Document v4r9EVQz91ebzExY0xbjq3mm

142 Tzcnity-fifth National Safety Congress Recent study and dmlopmtflt of steel scaffolding has made it possible for all industrial plants to avail themsehra of The regular maintenance crew about the plant can very readily erect h. Steel scaf folding an be used and adapted to meet superior maintenance equipment. Steel scaffolding i* better than the old type wood scaffold for several reasons: (1) Elimination of fire hazard. he most unusual conditions and because of the smaller sice of its components aa compared to wood, obstruction of light is reduced to a minimum. (2) Safer construction. (3) More economical in maintenance. (4) Grater flexibility. With wood scaffolding there is the ever present hazard of fire. Although the fire hazard is not entirely eliminated in the steel stage--because wood planlts must be used for the working platform- yet it is possible to obtain fireproof planks and thus erect a scaffold which entirely elim inates the fire hazard. In the steel scaffold one need have no fear of snapping a member. There are no imperfections in steel comparable to the knots and cross grain in lumber. These hazards are eliminated. Probably every industrial plant has had at some time a block and fait swinging scaffold. Some may still employ this in their maintenance work, whereas other* have discarded H for the more up to date and safer piece of equipment known as a able type safety swinging scaffold. This may be a TCcent development to some. A machine and wire rope take the place of the block and fall. It does away with the hazard of acid-eaten and dry-rot ropes, which have t>ecn the cause of so many fatal accidents. Both ihe block asd fall and the able swinging scaffolds are sometimes referred to as single point sus pension scaffolds. We are all interested in beeping down costs. One element in operating econom ically is equipment that will stand up under service and will require little ntaint-manre. Steel scaffolding is so durable that it is almost indestructible and can be used for many years without replace ments. particularly when the components are galvanized. Lumber breaks up asd crack* and is easily destroyed, requiring /request replacements. Steel scaffolding is more flexible titan wood. It can be used in places and un der conditions and in a manner to which wood would not adapt itself. Bcause it is less bulky than wood, steel scaffolding takes op less room when erected, is less unsightly and gives a greater feeling of security. Steel components are uniform in size and thus require a minimum of storage space. Steel scaffolding is of the tubular type, consisting of a has* plate, tubular mem bers of various lengths with interlocking fittings at either end of the tubes and a coupler which connects the tubular mem bers. There is nothing intricate about it. The latest and newest development in suspended swinging scaffolds is the twopoint suspension scaffold. In referring to these scaffolds, as "single*' and "two- point.** 1 am considering suspension at one end of the swinging scaffold only, there being in reality two and four points of suspension respectively in each scaffold. This two-point suspension scaffold was designed to give a more stable scaffold and to permit more freedom for work men and less obstruction. It consists of two drums with channel and angle iron connections which support the platform. To each of these drams is attached a able, one leading to a point directly shove and the other passing down and around the under side of the platform and then upward to a point directly above the inside edge of the platform. The machine is operated by a single ratchet mecha nism to which are attached two driving pawls. Locking pawls arc provided to hold the scaffold in Ihe required position. This type scaffold requires as part of its installation an outrigger to which the able* are attached. Discussion following the address was based cm these points: 1. Should ladders ever be painted? No. Paint would hide aoy defects that might be present or develop. If it is necessary to protect ladders from the vraihcr. they may be Created with linseed oil and given a coat of white shellac. 2. What should be done with ladders in need of repair? Safety Equipment 143 They should never be patched hap hazardly and turned back into service. Ladders needing repair should be tagged and turned over to the foreman* who should determine whether they can be repaired. If he decides that repair Is pos sible. he should turn the ladder over to the maintenance department. 3. What should be the angle of a lad der leaning against the wan? In general practice the Udder should stand one-quarter of its own length away from the wall. 4. Is it possible to use steel scaffolding for temporary work? Yes. This type of scaffolding is asffy erected and can le placed on rollers and easily moved about. 5. In purchasing a ladder how at* It be determined whether the tenons project far enough into the side rails to give a firm footing? There is no type of inspection that will determine this. The only way one an be sure the tenons arc firmly imbedded it to purchase a quality Udder. 6. Is the airplane able or the solid steel bar the best form of re-enforcement 2o a ladder? The solid steel bar. It gives the firmest and most dependable support. Cable reenforcement is now practically obsolete. Unusual Developments in Leg Protection ByS.L WHRKLBR Io times of serious Illness one always obtains the services of the bat doctor available, buy* the bat medieioe procura ble. from a reliable source. Is there any reason why protective apparel should be regarded differently? Is oot the preven tive as important as the cure? Part of the time almost any kind of protective apparel is good enough, but when the emergency arise*, when real protection is needed, then is the time your men should be provided with the bat pro tection obtainable. If protective apparel does not protect against the extreme haz ard, H is absolutely worthless. Your men may complain that certain apparel b a bit cumbersome, a bit uncomfortable, but an accident is a thousand times more un comfortable, and usually results in loss of time plus untold suffering. To be safe it must be sturdily made, though it may not be 100 per cent comfortable: bat complete working comfort without maxi mum protection is a compromise that does not make for safety. * There is now available standard leg protection that wfff safely meet every normal hazard in industry, and further more, it b possible to have made special products for specific hazards of almost any nature. Possibly because of the fact that the greatest number of them have been used in recent years, the most unusual and varied development in leg protection hat been centered on what are commonly ailed "foundry leggings.** The first leggings 1 know anything about consisted of bag-like tuba that hung from the waist or from the knee and were made from anything that wouldn't explode upon coming in contact with molten metal. Early it was discov ered that chrome lather was a good hat restster tnd grzdaatly asbestos cloth was woven into a mere usable, pliable fabric, with fire-proofed duck used in some in stances. These three materials arc still chiefly used, with chrome lather lading. With more or less stabilization of basic materials, improvement in design came in for prompt attention. Leggings with snap buttons and straps were put on the mar ket. and arctic buckles were also used aa a means of fastening. The knee length legging rapidly became the most popular style. It is a prime requisite that such a legging shall be so constructed that it win afford protection from the knee down to, and including, the foot. Its design should be comfortable, but comfort should not be sacrified for stietjr. It should be fully and quickly adjustable and instantly removable.