Building a tower — PASMA Towers for Users Practice

Sample questions

1. 01Gusts pick up halfway through a build. Which part of a tower builder’s specific training is meant to cover this?

   • AHow to choose a tower hire firm for the next job
   • BSafety measures when the weather changes during the work
   • CHow to complete the report once the inspection is done
   • DWhich tools to bring for fixing the luminaires

   Why: Schedule 3 Part 2 paragraph 12 says the specific training for putting up, taking down or significantly altering scaffolding covers, among other things, safety measures in the event of changing weather that could affect its safety. HSE says towers must meet the standard for all scaffolds. Reports, the electrical task and hiring are not part of that list.

2. 02The manual lets one person build your tower, but the job is in a busy school corridor. What can a second person at the base add?

   • ANothing, as the manual already allows one builder
   • BHolding the frames upright until the braces go on
   • CA legal minimum crew, which the risk assessment needs
   • DPassing parts, keeping people clear and raising help

   Why: The law sets no crew size. On a live site a second person at the base is often what makes the build safe: passing parts up, keeping people out of the area, and being there to raise the alarm or help if something goes wrong. The risk assessment adds what the place needs. There is no legal minimum, and braces, not a person, hold the frames square.

3. 03On a 3T build, before you climb up to start the next level, what should already be done?

   • AIts parts ready to hand, in the order you will need them
   • BThe braces for the level above that one already fitted
   • CNothing, as parts can be fetched once you are up there
   • DThe rails for that level clipped on from outside the tower

   Why: Have the parts for the next level ready and in the order you will need them before you go up. Improvising at height because the next part is not where you expected is how steps get missed and how builders end up standing or reaching where they should not. Fitting rails from outside the tower, or braces out of the manual’s order, both break the sequence.