The Forensic Engineer's Role as a User of Scaffolding

Accessing elevated work platforms is not a typical experience for most engineering professionals. However, those of us involved in the practice of Forensic Engineering routinely ride a swing stage or climb pipe scaffolding to perform our investigative work. While the equipment we use for access may appear peripheral, we should not treat it with idle regard. Rather, we must become familiar with the safe use of this equipment, take an active role in guarding our own safety, and be cognizant of the safety of others around us. This paper first outlines the basic technical and legal guidelines that establish responsibilities regarding the safe use of suspended and supported scaffold equipment. Then, through a discussion of actual job site situations, it presents the challenging political and ethical factors that can develop when engineering professionals take an active role in ensuring safe use of the equipment. These factors frequently include: conflicting responsibilities for ensuring the safety of others, respecting hierarchies in job-site control, and consideration for the client's priorities concerning timely and incident-free project completion.