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SG4:10 – Passive Resistance

23 January 2013

In agreement with the Health and Safety Executive SG4 is revised every 5 years and work on the next revision is well underway.

In agreement with the Health and Safety Executive SG4 is revised every 5 years and work on the next revision is well underway. The NASC are aiming to complete revisions of both the management guide (SG4) and the user guide (SG4 You) before the end of this year (2010). The new SG4:10 - 'Preventing Falls in Scaffolding' - will see more emphasis on the creation of a 'Safe Zone' by scaffolders covering a variety of safe methods. This revision will also see the removal of the practice of the 'unprotected traversing element' from the tunnelling principle. The initial impact to the Industry to implement these new measures will be significant for those who have not yet embraced the systems of work promoted by SG4:05 and Appendix A. The NASC accepts that in practice the 'unprotected traverse' fails to comply with current legislation.

However at the time of the previous revisions, it was accepted by the HSE as a reasonably practicable solution in the absence of other alternatives. It has to be recognised that the initial investment and increased future overheads is a major factor to be taken into consideration by Scaffolding Contractors, however, the guidance will help ensure scaffolders and their employers work safer and comply with the law.

The NASC and HSE acknowledge that there are scaffolders and contractors who still do not comply with the current guidance. This is evident in any town or city by the tell-tale signs scaffolders leave behind i.e. no Scaffolder's guardrails or intermediate transoms. It is clear that you don't have to actually see scaffolders working to know whether they have even attempted to work to SG4.

The NASC considers collective protection as passive protection, for example a guardrail will remain in place and provide protection should someone fall against it, whereas personal fall protection equipment (harnesses) is 'personal' or 'active' protection that must be attached to afford any benefit to the user. A number of NASC Members are already routinely working with collective protection measures and report increased demand from Principal Contractors and Clients for the same.
 
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