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First International Scaffolding Championships ScaffMag’s Editor, Dan Norton, travels to the Baltic state to witness a unique event
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caffolders have competed in the first-ever international scaffolding championships held at RESTA the country’s largest trade fair in Vilnius, Lithuania. In a bid to promote a professional scaffolding trade – whilst showcasing the improved safety standards within the Baltic region – nine teams from some of the leading scaffolding contractors within Lithuania, Poland, Estonia and Russia took part in the exciting, unique competition. The international event was organised by the recently established Baltic Scaffolding Association (BSA) – a nonprofit organisation that unites scaffold production, hire and sales companies and scaffold contractors in Northern Europe. The fundamental aim of the BSA is to promote the safe use of scaffolding and provide qualified training for scaffold installers in the region. It is not surprising (if deeply shocking) to learn that many workers in Lithuania and its bordering countries are killed while working at height. Last year the country recorded the deaths of six workers and the serious injures of 17 operatives working at height. The BSA is taking the first steps to tackle these terrible statistics by working closely with the Lithuanian State Labour Inspectorate to help improve their situation.
“We as an association think that scaffolders must get proper training before beginning to work. To show and prove that scaffolding can be completed efficiently and safely we decided to organise the International Scaffolding Championships,” said Žaneta Baltrnien Head of Training at the BSA. “Being a young association we have the ambition to grow and represent all scaffolders rights in all levels – first of all – to be trained before work. “Safety first” is the slogan of the association - so many young men die or get injured every year at work while working on scaffolding.”
The Competing Teams Adelante Tellingud - Estonia Arad - Poland Globalita - Lithuania ITCC - Lithuania Lesavik - Russia Litana - Lithuania Pastolinis - Lithuania Storent - Latvia
The Main Event The championship was divided into three rounds with each team of five scaffolders having a total of two hours to erect and dismantle a designed free standing system scaffold, which is commonly used in Lithuania and its neighbouring countries. Each competing team was against
08 | Spring 2019
the clock and under the scrutiny of industry expert referees who would impose time penalties for any safety breaches or construction inaccuracies. The teams had to complete to the construction as quickly as possible and raise their flag, the timing was stopped once completed. Referees then walked the scaffolds to check for assembly correctness. The clock was then restarted when the dismantling process got underway.
The Champion of Champions Skilled scaffolders from the interna-
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