A scaffold is usually within a few inches of the building, except where breaks in the wall of the erection occur, so that rails and edge boards are not usually necessary on the inside of the platform.
In allowing a reasonable distance on each side of a ladder, consideration must be given not only for the landing of workmen but also for material being carried; 4 or 5 feet should be sufficient.
2. All bridging runs between different portions of a scaffold or building, and from which a workman could fall a distance of more than 8 feet, should be not less than 18 inches wide. If composed of two or more boards they should be fastened together in such a manner as to prevent unequal sagging.
The word ‘bridging’ is used to differentiate from those runs which are continuously supported along the top of a wall or in other ways. Some discretion should be used as to the prevention of unequal sagging. If the runs have frequent supports, say every 3 feet, the sagging would be so slight as to be negligible. Where necessary, in lieu of a properly constructed gangway, wooden straps screwed on the under side and at right angles to the run would be satisfactory.
3. Scaffold boards forming part of a working platform or run should be carried at each end by a putlog or similar support and should not project more than 6 inches beyond it unless lapped by other boards which should rest partly on or over the same putlog and partly upon putlogs other than those upon which the supported board rests.
Always providing:—That this suggestion should not apply to any projection at the ends of the working platform and similar places effectively guarded.
This suggestion is intended to prevent the formation of traps, that is: boards so laid upon the putlogs that they would tilt under pressure. Traps are the cause of accidents from which the victims have little chance of escape, for when on a platform it is not easy to ascertain how the platform is supported. Also, it must be remembered that workmen do not always note the position of the putlogs which support them. Even when originally well laid, boards often lose their position unless they are butted, and this means that constant supervision should be given to their position by the scaffolder.
When butted, the putlogs at the board ends should be within 12 inches of each other and the boards given an equal projection, otherwise they may tilt. Although this may not result in such a serious accident as when the boards lap each other, it still remains a danger to be avoided.
4. Ladders used as a means of communication in, on, or about a scaffold or building under construction or repair should rise at least 6 feet above the place they give access to.
When climbing a ladder a man’s arms are at about right angles to his body, but to land it is easier and therefore safer to raise them somewhat higher. Therefore the limit of 6 feet would be safe except to a tall man. A piece of wood or rope nailed at the top of a short ladder would however give notice that there was no higher hand hold.