Swing staging attached to fixed support
142(1)An employer shall ensure that swing staging, when attached to a fixed support, is capable of supporting at least four times the maximum load to which the fixed support is likely to be subjected
(a)
without overturning, and
(b)
without exceeding the allowable unit stresses for the material used in the fixed support.
Suspension of swing staging – hooks and thrusts
142(2)An employer shall ensure that
(a)
a hook used to suspend swing staging
(i)
has safety devices to prevent dislodgement, and
(ii)
is securely tied back to an adequate independent anchorage on the same level as the hook or above the hook, and
(b)
a thrust-out used to suspend swing staging
(i)
is rigidly fastened to another thrust-out,
(ii)
is securely tied back to an adequate independent anchorage on the same level as the hook or above the hook,
(iii)
is counter-balanced with sufficient solid material to ensure stability, and
(iv)
has cleats or bolts fastened at the outer ends of the thrust-out to act as safety stops.
Suspension of swing staging – wire rope
142(3)An employer shall ensure that wire rope used to suspend swing staging
(a)
provides a safety factor of not less than ten, based on the ratio of the manufacturer’s rated breaking strength of the wire rope to the static load,
(b)
is not less than 10 mm in diameter,
(c)
is securely fastened to the drum of a winch, and has at least three turns of wire rope on the drum when the swing staging is in its lowest position, and
(d)
is inspected in accordance with the manufacturer’s specifications.
Suspension of swing staging – other means
142(4)An employer shall ensure that
(a)
where hangers are used to support swing staging, the hangers are made of wrought iron or mild steel with a cross section equal to 10 mm by 32 mm or a diameter of at least 19 mm and are securely attached to the platform,
(b)
where wire rope is used as a sling to support swing staging, the wire rope is at least 13 mm in diameter, and
(c)
where another material is used to support swing staging, it has been certified by an engineer as being of a strength equivalent to that prescribed in paragraph (a) or (b).
Platform for swing staging
142(5)An employer shall ensure that the platform of swing staging is not less than 500 mm in clear width and is either a ladder type platform or a plank type platform.
Side strings, rungs and tie rods for ladder type platform for swing staging
142(6)An employer shall ensure that the side stringers, rungs and tie rods of a ladder type platform for swing staging conform to the following table:
| Â
LADDER TYPE PLATFORMS FOR SWING STAGING | |
| Length
of
Side
Stringers | Width
Between
Side
Stringers | Cross Section of
Side Stringers | Rungs | Tie Rods | |
| | | At Ends | At Middle | Total
No. | Diameter | Total
No. | Diameter | |
| 4.6 m | 500 mm | 50 mm × 70 mm | 50 mm × 100 mm | 10 |  30 mm | 4 | 8 mm | |
 | | | | | | | | | |
| 4.9 m | 500 mm | 50 mm × 70 mm | 50 mm × 100 mm | 11 |  30 mm | 4 | 8 mm | |
 | | | | | | | | | |
| 5.5 m | 500 mm | 50 mm × 80 mm | 50 mm × 100 mm | 12 |  30 mm | 4 | 8 mm | |
 | | | | | | | | | |
| 6.1 m | 500 mm | 50 mm × 80 mm | 50 mm × 100 mm | 13 |  30 mm | 4 | 8 mm | |
 | | | | | | | | | |
| 7.3 m | 500 mm | 50 mm × 80 mm | 50 mm × 120 mm | 16 |  30 mm | 5 | 8 mm | |
 | | | | | | | | | |
 | | | | | | | | | |
Flooring of ladder type platform for swing staging
142(7)An employer shall ensure that the flooring of a ladder type platform on swing staging is at least 19 mm thick plywood or another material of equivalent strength.
Planks for plank type platform for swing staging
142(8)An employer shall ensure that the planks in a plank type platform on swing staging
(a)
are made of wood and are a uniform thickness of not less than 50 mm,
(b)
are tied together on the underside by cleats
(i)
a minimum size of 25 mm by 150 mm,
(ii)
securely fastened, and
(iii)
spaced at intervals of not more than 1.2 m,
(c)
do not exceed 3.7 m in length, and
(d)
are located so that the span does not exceed 3 m between the fixed supports.
Other employer responsibilities – swing staging
142(9)An employer shall ensure that
(a)
swing staging is equipped with a guardrail,
(b)
two or more pieces of swing staging are not joined together, and
(c)
swing staging is lowered to the ground or lashed to the building to which it is attached when employees leave the building.
97-121; 2001-33