ALERT To All High-Rise Building Owners

ALERT

To All High-Rise Building Owners

(Who own stages davit arms, roof cars, other means of supporting façade access equipment)

O. R.213/91 amended by 0. Reg. 242/16 s 11 has made significant changes, which affect building owners or representatives:

1. The Amended regulations stipulate a minimum live load on a stage which exceeds the current requirements of CSA 271-10 (to which stages were normally designed).

2. The increase in live load requirements affects single and modular stages that exceed 12 m in length.

3. The Regulations also require that stages used in construction or façade maintenance be designed for additional load allowance for any construction debris or abrasive blasting grit to a depth of at least 25 millimetres and for other materials that may accumulate or be placed on the work platform as a result of the work.

4. The above affects building owners that own stages and permanent stage support systems, such as davit arms, roof cars or other stage structural support system. In which case, the support structure must be reviewed by a professional engineer to determine the integrity of the support system considering the additional legislated live loads and the additional loads on the stage. The owner must ensure that the contractors/constructors utilizing suspended stages on their property are aware of the requirements of O. R.213/91 amended by 0. Reg. 242/16 s 11, and the limitations of the building assets in terms of load carrying capacity.

5. Should the building owner/employer own stages on the building, he/she must have the critical welds of samples of the stages, non-destructively tested, at least annually. If any defects are found, the owner must retain the services of a professional engineer, to evaluate the results of such testing and prepare a report of the action taken to repair such defects. All other parts of a suspended work platform not listed in subsection (2) shall be inspected for damage at least once within the 12-month period preceding its use on a project and at least once annually while in use on a project. O. Reg. 242/16, s. 11.

The owner of a suspended work platform system shall ensure that all its components are marked or labelled in accordance with clause 10.2 (Markings) of CSA Standard Z271-10. O. Reg. 242/16, s. 11.

Roof Plans:

* Every owner of a building or structure where a suspended work platform system or boatswain’s chair is to be used shall ensure that there is a roof plan for the building or structure and ensure that the plan,

(a) contains drawings and layout diagrams that show the positions of all fixed supports on the building or structure;

(b) indicates whether the fixed supports are adequate for the purposes of attaching work platforms, boatswain’s chairs and lifelines;

(c) meets the requirements of clause 10.1.2 (Roof Plan) of CSA Standard Z271-10; and

(d) has been approved in writing by a professional engineer. O. Reg. 242/16, s. 11.

*The owner shall post a legible copy of the roof plan near every entrance to the roof or top level of the building or structure where the suspended work platform system or boatswain’s chair is to be used. O. Reg. 242/16, s. 11.

* The owner shall provide a copy of the roof plan to the constructor for a project at the building or structure. O. Reg. 242/16, s. 11.

The owner of a building or structure shall ensure that all fixed supports identified in the roof plan are inspected, maintained and tested in accordance with clause 11 (Inspection and Testing) of CSA Standard Z271-10 and the manufacturer’s instructions.

The owner shall ensure that a fixed support identified in the roof plan is inspected by a professional engineer,

(a) before being used for the first time after it is installed and after every time that it is repaired or modified;

(b) as often as necessary and at least as often as recommended by the manufacturer of the fixed support;

(c) at least once within the 12-month period preceding its use; and

• If a professional engineer, an employer, a supervisor or a worker advises the owner that there are reasonable grounds to believe the fixed support is defective or not adequate to support the suspended work platform, boatswain’s chair or lifeline then, the owner who has been advised shall ensure that the fixed support in question is not used until the requirements in subsections (4) and (5) are met, as applicable. O. Reg. 242/16, s. 11.

• The professional engineer who performs an inspection under subsection (2) shall prepare a written report that,

(a) indicates whether the fixed support meets the requirements of section 141.1 and is adequate for the purposes of attaching a suspended work platform, boatswain’s chair or lifeline; and

(b) if the fixed support is not adequate, indicates the defects and hazardous conditions of the fixed support. O. Reg. 242/16, s. 11.

The owner of the building or structure shall, respecting a fixed support,

(a) keep a permanent record, in accordance with clause 13 (Equipment Log) of CSA Standard Z271-10, of all inspections, tests, repairs, modifications and maintenance of the fixed support if the fixed support is used;

(b) make the record available, on request, to an inspector; and

(c) make the record available, on request, to a constructor of a project where workers are to use a suspended work platform system or boatswain’s chair and lifelines, if any. O. Reg. 242/16, s. 11.

No employer or constructor shall permit a worker to use a fixed support unless the employer or constructor has ensured that the fixed support has been inspected, maintained and tested as required by this section, and, if applicable, the requirements in subsections (4) and (5) are met. O. Reg. 242/16, s. 11.

If you are currently a HITE Engineering Corporation Client, we will ensure that we address the above issues in our annual inspection.

— Ralph Balbaa M.Eng., P.Eng., is a health and safety expert with more than 40 years of engineering experience and a former Ministry of Labour consultant and has been an active member of the CSA 271 committee for over 25 years. He is the President of HITE Engineering, a Mississauga-based consulting firm specializing in industrial and construction safety.