scaffold; a hanging scaffold; and a barrow ramp.
Given the risks involved in scaffolding work a scaffolding training course such as this seems like a small investment to make in the interests of workers and employers. It will protect not only the safety of the workers but the reputation of the company.
View the original article here
No comments:
Post a Comment