Safety Alerts/Scaffolding

Safety Alert Safety Alert TCC 0010 23/09/06 Scaffolding Incident Industry: Oil and Gas/Construction Activity: Abrasive Blasting &Coating Location: BP Refinery Kwinana/Tank farm Date: 20/09/06 Incident Type: Unsafe Scaffold Construction. Environmental conditions: Cool /calm, dry day. In a recent incident reported at the BP Refinery Kwinana, a worker identified a hazard on a petroleum storage tank work site that could have had serious consequences. Two scaffolds had been built by to different scaffold contractors. The scaffolds were differing types and standards creating a situation where the scaffolds did not meet at access and connecting points. Gaps were found where potentially a worker could miss a step and place a foot through a hole in scaffolding platform step areas. In addition a section of handrail was not “ mated ” appropriately to the tank scaffold which left a gap in the handrail. Contributing Factors;  Lack of knowledge of the appropriate scaffold compliance standards specifically the Australian and New Zealand Standard AS/NZS - 4576:1995  Communication between planners, engineers and task specific consultation to build scaffold appropriate for the task  Corrective actions were not proactive and took too much time  Lack of understanding of risk management procedures and hazard identification and controls  Workers passive acceptance of a below standard construction for scaffolding  Lack of appreciation of the risks associated with the two scaffolds did not meet standards  Lack of overall accountability and concern in regard to safe working at heights and safety planning/management