Adjustable Baseplates

• The manufacturer had commissioned the appropriate testing on this design ofadjustable baseplate. The test report confirms that the adjustable baseplates hadsatisfied the performance testing requirements of the relevant AustralianStandard 1 .However, the test report did not reference “HL 89” or any other manufacturer’smark, meaning that there was no way of readily checking at the point of supply oron-site that the test report related to the particular products in question.• WorkSafe estimates that up to 2,000 “HL 89” adjustable baseplates may havebeen supplied by the manufacturer. It is understood that, to date, supply has beenlimited to the Victorian market.Remedial ActionVictorian suppliers of All Thread Industries adjustable baseplates have agreed tonotify all affected sites that:• The nuts on some spindles may be capable of being wound higher than 150 mmfrom the end, so that scaffolders can be alerted to ensure that they are notoverwound, and• The welding connecting the spindles to their baseplates should be visuallyinspected for faults and any items suspected of having faulty welds should beimmediately withdrawn from service and promptly returned to the supplier.The suppliers have undertaken to examine all items, once they are taken off hire, andto return any suspect items to All Thread Industries so that they can be:• Examined for welding adequacy, and/or• Provided with a mechanical means, where necessary, to permanently prevent thenut from being overwound.The manufacturer has advised that it will have the test report re-issued so that itreferences the permanent marking, HL 89, referred to above, and that it will thenprovide the re-issued test report to the suppliers of All Thread Industries adjustablebaseplates.1 The relevant Australian Standard is AS 1576.2, Scaffolding, Part 2: Couplers and Accessories.Appendix G sets out the performance test for adjustable baseplates.Construction Industry Program Incident Report 02: 017Possible Manufacturing Errors in Some “HL 89” Adjustable Baseplates for ScaffoldsPage 3 of 4