Target Audience: Construction industry; scaffolding companies; scaffolding suppliers; scaffolding manufacturers

Key Issues: Poor design of scaffold loading bay gate, providing inadequate edge protection to prevent falls from height.

HSE has become aware that a number of manufacturers/suppliers are marketing an extendable scaffold loading bay gate that does not satisfy legal requirements or applicable standards when in some configurations. When extended the loading bay gate, which forms part of the edge protection on a scaffold, is not robust enough to fulfil this function and is therefore not suitable and sufficient to comply with the Work at Height Regulations 2005. This safety notice applies to all similar types of loading bay gate as described below.

Photo 1: Extendable loading bay gate without a horizontal midrail

The loading bay gates subject to this safety notice originate from a variety of manufacturers/suppliers and comprise two panels made up of tube and mesh (see photo 1). One panel section is fixed length and the other is telescopic and can be adjusted to the required width of the loading bay. This allows a width adjustment from approximately 2300mm to approximately 3900mm. The mesh infill spans the full width and height of each panel. There is no horizontal mid rail. This loading bay gate design is reported to be available in steel and in aluminium.

The mesh infill is typically 3 mm gauge on a 50 mm square pattern and each edge is welded to the fixed length panel. To allow the telescopic panel to slide during adjustment the mesh on this section is loose. Supplier instructions seen suggest the loose mesh should be fixed to the gate perimeter using plastic cable ties after this panel has been telescoped to a width suitable for the loading bay.

Photo 2: Loose mesh panel not secured to extending frame

This type of gate has been found on a number of construction sites where the mesh was loose and able to detach when pushed (see photo 2) so would not be able to resist a person leaning or in particular falling against it, and would also allow loose materials to fall from the platform.

The gates in question open by rotating upwards around a pivot fitting mounted approximately 500mm inboard of the gate (see photo 3). Because this type of gate has very short rear levers it is usually opened by lifting the handles on top of the gate, placing a worker right at the edge of the platform with a gap beneath the gate that can exceed 1.5 metres high. When fully open there is a gap beneath the gate of approximately 1 metre height although this is about 1 metre inboard of the open edge of the loading bay (see photo 3).

Photo 3: Gate in open position folded up and over to rest on fixed edge protection

The Work at Height Regulations 2005 Schedule 2 requires edge protection used for construction purposes to be of suitable strength and rigidity and to comprise the equivalent of a top rail, a mid-rail and a toe board. Where no mid rail is present any mesh panels or similar must be able to achieve an equivalent level of containment.

This safety alert does not apply to designs of upward rotating loading bay gate that are robust and are operated from the rear of the loading bay and which close off access to the loading bay when the gate is open. These should already comply with BS EN 12811-1:2003 'Scaffolds – Performance requirements and general design' which sets out the standards expected for loading bay gates.

The Work at Height Regulations 2005 – Regulations 8a, 10 and Schedule 2

BS EN 12811-1:2003 Temporary works equipment- Part 1: Scaffolds - Performance requirements and general design

NASC Safety Guidance SG 4:10 Preventing falls in scaffolding

Safety Guidance SG 33:14 Guide to the construction and use of scaffold loading bays and loadbearing platforms.

Technical Guidance TG 20:13 A comprehensive guide to good practice for tube and fitting scaffolding. Operational Guide. Design Guide

Note: the NASC is currently reviewing its guidance in relation to loading bay gates and preventing falls in scaffolding.

The Scaffolding Association has stated that it intends to produce guidance on loading bay gates.

Health and; Safety Executive, FOD CD Construction Policy and Sector Unit Rose Court 2 Southwark Bridge SE1 9HS

Please pass this information to a colleague who may have this Product/ Equipment or operate this type of system/process.

HSE aims to reduce work-related death, injury and ill health.