Removing ledgers is OK

[Oi!]

I work for a house builder. The Director thinks it is OK for the site managers to ask the scaffolders to remove ledgers on the first lift (at 1.5m) to allow the windown fitters to put the windows in. Ledgers are never put back in afterwards either. The scaffold contractor do what is asked of them and never mention that this is a bad idea.

The scaffold is typically 3 lifts high at 1.5m lifts. More often than not the ledger is removed from one or possibly 2 bays. It is always BOTH ledgers - outside and inside. Yesterday I came accross the ledger being removed from 4 consecutive bays. And this, in the eyes of the Director is not a problem. I've tried convincing him otherwise but he just does not want to know.

How on earth do I convinve him otherwise? I've tried getting him to agree to getting a simple design done which either confirms this is OK (I would be amazed if it is!!!) or a design that will supplement the ledger with other supports or bracing elsewhere, but he just doesn want to know.

How the heck do I tackle this one? :blink:

 

[michael carter]

just refuse to do it on the ground its not safe until he comes up with a plan your your own safety officer

 

[scaffy]

get a design , yes i have seen it done a 1000 times too , ends up a 3m lift

 

[Oi!]

It is quite common in housebuilding but worries the hell out of me - Ledgers are crtitical structural components and how this can be justified without a design beats me. But hey, life would be dull without these testing times!

 

[aom]

Oi,

Like you, we have the same problem, on one occasion the builder ripped out the entire base lift to collect enough gear to kick off another job, couldn't believe it. Dodgy one, but as always it's cover your ass with hand-overs, written site instruction and digital pics.

 

[dico]

just refuse to do it on the ground its not safe until he comes up with a plan your your own safety officer

or stagger your sleeve joints and stay on standby that way its safe and you
get an easy day.

 

[phil181]

or stagger your sleeve joints and stay on standby that way its safe and you
get an easy day.

Hmmmmm who's gonna pay for that then?

 

[dico]

same bloke thats gana paye when the scaffold falls down lol.

 

[phil181]

same bloke thats gana paye when the scaffold falls down lol.

Doubtful mate.

He's more likely to say 'well you knew about it and didn't action it'. I assume the scaffolding contractor is carrying out the weekly inspections?

Surely there is a schedule 7 report somewhere? Why is it not being recorded in the inspection report and emailed to the client with an unsafe scaffold report attached?

It's called arse covering.

 

[philliosmaximus]

we usually find the builder has cut the ledgers by the doors and windows and pushed back the transoms where the windows are on the other lifts rather then pay for an adaptation.

 

[dico]

il make you right phil every things fine untill it goes wrong i always cover my arse.
exspecially the luck i have.

 

[phil181]

il make you right phil every things fine untill it goes wrong i always cover my arse.
exspecially the luck i have.

That's what it's all about mate!

 

[scaffman1]

It's a difficult one in these challenging times chaps, do you put a scaffolding incomplete sign on the job and piss the contractor off, and risk losing the next job. or do you stick to your guns.
Personally I'd stick to my guns.
Best as I see it, as some have already said, make sure you you get your paper work correct,put it into your weekly inspection report and make sure you email a concern to the company in question (with a read reply). If it's a reputable company that you work for, it shouldn't happen in the first instance.If it isn't, is it worth the fcuking hassle, and possible claim on your insurance, and subsequent hassle from Mr health & crazy, I think not.

 

[phil181]

It's a difficult one in these challenging times chaps, do you put a scaffolding incomplete sign on the job and piss the contractor off, and risk losing the next job. or do you stick to your guns.
Personally I'd stick to my guns.
Best as I see it, as some have already said, make sure you you get your paper work correct,put it into your weekly inspection report and make sure you email a concern to the company in question (with a read reply). If it's a reputable company that you work for, it shouldn't happen in the first instance.If it isn't, is it worth the fcuking hassle, and possible claim on your insurance, and subsequent hassle from Mr health & crazy, I think not.

Agreed. I'm not going to prison for manslaughter for anyone.

 

[Oi!]

Thanks fellas. Will stick to my guns, tell the Director of the housebuilder he is a f*cking nugget for thinking this is OK and keep on pulling tags. Oh the joys!!!