TONE Scaffolding were challenged by our client to erect access scaffolding within an underground new storm chamber, 17m deep and 17m diameter, being constructed on a water utilities site.
STAGE ONE
Our first challenge was to safely get our operatives into the base of the storm chamber and out of the chamber in an emergency event, as the chamber had no means of access/egress from the chamber, with the assistance of our “in house” Confined Space Safety & Rescue Teams.
The Safety & Rescue Team, were responsible for managing the atmospheric testing of the chamber, manage entry into the chamber & execute an emergency evacuation if required.
Tri-pod winch systems were set up, complete with Bosun’s Chairs to get our operatives into the base of chamber, with rescue stretchers on stand-by if required for any emergency or evacuation.
The operatives erected a Proprietary System Staircase from the base of the chamber up to top level, to be used to access/egress the chamber. The tri-pod winch systems with the rescue stretchers, remained in the work area to be used if required.
STAGE TWO
The access scaffolding is currently under construction, being designed by calculation, to facilitate the installation of pipework/pumps and associated mechanical/electrical equipment, the scaffold being boarded with bespoke open mesh gratings, to allow any seepage of storm water to flow through the decking and thus not creating additional forces and loadings onto the scaffolding.
