EP4136299A1

EP4136299A1 - Lift shaft scaffolding and related safety rail installation

Info

Publication number: EP4136299A1
Application number: EP21789586.1A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Yuen Mei Rebecca LAI
Original assignee: Wls Intellectual Property Ltd
Current assignee: Wls Intellectual Property Ltd
Priority date: 2020-04-15
Filing date: 2021-04-15
Publication date: 2023-02-22
Also published as: EP4136299A4; WO2021209931A1

Abstract

A scaffolding structure for a lift shaft that includes at least one passageway through the wall of the lift shaft. The structure comprising a scaffolding tower inside the lift shaft and a catwalk extending from the scaffolding tower to the passageway. A safety rail is provided that has an elongate member secured with its first distal end to the scaffolding tower. The elongate member is L or U shaped and includes a catwalk rail section extending along the catwalk above the catwalk gangplank to provide for fall protection for any person on the gangplank.

Description

LIFT SHAFT SCAFFOLDING AND RELATED SAFETY RAIL INSTALLATION

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to lift shaft scaffolding and related safety rail installation.

BACKGROUND

Scaffolding is often provided in lift shafts during construction of a building for the purposes of allowing workers to easily access the interior of the shaft. On a given floor, shaft scaffolding typically supports a work platform upon which workers can stand, and a catwalk that bridges the gap between said platform and the accessible part of the building floor. Without sufficient safety precautions both the catwalk and the work platform present a falling hazard to workers. Safety measures might consist of safety rails that extend around the perimeter of the work platform and along the sides of the catwalk. Such safety rails can function as hand rails for workers to grasp for balance.

Figure 1 (prior art) shows a view of a typical safety rail installation for providing hand rails (1A, IB, 1C, ID) above a catwalk (2) that extends between a work platform (3) and the accessible part of a building floor (4). The work platform is supported by scaffolding (5) within a lift shaft. The hand rails are fixed to a mounting frame comprising four members (6A,6B,6C,6D).

Although the safety rail installation shown in Figure 1 is an effective safety measure, some members (6D) of the mounting frame present a partial obstruction to workers who require access. Additionally, the large number of components required to establish the safety rail installation, makes installation time-consuming, more difficult and expensive.

It is therefore desirable to find alternative methods of assembling and mounting lift shaft safety rails such that there is no obstruction to workers, installation is simplified and/or sped up, and a safe working environment is maintained.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In a first aspect the present invention may broadly be said to be a lift shaft safety rail for providing fall protection along a catwalk that spans a gap between the scaffolding tower erected inside a lift shaft and a passageway through the lift shaft, the safety rail comprising an elongate member that extends in a continuous manner between a first distal end of the elongate member at where it is able to be secured to and be supported by the scaffolding tower inside the lift shaft and a second distal end of the elongate member at where the elongate member is also able to be supported, wherein the elongate member comprises of a catwalk rail section to extend along the catwalk and a first return section that extends at an angle from the catwalk rail section to the first distal end and a second return section that extends at an angle from the catwalk rail section to the second distal.

Preferably the elongate member has at least one bend between the catwalk rail section and the first return section.

Preferably the elongate member has at least one bend between the catwalk rail section and the second return section.

Preferably the first return section extends at 90 degrees to the catwalk rail section.

Preferably the second return section extends at 90 degrees to the catwalk rail section.

Preferably the second return section extends in a direction parallel the first return section.

Preferably the first return section, the second return section and the catwalk rail section extend in directions that are coplanar.

Preferably the elongate member is not fabricated or assembled.

Preferably the elongate member is an extruded metal hollow section (eg a pipe section).

Preferably a first distal end connector is located at the first distal end of the elongate member to facilitate connection of the rail to the scaffolding structure.

Preferably the first distal end connector comprises a hook to locate at a complimentary receptacle presented by the scaffolding structure.

Preferably the first distal end connector comprises a hook to releasably locate a complimentary receptacle presented by the scaffolding structure.

Preferably the first distal end connector comprises a hook able to drop into a complimentary receptacle presented by the scaffolding structure.

Preferably the first distal end connector comprises a hook to releasably locate at a rosette of a standard of the scaffolding tower into a rosette slot of the rosette.

Preferably the second distal end connector comprises a hook to locate at a complimentary receptacle presented by a post to support the rail the second distal end.

Preferably the second distal end connector comprises a hook to releasably locate a complimentary receptacle presented by a post to support the second distal end. Preferably the second distal end connector comprises a hook able to drop into a complimentary receptacle presented by the post.

Preferably the second distal end connector comprises a hook to releasably locate at a rosette of a post into a rosette slot of the rosette. In a second aspect the present invention may be said to be a scaffolding structure for a lift shaft that includes at least one passageway through the wall of the lift shaft to provide access to the inside of the lift shaft for a person, the structure comprising a scaffolding tower inside the lift shaft, a catwalk gangplank for a catwalk extending from the scaffolding tower to the passageway, and a safety rail as herein define wherein the safety rail is secured with the first distal end to the scaffolding tower in a manner to position the catwalk rail section along the catwalk above the catwalk gangplank to provide for fall protection for any person on the gangplank.

Preferably there are two said safety rails, one for locating a respective said catwalk rail section at each side of the catwalk. Preferably the two safety rails are provided extending in a horizonal plane.

Preferably said safety rail has its catwalk rail section passing through the passage and parallel the egress direction of the catwalk gangplank and its first return projecting in a direction lateral to the egress direction of the catwalk gangplank away from the catwalk. Preferably said safety rail has its catwalk rail section passing through the passage and parallel the egress direction of the catwalk gangplank and its second return projecting in a direction lateral to the egress direction of the catwalk gangplank away from the catwalk.

Preferably said safety rail has its cat walk rail section passing through the passage and parallel the egress direction of the catwalk gangplank and its second return projecting in a direction lateral to the egress direction of the catwalk gangplank away from the catwalk and its first return projecting in a direction lateral to the egress direction of the catwalk gangplank away from the catwalk.

Preferably the second distal end of the or each safety rail is supported at the second distal end connector by a post that is secured to the lift shaft or the building it is related to.

Preferably there is provided a stanchion for supporting the second distal end of the safety rail.

Preferably the stanchion comprises a post that is supported at least at one of its ends by a mount of the stanchion that is secured to one or both of the lift shaft and the adjacent building structure. Preferably the stanchion comprises a post that is located outside of the lift shaft and that is supported at least at one of its ends by a mount of the stanchion that is secured to one or both of the lift shaft and the adjacent building structure.

Preferably the mount comprises a base plate to secure against the lift shaft or building structure and a threaded rod to allow some adjustment of the position of the post relative the base plate.

Preferably the first distal end is located inside the lift shaft and the second distal end is located outside the lift shaft.

Preferably the first distal end is located inside the lift shaft and the second distal end is located outside the lift shaft and is supported by a stanchion that is secured to the lift shaft and/or the floor of the building leading to the passage way.

Preferably the stanchion comprises a means to adjust the position of the post relative to the lift shaft or building structure.

Preferably the post comprises a receptacle to receive a hook of the second distal end connector.

In a further aspect the present invention may be said to be a lift shaft safety rail for providing fall protection along a catwalk that spans a gap between the scaffolding tower erected inside a lift shaft and a passageway through the lift shaft, the safety rail comprising an elongate member that extends in a continuous manner between a first distal end of the elongate member at where it is able to be secured to and be supported by the scaffolding tower inside the lift shaft and a second distal end of the elongate member at where the elongate member is also able to be supported, wherein the elongate member comprises of a catwalk rail section to extend along the catwalk and a first return section that extends at an angle from the catwalk rail section to the first distal end.

In a further aspect the present invention may be said to be a method of installing safety railing for a catwalk leading from a passage through a lift shaft wall to a scaffold tower inside a lift shaft, the method comprising securing stanchions outside the lift shaft to the lift shaft wall or adjacent building structure adjacent each side of the passage, the stanchions presenting securing regions for a safety rail herein before described to be secured, securing said safety rail at its second distal end to said stanchion and at its first distal end to the scaffolding tower.

In a further aspect the present invention may be said to be a safety railing for a catwalk leading from a passage through a lift shaft wall to a scaffold tower inside the lift shaft the safety rail comprising an elongate member to extend from the scaffolding and along the catwalk, a first distal end of the elongate member configured to secure to the scaffolding tower and an opposite second distal end of the elongate member able to be supported to support the elongate member in a manner to provide fall protection at the catwalk, the elongate member being L or U shaped.

In a further aspect the present invention may be said to be a safety railing for a catwalk the safety rail comprising an elongate member to extend from a scaffolding tower erected inside the lift shaft, along a catwalk that spans the gap between the scaffolding tower and a passageway through the lift shaft wall, the safety rail comprising a first distal end configured to secure to the scaffolding tower and an opposite second distal end able to be supported to support the elongate member in a manner to provide fall protection at the catwalk, the elongate member being L or U shaped.

In a further aspect the present invention may be said to be a scaffolding structure for a lift shaft that includes at least one passageway through the wall of the lift shaft to provide access to the inside of the lift shaft for a person, the structure comprising a scaffolding tower inside the lift shaft, a catwalk gangplank for a catwalk extending from the scaffolding tower to the passageway, and a safety rail comprising an elongate member secured with its first distal end to the scaffolding tower the elongate member being L or U shaped and that includes a catwalk rail section extending along the catwalk above the catwalk gangplank to provide for fall protection for any person on the gangplank.

This invention may also be said broadly to consist in the parts, elements and features referred to or indicated in the specification of the application, individually or collectively, and any or all combinations of any two or more of said parts, elements or features, and where specific integers are mentioned herein which have known equivalents in the art to which this invention relates, such known equivalents are deemed to be incorporated herein as if individually set forth.

As used herein the term "and/or" means "and" or "or", or both.

As used herein "(s)" following a noun means the plural and/or singular forms of the noun.

The term "comprising" as used in this specification means "consisting at least in part of". When interpreting statements in this specification which include that term, the features, prefaced by that term in each statement, all need to be present but other features can also be present. Related terms such as "comprise" and "comprised" are to be interpreted in the same manner.

The entire disclosures of all applications, patents and publications, cited above and below, if any, are hereby incorporated by reference. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Figure 1 (prior art) shows a prior art safety rail installation for a catwalk to a lift shaft scaffolding tower,

Figure 2A shows a lift shaft and a scaffolding structure of the present invention including the safety rails,

Figure 2B shows the scaffolding structure with the lift shaft removed for clarity to show the scaffolding tower inside the lift shaft,

Figure 3 shows a plan view of a lift shaft with the scaffolding structure in place,

Figure 4 shows a plan view of a safety rail,

Figure 5A shows a detailed view of a preferred form of the upper end of a stanchion,

Figure 5B shows an alternative configuration of the end of a stanchion using a turnbuckle,

Figure 6 shows a sectional view on a vertical plane through the lift shaft showing the scaffolding structure,

Figure 6A shows a detailed view of the end of the safety rail,

Figure 6B shows a configuration of the lower end of a stanchion where it is floor mounted,

Figure 6C shows an alternative configuration of the lower end of a stanchion wherein it is mounted to the wall,

Figure 7 shows a sectional view on a vertical plane through the lift shaft showing the scaffolding structure,

Figure 8 shows a front view of a lift shaft and scaffolding structure, and

Figure 9 shows a front view of a lift shaft and install ledgers used to install the safety rails.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a scaffolding structure 1000 as illustrated in the drawings. The scaffolding structure may include a scaffolding tower 106 as illustrated. In a preferred form the invention also relates to a lift shaft safety rail for use as part of the scaffolding structure 1000 for fall protection for people accessing a scaffolding tower 106 provided within a lift shaft 100.

A lift shaft 100 may be provided inside of a building or external of a building. The lift shaft during its construction may require for a scaffolding tower 106 to be present inside. The scaffolding tower may be used by workers to perform construction or installation or repair tasks inside of the lift shaft. The scaffolding tower 106 may also be erected within a lift shaft for the purposes of lift shaft maintenance.

A lift shaft 100 may be defined by a plurality of lift shaft walls 101. The walls are often concrete walls and may be for example reinforced concrete. In a typical format a lift shaft may have a quadrilateral shaped cross section when seen in plan view. Typically, a lift shaft may be of a square cross section. The lift shaft walls 101 define the inside of the lift shaft void 1001 at where the scaffolding tower 106 may be temporarily erected. The scaffolding tower 106 is preferably of a nature extending vertically inside the void 1001 and may comprise of a plurality of standards 107 and ledgers 108 that are assembled and connected together to define the scaffolding tower 106. The tower 106 is typically set up to be spaced from the insides of the shaft walls 101.

The scaffolding tower 106 may also include a putlog 109 that helps ensure the scaffolding tower 106 is securely held within the lift shaft 100. The putlog 109 may extend between the lift shaft walls 101 and the tower 106 for the purposes of ensuring that the tower remains secure and upright and supported by the lift shaft. A plurality of putlogs may be used.

The scaffolding tower 106 may also include a number of work platforms 128. Such work platforms 128 are preferably provided at each floor of the building.

For each floor of the building the lift shaft may define a passageway 103 through a lift shaft wall 101. The passageway 103 may be the passageway by which users of the lift facility pass when they want to leave a floor or arrive at a floor and get in or out of a lift for travelling to a different floor. The passageway 103 may hence be a door way and is preferably of a size hence to allow for a person to walk through and into and out of a lift, once the building is fully constructed.

As can be seen in the drawings, a floor 102 of a building is preferably commensurate with the bottom of the passageway 103 through the lift shaft wall. The scaffolding tower 106 may present a work platform 128 at each level or floor of the building. A catwalk 104 may be provided between the floor and the work platform 128 of the scaffolding tower 106. The catwalk 104 is the general area of passage for a person and that is bounded at the bottom by a catwalk gangplank 105. It spans between the tower 106 and the floor 102 of the building or passageway 103.

The catwalk gangplank 105 is provided to allow a person to walk along this gang plank 105 along the catwalk 104 to the work platform or back from the work platform 128 to the floor 102. The gangplank 105 hence provides an accessway along the catwalk 104 for a worker to get to the work platform. The catwalk is straight and extends in the egress/ ingress direction.

The scaffolding tower 106 includes a plurality of ledgers that are provided at an appropriate height above the work platform 128 to help prevent a worker from falling off the work platform. The ledgers hence provide hand rail or safety rail support and protection for a worker on a platform.

Safety rail support is also provided in the form of a plurality of safety rails 110 along the catwalk. The safety rails 110 can be seen in the accompanying drawings.

In a preferred form a safety rail 110 is provided along each side of the catwalk 104. Preferably there are two safety rails provided along each side of the catwalk 104.

Each safety rail 110 preferably comprises a first distal end 112 and a second distal end 113. Preferably provided at the first distal end 112 is a first distal end connector 112A. Preferably provided at the second distal end 113 is a second distal end connector 113A.

In between the first distal end 112 and a second distal end 113, the safety rail 110 comprises of an elongate member 111. This may be a steel tube. In a preferred form the elongate member 111 has a length of 1475mm in total length. It may be of a length of between 1000mm and 2000mm. In the preferred form the safety rail 110 is a single component that may have been made by fabrication or formed as a unitary item. It preferably comprises of a single elongate member that is preferably unitarily formed and configured to allow for it to be supported at its first and second distal ends and provide fall protection along the catwalk. The elongate member between its first and second distal end is not straight.

The elongate member preferably has one and preferably two regions where a bend exists. Preferably the or each bend is 90 degrees. For example in the figures shown there is a first bend 117 and a second bend 118. In the preferred form the bends are 90 degrees. It will be appreciated it may not be a single bend provided to define the return angle and a plurality of separated bends may be provided to sequentially step the return to the degrees as defined before. The elongate member is preferably not straight but has a plurality of sections that are at an angle to each other but preferably remain all in the same horizontal plane. It is however envisaged that sections may not be co-planar in their extent and some sections may come off at an angle.

The bends in the elongate member 111 result in the elongate member 111 defining a catwalk rail section 114. This is an important section of the elongate member and is to be positioned along a side of the catwalk and extends preferably substantially the entire length of the catwalk to thereby provide fall protection for any person walking along the catwalk. The catwalk rail section 114 is preferably straight as can be seen in the figures. It preferably is positioned in use parallel the egress/ingress direction of the catwalk.

Projecting from one end of the catwalk rail section 114 is the first return 115 of the elongate member 111. Projecting from the other end of the catwalk rail section 114 is the second return 116 of the elongate member 111. As can be seen in the preferred form the first and second returns extend at 90 degrees or approximately 90 degrees to the catwalk rail section. However as previously mentioned angles other than 90 degrees are envisaged. With a 90 degree angle it can be seen that elongate member assumes a substantially U-shaped configuration although one of the U- shaped arms may be shorter than the other. Where one return is provided the elongate member 111 assumes an L shape. The first return 115 may be shorter in length than the second return 116. Alternatively the returns may be of the same length. Alternatively the second return may be shorter than the first return. In a preferred form the first return 115 has a length of 275mm. Alternatively it has a length of between 140mm and 410mm. In a preferred form the second return 116 has a length of 500mm. Alternatively it has a length of between 250mm and 750mm. The catwalk rail section is preferably 700mm long. It may be between

500mm and 1500m long as an example. The first distal end connector 112A is preferably provided to allow for the safety rail 110 to secure to the scaffolding tower 106. In some configurations the connector may be permanently attached to the first distal end so that the connector 112A can be permanently connected to the first distal end 112. It may be cast as one piece and welded at the first distal end. In some instances the first distal end of the elongate member may merely be the terminal end of the tubular elongate member. However in the preferred form the first distal end connector 112A is permanently secured or presented at the first distal end 112 of the elongate member 111. The scaffolding structure may use standards 107 that each have a plurality of ledger securing nodes such as those defined by rosettes 119 spaced along it. The rosettes may include a plurality of rosette slots 120 (such as four rosette slots extending radially relative to each other and to the standard 107) to allow for rosette hooks to locate thereat. The ledgers of the scaffolding tower may engage with a rosette in such a manner. The ledgers may have rosette hooks 150 at the terminal ends and are able to secure with the rosette slots 120 of a rosette 119 of a standard. In a preferred form and in a similar manner the first distal end connector 112A comprises a rosette hook 150 that is presented to allow for the rosette hook 150 at the first distal end 112A to register at rosette slot 120 of a rosette 119 of a standard 107. As seen in Figure 4 the first distal end connector 112A is positioned for engaging to the rosette 119 of the standard 107 of the scaffolding tower. In Figure 4 the rosette 119 is shown to have four rosette slots 120 and the first distal end connector 112A is positioned to secure to the left most rosette slot 120.

The first distal end connector and the standard 107 and rosette 119 cooperate to position and support the safety rail in a horizontal condition. A cantilevered condition is established that prevents the first return 115 from dropping down and preferably remaining at substantially right angles extending radially from the standard 107. The strength of the cantilever together with the cantilever strength provided at the second distal end (which will herein after be described) will help ensure that the safety rail 110 remain in a horizontal plane.

It can be seen in Figure 3 that the catwalk rail section 114 extends at the side and along the catwalk 104. In the preferred form and as seen in Figure 3 there is a safety rail with a respective catwalk rail sections 114 provided extending along each side of the catwalk in its egress/ingress direction. In such a matter the first distal end 112 is able to be secured to the scaffolding tower. The standards of the scaffolding tower preferably present rosettes at an appropriate height to allow for each safety rail 110, at is first distal end, to be secured to such a rosette and be presented at a height so that the catwalk rail section 114 extends at an appropriate height along the catwalk. In the preferred form the arrangement is such that there is no obstruction to a person walking along the catwalk. In the preferred form there is no ledger of the scaffolding tower or other obstruction across the pathway of the catwalk so a person can move onto the work platform 128 and off the work platform 128 without any inconvenience. A skirting board 130 may exist about the perimeter of the work platform 128 and this may be provided to prevent tools or other things that may be dropped onto the work platform from falling off the work platform. The skirting board helps prevent objects rolling or falling off the work platform 128. A skirting board may also exist at the sides of the catwalk gangplank.

The safety rail 110 at its second distal end is secured to the lift shaft 100 or other building structure such as or including the floor 102 or other wall or other scaffolding that may be presented outside of the lift shaft. It may be so secured directly or indirectly. In the preferred form the safety rail 110 at its second distal end is indirectly connected to the building structure or lift shaft and it is preferably so secured by the use of a stanchion 121. The stanchion 121 may comprise of a post 160 that preferably extends substantially vertically and is secured at one or both of its ends to a building structure. In Figure 5A it can be seen that the stanchion 121 comprises of an upper distal end that is secured by the way of bolts to the lift shaft wall 101. The bolts may secure a base plate 123 to the wall that secures the distal end of the stanchion thereat to the walls. In a preferred form the base plate is square and has side lengths of 150mm. Alternatively it has side lengths of between 75mm and 225mm. A nut 122 may be secured to the distal end of stanchion 121 through means such as welds 125, allowing the nut 122 to engage with a threaded rod 124 mounted in or forming part of the base plate 123, thereby securing the distal end of the stanchion 121 to the base plate 123. This can be seen in Figure 5A. Alternatively a turnbuckle arrangement 131 may be provided that may include a turnbuckle sleeve 126 located about a threaded rod 124. This can be seen in Figure 5B. The turnbuckle 131 is able to be adjusted to move the distal end further away from or closer to the wall 101 in a horizontal direction. This can allow for an adjustment of position and angle of the post 160 to be made. The lower distal end of the stanchion may be secured to the floor 102 as seen in Figure 6. Alternatively it may be secured to the wall 101 as seen in Figure 6C. It may be secured with an arrangement similar to any of those that might be used for the upper distal end of the stanchion, or alternatively a base plate 123 may be secured directly to the lower distal end of the stanchion through means such as welds 125. This can be seen in Figure 6B. The post of the stanchion 121 includes as can be seen in Figure 4 at least one and preferably a plurality of rosettes that a rosette hook 150 of the second distal end connector 113A of the hand rail can register. Flence likewise a convenient and secure way of securing the second distal end of the safety rail 110 to the stanchion is able to be provided.

Alternatively packers or spacers or other means for adjustment of the position of the stanchion and in particular the post 160 may be provided. In a preferred form the post is erected in a substantially vertical orientation. It is envisaged that a plurality of identical safety rails are provided as part to the scaffolding structure and such rails are preferably all of the same shape and configuration.

Install of the stanchions on each side of the passage may be facilitated by the use of the install ledgers 129. This can be seen in Figure 9. The install ledgers 129 may be secured at each of their ends to the post of a stanchion a hood and rosette like connection may be provided. The install ledgers may be of a length to ensure that the posts of the stanchions are spaced part appropriately. The install ledgers can hold both stanchions in an appropriate orientation relative to each other when the base plates are being positioned for securing to the lift shaft wall or floor. Markings may be made on the wall and/or floor as drill guides so that holes for the bolts of the stanchion are made in the desired locations. Once so drilled the stanchions can then be secured in the right location for the safety rails to then be coupled to the posts.

Similarly the posts provide a means for extending a ledger or ledgers across the passageway to prevent access to the catwalk in case this is needed for safety reasons such as during construction or deconstruction of the scaffolding tower and catwalks with safety rail. The stanchions maybe positioned first in the construction of the scaffolding structure and a safety barrier such as ledgers may span between the two stanchions at each passageway.

It is envisaged that alternative connectors to the rosette and hook style connectors may be used. A clamp may be used to secure the safety rail to a standard and/or a post.

Claims

1. A lift shaft safety rail for providing fall protection along a catwalk that spans a gap between the scaffolding tower erected inside a lift shaft and a passageway through the lift shaft, the safety rail comprising an elongate member that extends in a continuous manner between a first distal end of the elongate member at where it is able to be secured to and be supported by the scaffolding tower inside the lift shaft and a second distal end of the elongate member at where the elongate member is also able to be supported, wherein the elongate member between its first and second distal ends comprises of a catwalk rail section to extend along the catwalk and a first return section that extends at an angle from the catwalk rail section to the first distal end and a second return section that extends at an angle from the catwalk rail section to the second distal.

2. A safety rail as claimed in claim 1 wherein the elongate member has at least one bend between the catwalk rail section and the first return section.

3. A safety rail as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the elongate member has at least one bend between the catwalk rail section and the second return section.

4. A safety rail as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 3 wherein the first return section extends at 90 degrees to the catwalk rail section.

5. A safety rail as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 4 wherein the second return section extends at 90 degrees to the catwalk rail section.

6. A safety rail as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 5 wherein the second return section extends in a direction parallel the first return section.

7. A safety rail as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 6 wherein the first return section, the second return section and the catwalk rail section extend in directions that are coplanar.

8. A safety rail as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 7 wherein the elongate member is not fabricated or assembled.

9. A safety rail as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 8 wherein the elongate member is a metal hollow section.

10 A safety rail as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 9 wherein a first distal end connector is located at the first distal end of the elongate member to facilitate connection of the rail to the scaffolding structure.

11 A safety rail as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 10 wherein the first distal end connector comprises a hook to locate at a complimentary receptacle presented by the scaffolding structure.

12 A safety rail as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to lip wherein the first distal end connector comprises a hook to releasably locate a complimentary receptacle presented by the scaffolding structure.

13. A safety rail as claimed in anyone of claims 11 to 12 wherein the first distal end connector comprises a hook able to drop into a complimentary receptacle presented by the scaffolding structure.

14. A safety rail as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 13 wherein the first distal end connector comprises a hook to releasably locate at a rosette of a standard of the scaffolding tower into a rosette slot of the rosette.

15. A safety rail as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 14 wherein the second distal end connector comprises a hook to locate at a complimentary receptacle presented by a post to support the rail the second distal end.

16. A safety rail as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 15 wherein the second distal end connector comprises a hook to releasably locate a complimentary receptacle presented by a post to support the second distal end.

17. A safety rail as claimed in anyone of claims 15 to 16 wherein the second distal end connector comprises a hook able to drop into a complimentary receptacle presented by the post.

18. A safety rail as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 13 wherein the second distal end connector comprises a hook to releasably locate at a rosette of a post into a rosette slot of the rosette.

19. A scaffolding structure for a lift shaft that includes at least one passageway through the wall of the lift shaft to provide access to the inside of the lift shaft for a person, the structure comprising a scaffolding tower inside the lift shaft, a catwalk gangplank for a catwalk extending from the scaffolding tower to the passageway, and a safety rail as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 18 wherein the safety rail is secured with the first distal end to the scaffolding tower in a manner to position the catwalk rail section along the catwalk above the catwalk gangplank to provide for fall protection for any person on the gangplank.

20. A scaffolding structure as claimed in claim 19 wherein there are two said safety rails, one for locating a respective said catwalk rail section at each side of the catwalk.

21. A scaffolding structure as claimed in claim 20 wherein the two safety rails are provided extending in a horizonal plane.

22. A scaffolding structure as claimed in claim 19 wherein said safety rail has its cat walk rail section passing through the passage and parallel the egress direction of the catwalk gangplank and its first return projecting in a direction lateral to the egress direction of the catwalk gangplank away from the catwalk.

23. A scaffolding structure as claimed in claim 19 wherein said safety rail has its cat walk rail section passing through the passage and parallel the egress direction of the catwalk gangplank and its second return projecting in a direction lateral to the egress direction of the catwalk gangplank away from the catwalk.

24. A scaffolding structure as claimed in claim 19 wherein said safety rail has its cat walk rail section passing through the passage and parallel the egress direction of the catwalk gangplank and its second return projecting in a direction lateral to the egress direction of the catwalk gangplank away from the catwalk and its first return projecting in a direction lateral to the egress direction of the catwalk gangplank away from the catwalk.

25. A scaffolding structure as claimed in anyone of claims 19 to 24 wherein the second distal end of the or each safety rail is supported at the second distal end connector by a post that is secured to the lift shaft or the building it is related to.

26 A scaffolding structure as claimed in anyone of claims 19 to 25 wherein there is provided a stanchion for supporting the second distal end of the safety rail.

27. A scaffolding structure as claimed in claim 26 wherein stanchion comprises a post that is supported at least at one of its ends by a mount of the stanchion that is secured to one or both of the lift shaft and the adjacent building structure.

28. A scaffolding structure as claimed in claim 26 wherein the stanchion comprises a post that is located outside of the lift shaft and that is supported at least at one of its ends by a mount of the stanchion that is secured to one or both of the lift shaft and the adjacent building structure.

29. A scaffolding structure as claimed in claim 28 wherein the mount comprises a base plate to secure against the lift shaft or building structure and a threaded interface to allow the position of the post to be adjusted relative the base plate.

30. A scaffolding structure as claimed in claim 19 wherein the first distal end is located inside the lift shaft and the second distal end is located outside the lift shaft.

31. A scaffolding structure as claimed in claim 19 wherein the first distal end is located inside the lift shaft and the second distal end is located outside the lift shaft and is supported by a stanchion that is secured to the lift shaft and/or the floor of the building leading to the passage way.

32. A scaffolding structure as claimed in claim 26 or 31 wherein the stanchion comprises a means to adjust the position of the post relative to the lift shaft or building structure.

33. A scaffolding structure as claimed in claim 26 to 31 wherein the post comprises a receptacle to receive a hook of the second distal end connector.

34. A scaffolding structure as claimed in claim 26 to 31 wherein the post comprises a receptacle to receive a hook of the second distal end connector.

35. A lift shaft safety rail for providing fall protection along a catwalk that spans a gap between the scaffolding tower erected inside a lift shaft and a passageway through the lift shaft, the safety rail comprising an elongate member that extends in a continuous manner between a first distal end of the elongate member at where it is able to be secured to and be supported by the scaffolding tower inside the lift shaft and a second distal end of the elongate member at where the elongate member is also able to be supported, wherein the elongate member comprises of a catwalk rail section to extend along the catwalk and a first return section that extends at an angle from the catwalk rail section to the first distal end.

36. A method of installing safety railing for a catwalk leading from a passage through a lift shaft wall to a scaffold tower inside a lift shaft, the method comprising securing stanchions outside the lift shaft to the lift shaft wall or adjacent building structure adjacent each side of the passage, the stanchions presenting securing regions for a safety rail as claimed in anyone of claim 1 to

18 to be secured, securing said safety rail at its second distal end to said stanchion and at its first distal end to the scaffolding tower.

37. Safety railing for a catwalk leading from a passage through a lift shaft wall to a scaffold tower inside the lift shaft the safety rail comprising an elongate member to extend from the scaffolding and along the catwalk, a first distal end of the elongate member configured to secure to the scaffolding tower and an opposite second distal end of the elongate member able to be supported to support the elongate member in a manner to provide fall protection at the catwalk, the elongate member being L or U shaped.

38. Safety railing for a catwalk the safety rail comprising an elongate member to extend from a scaffolding tower erected inside the lift shaft, along a catwalk that spans the gap between the scaffolding tower and a passageway through the lift shaft wall, the safety rail comprising a first distal end configured to secure to the scaffolding tower and an opposite second distal end able to be supported to support the elongate member in a manner to provide fall protection at the catwalk, the elongate member being L or U shaped.

39. A scaffolding structure for a lift shaft that includes at least one passageway through the wall of the lift shaft to provide access to the inside of the lift shaft for a person, the structure comprising a scaffolding tower inside the lift shaft, a catwalk gangplank for a catwalk extending from the scaffolding tower to the passageway, and a safety rail comprising an elongate member secured with its first distal end to the scaffolding tower the elongate member being L or U shaped and that includes a catwalk rail section extending along the catwalk above the catwalk gangplank to provide for fall protection for any person on the gangplank.