Evening star., 1937-03-06
ARCH|TECTSDR DRAW
RULES ON SAFETY
Regulations Intended to Be
Incorporated in Spec
ificationS.

life and property in the building in
dustry a code of safety regulations
has been drawn up by Samuel R.
Bishop of New York, chairman OF the
Committee on Health and Safety OF
the American Institute of Architects
The rules are intended for incorpora-
ton in architects specifications for
new construction, and are based on
the theory that safety provision should
begin in the Office of the architect.
The old system, under which the
contractor assumed all safety respon-
slbility, is both wasteful and obsolete,
according to Bishop.
First, with regard to tearing down
old buildings Workmen shall not be
permitted to start demolition until all
gas, electricity, water and other supply
lines from the outside, except such as
are required for use in connection
with the work, are effectively shut
off," the new code reads.
Stairs to Be Kept in Place.
"Glazed saShes and doors shall be
removed at the start Of the operation,
and floor openings shall be barricaded
with guard rails and toe boards. Stairs
and railings shall be kept in place as
long as possible and steps and landings
kept free from debris.
Walls shall be removed part by
part and scaffolds and stagings erect
ed for workmen, if walls are too thin
or too weak to work upon. No wall
: or other heavy piece of construction
: shall be allowed to fall in mass. ex-
! cept under competent supervision.
: The rules for safe procedure in
blasting are designed to prevent pre-
I mature explosions and to guard
] against dangers of injury from flying
debris. Explosives shall be stored in
a labeled shed or magazine. especially
( constructed for that purpose, which
! shall be kept locked and under the
: person. No blast shall be fired until
: the rock to be loosened has been
covered with stronlg woven mating
of sufficient weight to prevent the
scattering of shattered material. Be-
fore blast is fired, warning shall be
given to all persons in the vicinity
who would be in danger from flying
missiles.
Snoring of Excavations.
"In excavations, the sides of each
one shall be sheet piled, Shored or
braced where necessary to prevent
soil from coming in on those en-
ployed in the excavation. Every
trench feet or more in depth shall
have means of escape provided every
Is feet.
Sidewalk sheds shall be provided
wherever required to serve as a pro-
lection covering over the highway.
Where used for the storage of ma
terials they shall be Of sufficient
strength and stability to susutain the
weight Of such materials safely. Ma
terials which are stored in locations
near which workmen are employed
shall be stacked in a manner to avoid
toppling over or otherwise being dis
placed.
Hosting machinery shall be
housed and gears and moving parts
inclosed to protect the operators and
machinery from weather and falling
objects. Derricks shall be so designed
and assembled that no part shall be
stressed beyond the safe working
stress Of the material, provided with
adequate and effective brakes and sub
stantial guards. The foot block shall
be firmly secured against motion.
Floor Openings to Be Guarded.
In buildings or structures OF skele-
ton construction the entire tier of
beams on which the structural stool
Is being erected, generally called the
working floor, shall be thoroughly
foored over, except spaces required for
stairway. ladder or raising materials.
All floor openings used as hoistways
shall be guarded with sheathed or
wire-mesh barriers placed along the
edge OF such opening or by guard
rails not less than 2 feet distant from
the edges Of the openings. All floor
openings used as stairways or for
the accommodation of ladders shall
be guarded by railings and toe boards.
Except where Stairways or run.
ways are installed, ladders shall be
provided to give access to all floors,
stagings or platforms where work is
being carried on more than 5 feet
above the ground or floor. Ladders
shall have the sides extended at least
feet above the level OF such floor,
staging or platform. All ladders shall
be substantial in construction and
regularly inspected.
Properly constructed scaffoldS shall
be provided for all work that cannot
be performed from the floor or ground.
Scaf1olds shall be substantial in con-
struction, safe to sustain at least four
times their maximum loads and Sc
cured to prevent swaying. Barrels,
boxes or other unstable objects shall
not be used as support for planking
intended as scaffolds or places of work.
Sufficient Light Required.
"All parts of buildings under con-
struction, including sheds, scaffolds
stairways, etc. where workers are
~Aoo6SA Va "AkCiC UllCy IlSCSSs
sarily pass to and from their work, OF
in its performance, shall have SUM-
eient light, either natural or artificial,
to insure safety.
"On every building operation ar
ample supply of iodine, swabs, alb.
sorbent cotton, and sseptic gauze shall
be provided and maintained in q suit.
able and accessible cabinet.
Those are few of the funda.
mental and essential requirement.
which can be embodied in every archi-
tect's specifications, to be observed
where applicable or necessary. Will.
they may be supplemental, or even al
variance in some cases with loca
laws and regulations. yet they viii
show that the architect Is insistent or
aafetv r,eo s1,rag apd will iy,oposa ,Iysov