A masonry repair project at Longwood Towers utilized a cantilevered mast climbing type of scaffolding to provide access for masons to the upper portion of the buildings. The design of the scaffold consisted of a series of "box" trusses that hung off each side of a rigid center mast. To reach the walls in some areas, cantilevered extensions were added to the trusses and covered with plywood to create a work platform. As masons were in the process of removing stonework from the upper portion of a wall, the scaffolding suddenly collapsed killing one worker and severely injuring another.
Drake Exhibits was retained to create demonstrative evidence to explain the scaffold equipment design, configuration, and function at the work site. Drake documented the scaffolding components and site. A 1/5 size scale model of three scaffold sections and several of the cantilever frames was fabricated from brass. A computer model of all the scaffold equipment and a portion of the building was created to produce a slide show used to show the jury how the scaffold was erected and used on the job site.
for Stephen W. Sutton, PC
Brockton, MA
Engineering & Materials Consultants:
Rapperport Associates, Inc.
