Platforms 

Do you need to fit toe boards to mobile towers?

You must fit toe board to the working platform and any other platform where a risk assessment has shown that there is a danger of materials falling from that platform and injuring a person below. That risk may exist even at low platform heights.

Do you need to fit guardrails even at very low levels?

You must fit guardrails to the platform if your risk assessment has shown that there is a danger of a fall liable to cause personal injury. That risk may exist even at low platform heights.

How do you get onto the platform at low heights if it needs guardrails and toe boards?

If your risk assessment shows that guardrails or guardrails and toe boards are necessary, and the platform is low, (i.e. you can step onto the platform because it is no more than 400mm (16”) from the ground or you can sit on the platform from the ground):

First – from ground level fit the guardrails/toe boards except to one side of the tower

Second – step or sit on the platform and then fit the guardrails / toe boards to the remaining side

When descending, reverse this procedure

What is the current product standard for mobile towers?

EN1004:2004 (published in the UK as BSEN1004:2004) is the European standard for mobile access and working towers made from prefabricated elements.  It was published in 2004 and replaces the withdrawn British standard BS1139 Part 3.  EN1004 covers standard mobile towers in the height range of 2.5m to 8m for external (outdoors) use and 2.5m to 12m internal (indoors) use.

BS1139 Part 6 Metal Scaffolding, is the British standard which covers mobile access towers outside of the scope of EN1004 but which use the same components. Examples are high level towers greater than 12m for internal use and 8m for external use, towers with cantilever platforms, towers less than 2.5m in height commonly referred to as room scaffolds, linked towers and high clearance towers.

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