Preparing for Use
SWP 2. Determine Use and Loading Characteristics
Intended Use
Knowing a scaffold's intended use
is critical to its design and construction. By design,
marine hanging staging is a temporary elevated platform
that supports workers and their tools.
Assess aspects of staging use before installation.
Photo courtesy of OSHA.
|
 |
Marine hanging
staging is not intended to support materials
such as plate or pipe. |
A marine hanging scaffold might be
installed by one contractor, such as a painting contractor
who will perform blasting and coating, but will first be used by another employer, such as a contractor
repairing a hull prior to blasting and coating.
Erecting
this type of scaffolding to safely accomplish more
than one kind of work requires careful planning and
clearly defined roles and responsibilities.
Loading Characteristics
Fundamental to determining the loading
characteristics of any scaffold is its material makeup
and the manner in which it is constructed.
|
|
Marine
hanging staging must be capable of supporting
its own weight (the dead load) and at least four
times the "maximum intended load"-the
sum of the weight of persons occupying the scaffold
and equipment to be placed on the scaffold. In
other words, the staging must have a "safety
factor" not less than four (4) [29
CFR Part 1915.71(b)(1)]. Wire rope used for
suspending scaffolds must have a safety factor
not less than six (6) [ANSI A10.8-2001]. |
Using accepted engineering principles
and field tests, Virginia shipyard employers (i.e.,
Members of the Virginia Ship Repair Association, Inc.,
or VSRA) have determined that this type of marine hanging
staging is a suitable support for two workers and their
tools, or 500 pounds per platform
level, provided the staging does not exceed seven (7)
tiers (platform levels) in height.
|
An engineering analysis should be conducted for situations where staging will exceed seven tiers. |
 
|
