Issues Surrounding The Scaffold Industry

scaffold

The scaffold industry is one that is often overlooked as a minor detail when a construction is taking place. With the millions of dollars that happens to be spent on these premises after a comprehensive tender has settled on an organisation that will work to their optimum level, only a temporary supporting structure can actually equip these teams with the capacity to get the job done.

Following a number of accidents, collapses and contractual arguments that have arisen within this industry, it is clear that engineers have been forced to reassess and analyse their business practices in the meantime.

Like any other industry that faces stiff competition, there are procedures that have been placed under the microscope to call into question the merits of certain operations in this field.

Here we will delve into a number of those leading issues as organisations attempt to create a pathway for growth and to establish networks with some of the leading construction brands, both domestically and overseas.

 

Increased Competition

There is no doubt that the scaffold industry has evolved to the point where there is a bottleneck of developers, engineers and companies wanting to get their piece of the action. When tenders are put up for projects, there is a race to see which brand can land the role, something that is healthy in an open marketplace, but a position that makes for a vulnerable scenario. Sometimes a race to the bottom makes for a drop in prices, which can result in the dropping of standards as those organisations do not have the funds to execute the job correctly.

 

Compliance With Working Regulations

A scaffold might appear strong and sturdy on the surface, but the implementation and dismantling of the structure can create issues that run against workplace rules and regulations. Employment legislation in Australia is incredibly strict and diligent when it comes to enforcing their procedures onto companies, attempting to implement best practice across the board. When there is the threat of falling debris and workplace accidents that dangerous equipment in place, it is on the scaffolding to ensure that these laws are not broken.

 

Contract Agreements and Accountability

There has been something of a culture in the scaffold community to see agreements and drafted contracts not respected as terms have been shifted at the last minute. Trying to source accountability between bodies in this respect has become a difficult task, but this is a process that is improving gradually. Industry associations and authoritative bodies have the power to investigate these matters and impose sanctions, fines and removing practicing licenses for those organisations that violate terms and agreements. This is seen as a pathway towards developing that accountability that industry experts have been desperate to source.

 

New Technologies

The innovation of new scaffold designs are emerging as the demands of the market and the speed of construction are high on the agenda. What was once left to a basic planner to lay out a time frame is now an old means of doing business as reviews and construction specialists have identified different ways of obtaining the construction goal sooner. New logistical materials have been found to avoid problems that arise with hot water systems and electrical structures that have hampered projects in the past.

 

Complying With Surrounding Environment

There is a rationale to implement one specific type of scaffold for a location that needs their workers operating around a temporary structure. This is put in place to allow those professionals to carry out their work with diligence, taking into account the climate, the size and structure of the construction, the height involved, the exposure to light and a myriad of other factors.

In this respect, the solutions must be boiled down to what design will tie into this premises and not prove to be an impediment to those that need a reliable framework to move from one space to the next. Such a process will determine how the analysts go about their decision making, eventually settling on a hung, spur, tube, modular, suspended or cantilevered design.