The Safe Working Load for Timber Saw Stools used for Scaffolding

The Carpentry Section at Otago Polytechnic has previously used saw stools and scaffolding planks for low levelscaffolding while building relocatable houses. However, there was a Health & Safety risk because the saw stoolsare not approved for this use. This paper presents a testing study evaluating the safe working load for timbersaw stools used for scaffolding. A total of 30 tests with six load scenarios with different saw cut positions and fiveload scenarios having different saw cut depths were completed. The test results showed that a saw stool usedfor scaffolding is very capable of supporting all the imposed loads, with a conservative Factor of Safety (FOS) of3.5. An inspection checklist and a User Guide Flow Chart have been developed for good practice. This projectreceived support through a New Zealand Timber Design Society Scholarship.KEYWORDSMoment resisting joints, dowel-type connections, stiffness, component method.