What is Bamboo Scaffolding?

Bamboo scaffolding is a type of scaffolding made from bamboo and is used extensively across the world, particularly in Hong Kong. It is renowned for its strength, flexibility and innovative prospects, and has proved to be a beneficial alternative to steel.

For some countries, bamboo scaffolding is relied upon as a resource to be used within construction projects. Countries that have tropical climates harvest the bamboo as it can grow strong and quick to be used as scaffolding material. Hong Kong has supported the forward-thinking ‘up-cycling’ approach in using bamboo scaffolding, which will help to avoid unnecessary landfill.

Strength and Durability

Bamboo scaffolding is extremely strong and resilient. It has a tensile strength of 28,000 per square inch, in comparison to steel which is 23,000 per square inch. (Which is the preferred material in westernised countries.) Bamboo could be grown in western countries as a replacement for steel and a way of forward-thinking within construction, as it is an eco-friendly material. It is the strength and durability that makes bamboo scaffolding a success in the construction industry and why it has helped to build so many modern structures across the world.

Cost and Time

Bamboo scaffolding is cheap to resource in places such as Hong Kong as it is available and grown locally. Despite this material being light-weight, its durability proves otherwise and has a strength-weight ratio that is far greater than steel, due to the material being lighter to construct than steel, bamboo scaffolding can be assembled faster and more efficiently compared to steel, being 6-times quicker to erect and 12 times quicker to take down.

Safer

Although scaffolding, in general, could be up there as one of the most dangerous jobs (if your company doesn’t have the safest and up-to-date safety measures) Bamboo scaffolding could be less dangerous than steel scaffolding, due to it causing less damage if a pole was to slip and fall, as iron rods could cause more damage than lighter materials. Bamboo scaffolding has also proved to be safer for countries and regions that are prone to earthquakes as they’re light-weight but durable.

Contact

For more information on scaffolding, and the services Safeway Scaffolding have to offer, please feel free to get in touch with our friendly team by filling out an online enquiry form, or giving us a call today on 01675 465593

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Construction Hazards In The Summer

Safeway Scaffolding encourages safety measures and protection all year around, whatever the month or weather may be. However, we have sectioned these safety measures into segments that will be seasonally appropriate for you to follow. Whilst the winter brings the dreaded dark and icy conditions, the summer can be just as problematic for working in scorching conditions that can be restricting and a danger to your health. Let’s explore the potential construction hazards there are within the summer months within the scaffolding industry and know how to stay safe when working in these conditions.

Sun Exposure

Sun exposure may be the most obvious, however, the most dangerous construction hazards that you need to be aware of, and keep yourself protected by the sun’s UV rays. Sunburn has been recorded to be the highest complaint in scaffolding from workers during the summer months. Even if you are not visibly burnt, the suns UV rays can damage the skin without you realising, causing a lifetime of unhealthy skin and can result to serious consequences in the future with the possibility of skin cancer. Here at Safeway Scaffolding, we will always advise construction workers during the summer months to always wear sun cream containing at least SPF15-SPF30 that has UVB protection.

We would also advise that you wear a comfortable scaffolding helmet whilst you are working. This helps by safeguarding the head and skin as well as providing cooling protection with a breathable material that is comfortable enough to wear all day. We also provide and encourage that you wear UV eye-protection and loose-fitting clothes that can protect you as well as keeping you cool.

Hydration

Working within the scaffolding industry during the summer months can often lead to dehydration, especially on the unbearably hot and sticky days. The NHS recommends you should be drinking at least 6 to 8 glasses of water a day. However, when you’re working in the heat, we would recommend drinking up to at least 2 litres of water per day. Your construction site should be able to store bottled water, and plenty of it on the long and hot days over the summer months. Make sure you are taking regular breaks from the sun and into the shade is equally as important to avoid dehydration and headaches occurring. For more advice, read the NHS article on sunburn for more assistance.

Hand Protection

The inevitability of clammy, sweaty hands in the summer and working in scaffolding construction tends to go hand in hand with an accident. Make sure you are prepared for the sweat by wearing scaffolding protection gloves that can keep your hands cool, as well as providing protection and safety when handling tools and equipment that can slip easily. These gloves will help to provide a strong grip and are made from a lightweight material that is breathable and comfortable to wear.

Look Out For Your Team

Finally, it is important as an employer, to look out for your workers and other colleagues within your team. Make sure you all have a fair work router so the hottest point of the day is equally spread out. You need to make sure you all understand the early signs of sunstroke and be vigilant of colleagues that might be showing them as they work. Actively practising these simple and effective steps will help you and your workers to stay safe over the summer. If you think you have any other helpful suggestions, we would love to hear from you!

Contact

We hope that this has helped you understand some of the dangers and construction hazards the summer months can have on your safety when working in the scaffolding industry, and that this information has been useful. For more information on this, or our services, please call us today on 01675 465593 or fill out our simple contact form.

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Necessary training

The most important aspect of scaffolding health and safety is arguably the training that the workers in question have had. Without the necessary experience and knowledge, workers should never attempt to assemble or use scaffolds of any kind; it is absolutely essential that only qualified people attempt to put together scaffolding. The structural integrity of these constructions is the difference between remaining safe and not. If you’re in any doubt as to whether a scaffolder is qualified or not, see whether they’re accredited by organisations such as CHAS and NASC. If they are, you can be more confident they’ll do things properly.

Safety equipment

There are a number of PPE items that every scaffolder needs to ensure they wear while working on any job:

Code of practice

For a full overview of everything health and safety-related, you can read the Health and Safety Authority’s code of practice. That document provides a full overview of the appropriate (and safe) conduct on a scaffolding site.

Obviously if you’re a scaffolder yourself, these are all basic points that you should already know. If, however, you’re keen to know more about the industry then we hope we’ve given you an overview of what’s required.

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We offer bespoke scaffolding as one of our core services here at Safeway Scaffolding Limited, but why? In our latest blog post, we explain why bespoke scaffolding is so important, and why it’s necessary.

One size does not fit all

Scaffolding is tailored. It has to be. Every project is unique and, therefore, requires a unique scaffold to be assembled alongside it. Rather than trying to apply a formulaic approach to different scaffolding projects, a more tailored, considered assembly is often required.

Sure, you can use standard scaffolds for a number of residential and commercial properties, but often the shape, size, and circumstances of scaffolding projects mean that you need to adapt. Doing so can often be difficult, too. In one of our previous blog posts, we discussed the challenges of bespoke scaffolding, which really helps to underline just how different every project is.

What can go wrong

Having established that different projects require different scaffolds, it’s also important to point out what can go wrong if bespoke scaffolding isn’t used. It’s pretty obvious, but using a scaffold that isn’t right for any given structure or property will compromise its structural integrity. Doing so causes serious health and safety risks to anyone working on the site, but also threatens to damage the building itself immeasurably.

Our bespoke solutions

We pride ourselves on our bespoke scaffolding solutions here at Safeway Scaffolding Limited. We’re adept at tailoring our work to suit the unique requirements of all our customers, while our experience over many years on a great number of projects means we’re perfectly placed to deliver what’s needed.

Give us a call on 01675 465593 or fill out one of our online contact forms to find out more about our services.

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Here, we’re taking a look at 3 of the world’s most striking scaffolding projects.

Burj Khalifa

This is the tallest building in the world. The Burj Khalifa is a staggering 2 717 feet high, and has been the world’s tallest building since 2008. Need we say much more? The scaffolding required to assemble this absurdly large structure was pretty much unprecedented. In a bid to keep the world guessing when it came to the building’s final dimensions or design, the scaffolding was actually assembled as the tower grew.

The Eden Project

You want truly bespoke scaffolding? You’ve got it. In 1998, the Eden Project was constructed to help educate the public about conservation, sustainability, and how to make our world greener. To do so, 230 miles of scaffolding was required, and it wasn’t your average shape or design, either.

The nature of the construction, featuring two huge biomes, meant that an abnormal amount of reinforced scaffolding was required for the project to be successful.

Statue of Liberty

One of America’s most iconic landmarks, the Statue of LIberty was renovated in 1984. Approximately $2 million was required to assemble what was, at the time, the world’s biggest free-standing scaffold. Wrapped in this aluminium maze from head to toe, the statue’s restoration was considered a great success. Take a look for yourself at the pictures, too, as they’re pretty impressive.

Safeway Scaffolding

As we’ve said, the sort of work we carry out doesn’t really compare to that undertaken on the Burj Khalifa. It does, however, still cater to our customers’ every requirement. For more information on our bespoke scaffolding solutions, call us on 01675 465 593 or fill out one of our online contact forms.

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How, though, does scaffolding actually work? How do all of those metal poles and wooden boards stay together, and not simple collapse? To answer that, we’ve put together a basic guide to some of the principles of scaffolding. Hopefully, we can go some way to explaining the process in our latest blog.

As a quick disclaimer, this is not a blog intended to inspire any old person to go home and erect a scaffold. You’ve got to be trained if you’re actually going to apply these principles; we’re only intending to shed some light on the matter purely for your interest!

The physics

Surprise, surprise. It isn’t really possible to explain how scaffolding works without talking about physics (well, not if you’re going to do it properly, anyway).

Pretty much the whole concept is tied up intrinsically with science, so for those of you who didn’t pay much attention in your physics GCSE classes, we’ll try and keep it pretty basic and explain everything as thoroughly as possible.

Euler

Leonhard Euler is the first notable theorist we need to mention when it comes to the principles of scaffolding. Effectively, he worked out that there was a “critical load”, under which the scaffold would begin to buckle. Keep the load, or weight being supported, lower than that amount, and you’d be absolutely fine.

To work out the critical load, a number of factors need to be considered:

• The material of the supports
• Shape of the supports
• The length of the supports
• Distance between the supports

Variation

It is important to remember that the critical load will vary, depending on the type of scaffold in question. Depending on the type of scaffolding you’re assembling, different support points will be required.

For example, a traditional tube scaffold will require support points to be assembled 6’ 6” apart, while system scaffold take support points at intervals of 6’ 6” – 7’ 0”.

Safeway Scaffolding

We’ve tried to give you a brief introduction into the world of scaffolding physics here. As we’ve said already, though, when it comes to your own scaffolding you need to use a professional.

To enquire about our services, get in touch via our online contact form or give us a call on 01675 465 593.

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Scaffolding is a staple part of architectural construction and renovation. Despite being one of the most common aspects of development, the methods of scaffolding often vary depending on the size and shape of a building. As specialists of both commercial scaffolding and domestic scaffolding, Safeway Scaffolding Limited outline the most notable differences between these two different types of scaffolding in their latest blog post.

1. Health and Safety

Evidently, commercial scaffolding tends to take place on larger buildings and bigger projects. The size and scale of these jobs usually mean there are more stringent health and safety procedures in place to ensure the health of every worker. For domestic scaffolding, typical health and safety procedures apply, where workers will be made to work protective equipment, such as helmets and fluorescent vests, and have a strong understanding of appropriate workplace safety protocols. However, for commercial scaffolding sites, workers may be ordered to wear harnesses and clips, as well as partaking in extra training for working at extreme height.

For more information on working at extreme height, read our blog post: 3 Golden Rules For Working At Height.

2. Techniques

For the most part, houses and domestic properties all conform to a similar size and shape. Because of this, domestic scaffolding methods usually follow a tried and tested method, one which enables scaffolders to get the job done quickly and effectively. For commercial scaffolding, however, the methods may have to be altered slightly. In order to accommodate for complex architecture, scaffolders may use unorthodox methods to be able to work around a particular site. This form of scaffolding is commonly referred to as bespoke scaffolding; a method of scaffolding where typical scaffolding methods are forgotten and the platform is specific to that building. Although the methods and practices may be slightly different, with Safeway Scaffolding Limited, a high-quality job is always assured, no matter what method is used.

3. Teams

Due to the health and safety concerns of commercial scaffolding, as well as the altered methods, the teams that work on a commercial scaffolding site are usually much larger than a team on a domestic scaffolding site. These teams will usually consist of multiple site managers and supervisors, as well as a number of scaffolders to cope with the size and scale of the job. Despite having a smaller workforce, scaffolders on a domestic scaffolding will still be under the supervision of a project manager to ensure the job is achieved to the desired level and that all health and safety procedures are adhered to.

Commercial and Domestic Scaffolding at Safeway Scaffolding Limited

To enlist our team of experienced and professional scaffolders onto your commercial or domestic property, contact Safeway Scaffolding Limited today. Call us on 01675 465593 or leave us a message via our online contact form.

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A simple trip through any developing, urban landscape will put the importance of scaffolding into perspective. As one of the most fundamental practices in construction and expansion, scaffolding holds an important place in the development and advancement of any growing country. Although this pivotal practice spans back to ancient times, the colloquial term for this profession is much more recent. In their latest blog post, Safeway Scaffolding explore the etymology of ‘scaffolding’ to see where this feature of construction truly originated from.

Latin

As you may be aware from our previous blog post, the premise of scaffolding was developed by the Ancient Greeks. The form of scaffolding practiced by the Greeks, however, was a far cry from the role it has in our society today. The term ‘falicum’ simply refers to a wooden gallery or tower, and has no reference to aiding construction whatsoever, yet this is the earliest etymological record of a term relating to the practice of scaffolding.

French

As we step away from Ancient times and into slightly more modern history, we begin to see references of scaffolding relative to structures and platforms. The term ‘Chafaud’, relates to a platform or scaffold used for the executions of criminals, and the natural development of the word from Norman dialect provides us with the current French term of échafaudage.

Middle English

Although they we may have unearthed where the first mention of scaffolding in relation to platforms and structures has derived from, we have still yet to unearth the origin of the specific term of ‘scaffolding’. Well, this term also derives from Norman dialect, with the term ‘Schaffaut’, which describes a platform to see a tournament from, eventually transforming into the term ‘scaffalde’, and eventually, scaffold.

To find out more about all of our scaffolding services, contact Safeway Scaffolding today on 01675 465593 or leave us a message via our online contact form.

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Scaffolding is an industry that poses challenges and risks that do not apply to any other jobs or vocations, which is one of the reasons as to why it is such a specialist line of work. Bespoke scaffolding, however, offers up a number of challenges that keep even the most experienced of scaffolders on their toes. In their latest blog post, Safeway Scaffolding outlines the many different obstacles that bespoke scaffolding projects present.

Size and Scale

As per the nature of bespoke scaffolding, this line of work usually takes place on buildings of a grander scale, heightening the challenges of scaffolding in general. When working at height, scaffolders are more susceptible to stronger winds and harsher conditions, as well as carrying out their work at a precarious height.

Prioritising Safety

Although the standards and practices of scaffolding have been developed over a number of years to prioritise the safety of scaffolders, with bespoke scaffolding, there a number of new threats to their health and wellbeing. By being placed on abnormal structures, usually at a greater height, it is important to ensure the health and safety of everyone on site. As bespoke scaffolding structures can overhang and wrap around buildings, it is important for every worker to be strapped on and to be completely familiar with the safety protocols for each and every job.

No Rule Book

With domestic and commercial scaffolding projects, there is typically a tried and tested strategy to adopt for these projects. However, as bespoke scaffolding is specific to projects of an unusual nature, there is no rule book to follow. Unlike many other professions, scaffolding is not a ‘one size fits all’ industry, and with bespoke scaffolding, it falls down to the knowledge and experience of scaffolders to be able to carry out the work safely and efficiently.

Contact

To enquire about a potential bespoke scaffolding project, contact Safeway Scaffolding today by calling us on 01675 465593 or leave us a message via our online contact form.

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Efficiency

Scaffolding provides builders and workers with a safe and secure platform to carry out their duties. By being able to maneuver around buildings of any shape and size both quickly and easily, scaffolding improves the efficiency of any construction job. With scaffolding structures only taking a single working day to be erected, it is clear to see how these platforms reduce the time spent on site, and when time is of the essence, it is clear to see why scaffolding is important during construction.

Safety

Working at height always carries with it some element of danger and risk. As previously mentioned, scaffolding platforms provide a safe and secure setting for builders to carry out their tasks while working at a considerable height. Not only does scaffolding protect the health of workers, but safety appliances, such as barrier netting and fencing, also ensure the health and safety of the public below the scaffolding. These barriers catch any loose debris and help create a working environment which is completely safe and secure for everyone involved.

If you want learn more about the risks of working at height, check out our blog post which identify the 3 Golden Rules for Working at Height.

Access

In order to build and construct in a more creative way, scaffolding provides builders and workers with access to parts of buildings which would otherwise be tricky to reach. Specifically bespoke scaffolding, platforms can be built in a way which means that no design or blueprint is beyond the workers. Scaffolding has been used to construct some of the most famous and notorious buildings in the world, just take a look at our feature on Building For the World’s Tallest Buildings.

If you wish to find out more about why scaffolding is important, take a look at our case studies to see how it allowed us to assist the construction of these structures. For more information on all of our services, contact Safeway Scaffolding on 01675 465593 or fill out our online form.

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