Masonry Magazine December 1965 Page. 7
All-Weather Conference Report
WINTER PROTECTION
OF SCAFFOLDING
Donald B. Moritz
This is the second in a series of papers presented at MCAA's All-Weather Conference held recently in Chicago. Mr. Donald B. Mortiz represented the Steel Scaffolding & Shoring Institute, and we present them here so that MASONRY readers may have an opportunity to study them.
We are principally interested in winter protection at this Conference and, if we examine the reasons, we will discover those considerations necessary to having a safe job place. I am principally concerned with the safe applications of scaffolding, and the subject of this Conference will lead me a little astray from scaffolding.
There are three principal reasons why you are interested in winter protection. The first is to permit the work to continue allowing you to meet your critical path or other deadlines. The second is to protect your work against freezing so that you meet the necessary quality standards. Thirdly, you wish to obtain fair costs on any work that you must do during the winter. This produces problems relating to safety which intertwine among men, materials and structures. Generally speaking, winter weather protection for masons will consist of a windbreak and sometimes a canopy.
I will digress for just a moment to discuss totally enclosed structures. Totally enclosed jobs are relatively rare, mainly because they are seldom needed, and they are also quite expensive. Should you be faced with a totally enclosed job, here are a few considerations worth mentioning.
1. In utilizing non-vented heaters, there is an opportunity for either asphyxiation or carbon monoxide poisoning. Usually there is considerable infiltration of outside air, and therefore monoxide poisoning would be infrequent. There is, however, the probability that overheated, smoke- or monoxide-laden air will cause your workmen to feel tired, to slow down and to reduce their output. It is, therefore, economically desirable to pay close attention to ventilation on enclosed jobs. By the way, the first recognizable symptom of carbon monoxide poisoning will be headaches.
2. Fire is another hazard which can be remote if you use a minimum amount of combustible materials. Fire-retardant coverings, such as polyethylene, good housekeeping and proper handling of inflammable materials will reduce the hazard.
3. A totally enclosed structure may cause problems of dehydration of freshly laid mortar.
We come now to the matter of scaffolding being used as a support for men, materials and as a windbreak. (continued on next page)