How Millcroft protects the public during scaffolding operations
Safety has to be a top priority when it comes to scaffolding projects. Scaffolding structures are essential for construction and maintenance work, but they can pose risks to the public if proper precautions are not taken. At Millcroft, we’re committed to ensuring the safety of workers and the general public throughout our scaffolding projects.
Scaffolding structures introduce hazards we must carefully manage, such as falling objects, dust and restricted access. So, to address these risks and protect the public, we take a comprehensive approach, starting with the initial planning.
Risk assessments: Laying the foundation for safety
Before designing and erecting any scaffolding, we conduct a thorough risk assessment to identify potential threats to the public. This involves evaluating the project site and pinpointing areas where the public might be affected by the scaffolding on site and during setup and dismantling. These could be building entrances, pavements and parking spaces. We then develop strategies to mitigate the risks. But we don’t stop there. Our designs are regularly reviewed and adapted to ensure continued public safety.
Creating safe zones with barriers and signage
Installing physical barriers is one of the most effective ways to separate the public from active work areas. One of the primary ways we protect the public is through the use of physical barriers and clear signage. Sturdy fencing, hoardings and demarcation systems help create safe zones, reducing the risk of accidents. Prominent warning signs further enhance safety by directing pedestrians away from hazards and guiding them through alternative routes if needed.
Millcroft employs this combination of barriers and safety signage as a standard practice across all projects. This approach protects the public and ensures compliance with safety regulations, which require scaffolding setups to maintain boundaries to prevent unauthorised access and reduce liability risks.
Managing debris and falling object protection
Preventing falling objects and containing debris is crucial for public safety. We employ protective systems such as debris netting and cantilevered fans to catch any materials that may drop from the work area and shield pedestrians and vehicles from unexpected falling objects.
During a repair project involving Transport for London (TfL) properties above Baker Street Station, our design used a cantilevered gallows bracket detail with bridging between, to eliminate any need to ground any of the scaffold. This ensured zero public disruption during period of scaffold installation.
Ensuring safe access with walkways and gantries
Maintaining safe and accessible pathways around scaffolding is essential, especially when projects are in busy areas. Incorporating designated walkways and protective gantries into the scaffold designs provides safe pedestrian routes and minimises disruption.
At Blashford Tower, we ensured continued safe access for the public to the adjacent medical centre during essential recladding and fire safety works by constructing a dedicated walkway. For the Wells House project on Oxford Street, our team used a fully-wrapped scaffold to enclose the work area and a scaffold design that bridged neighbouring buildings to ensure safe and clear access for the public to the surrounding properties.
Routine inspections and immediate maintenance
Inspections are essential to ensure all protective measures are functioning as intended. These are carried out regularly, and particularly after adverse weather conditions or reports of falling debris onto the structure. Our teams conduct thorough checks to confirm barriers, signs and safety features are intact and capable of withstanding changing conditions and assess any damage caused by impact. If any component requires repair of impact absorption layers needs changing, the team addresses the issue immediately, preventing potential hazards from impacting the public.
Putting our safety protocols into practice at the Westgate Apartments
One of our recent challenging yet successful projects was at Westgate Apartments near London’s Excel Arena, where public safety was paramount. Here, we were called in for an emergency response after glass balustrades fell from the upper floors to ground level, posing an immediate threat to public safety.
To protect pedestrians, we collaborated closely with the client's appointed structural engineer to design a custom, multi-tiered scaffolding solution. The team installed two decks, one front elevation and one rear elevation. In addition, we constructed an emergency response deck for the consultation stage, where we agreed on the deck's impact loading requirement. The emergency deck was retrofitted to the specifications and built for the rear deck.
In one narrow part of the building which interfaced with the road it was not cost effective for us to design and install a protection deck to the high impact loads required. Our solution was to recommend the installation of a full-height independent scaffold access, which would overcome the possibility of falling debris and provide the access required for the next stage of the project.
Using cutting-edge 3D visualisation, we provided a mirror image of the as-built design, giving the client access to a virtual walkthrough via a QR code. This innovative solution allowed the client to monitor and inspect every aspect of the design remotely, giving them confidence in the system’s capability to protect the public.
This project demonstrates our commitment to bringing rigorous safety protocols and solution-based designs into our structures. With the current setup providing the necessary level of safety, further project phases can be introduced as repairs to the glass balustrades continue.
Commitment to public safety
Protecting the public is a fundamental part of our scaffolding projects. Through rigorous assessments, innovative designs, robust safety systems and a dedicated team of trained professionals, we ensure that every scaffolding project is carried out with the utmost care and that public safety always comes first.
