Scaffolding systems can have their stability undermined by two major ground types. Firstly, soil subsidence can be a result of water flows or excavation in the area and secondly, friable and soft ground could be covered with a tough-looking crust on the top.

Large volumes of flowing water or nearby excavation work has been known to result in soil subsidence. This is a major risk to workers’ safety and can cause scaffold to collapse. However, some preventative measures can be taken, such as redirecting potential watercourses away from scaffolding foundations. This is especially true for trench that have recently been filled.

Additionally, sometimes it may be difficult to tell really how hard the ground is. In some cases, earth may appear solid but this is only because a solid crust was created as soft ground underneath dried. When erecting scaffolding, it’s easy to overestimate the load bearing capabilities of these surfaces. This is a dangerous situation that can cause scaffolding to topple if the load is too high. There is then a risk the structure will fall through the crust on to the soft soil. Even before considering to erect an access solution, you’ll need a professional scaffolding company in Brisbane to analyse the ground and offer expert advice of the system’s load bearing capacity.