Suspended Access
In some cases, however, even adjustable-suspension scaffolds may not be feasible or safe.
When there is no other safe way to reach the work area, a crane or a derrick can provide suspended access by hoisting a personnel platform to reach the work area.
Adjustable-Suspension Scaffolds
A suspension scaffold is a temporary elevated platform that hangs by wire rope. Add a hoist to move the platform up or down, and you have an adjustable-suspension scaffold - but not necessarily a safe one. Suspension ropes, lifelines, platforms, hoists, overhead support devices, and tieback systems are critical to the safety of adjustable-suspension scaffolds.
How Suspended Scaffold Falls Occur
Most accidents involving adjustable-suspension scaffolds happen when a primary suspension rope breaks. Workers die because they don't use personal fall-arrest systems or they use them incorrectly. Steel suspension ropes rarely break if they're correctly rigged, maintained, and inspected regularly. When the ropes aren't maintained, they weaken. If an ascending platform snags, an electric hoist that continues to operate can easily snap a weak rope. Pressure from the two steel discs that clamp to the support rope in sheave-type hoist motors can also break a weak rope.
Failing anchors also cause serious accidents. Too often, untrained workers attach lifelines and suspension ropes to "secure-looking" rooftop fixtures for convenience. These anchors fail because they aren't designed to support suspended loads.
Lifelines fail because workers hang them over unpadded edges, don't inspect them, or use ropes not designed for personal fall-arrest systems.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
4-8. Most fatalities involving adjustable-suspension scaffolds happen because _____.
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