SCAFFOLD INSPECTION.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 148, 17 March 1908, Page 4

SCAFFOLD INSPECTION.

Sir,—l wonder whether there is a Scaffold Inspection Act,'and whether an inspector has been appointed- who has a practical 'knowledge of the work roquirod, Or is tbnro an inspeotor at allf If bo, why w it

that lift docs not inspect tlifi largo buildings at least ones a week. Or is ho doing clerical work, which curtails his time, .which should bs solsly taken up looking after the safsty of the workers on buildings? My reason "far'writing is that I am informed that there in a scaffolding inspector, and regulations to be fallowed in th« erection,of BcaffoHing. Then why is it not enforced? Mwi are allowed to work on lofty' places without a guard rail; ledgers are lashed to polos with ties that ara not recognised as the safest, for the olov» hitch should be tlio last tie to 'tis pols (or tke ropo should finish with a clove hitch). But I know of scaffolds wbsre the clore hitch is not used. Ladders: chould be. » certain height abovo the wall or scaffold, and yet they barely reach tho wall.' Of course, 1 do not assort that the inspector (if th«re is on®) has seen tho scaffildß .1 refer to, as, if ho has doiio ao, then it is tiine action was taken to got tho lx!frt nxin posmble for tho- position. It is no use for him coming on to a building and simply looking at tiio ropes and timber used without examining the samo, as no ono can 101 l by a cursory jlancs whether thoy aro perished or otherwise. Wo don't want a fatal jtccidcnt, tho samo as happened at Napier rcetmtly, where the pudlock broke, and was alleged to have been rotten. Another thing is, pudlocks aro not always wedged into the wall, and havo o tondency to pull or work out.—l am, otc., -WORKER. March 11. 1