In brief
Restoring a historic han differs from building a new structure in three ways: the scaffolding is erected in a narrow, busy street, the strength of the load-bearing system is unknown, and the mortar and paint removed release unexpected dusts. On top of this, the bazaar is often open; shopkeepers and visitors pass beneath the scaffolding. The Regulation on OHS in Construction Work explicitly counts restoration as construction work; the rules on scaffolding, edge protection, falling objects and coordination apply here in full.
Why is restoration safety in a historic bazaar planned separately?
The Hans District in Osmangazi, stretching from the Covered Bazaar (Kapalıçarşı) to Koza Han and from Emir Han to Fidan Han, is one of the components of the “Bursa and Cumalıkızık: the Birth of the Ottoman Empire” site, which was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2014. The hans, the bedesten and the bazaar buildings in this area have been in use for centuries, so repair, strengthening and facade renewal work never really ends. Restoration safety here is planned differently from an ordinary construction site for three reasons:
- The area is narrow and crowded. The scaffolding is erected in a street that vehicles cannot enter, or enter only with difficulty, in front of shops.
- The structure is an unknown. The current load-bearing capacity of stone and brick masonry walls, timber floors and domes can only be understood through investigation and survey drawings.
- The surroundings keep working. Shopkeepers open their shops and visitors walk around the courtyard; the risk assessment must take into account not only employees but also those passing by.
From a legislative point of view, the first point is this: in the list of construction work in Annex 1 of the Regulation on Occupational Health and Safety in Construction Work, “restoration” is listed separately alongside alteration, renovation, repair and demolition work. This means historic building restoration is subject to the regulation’s provisions on scaffolding, edge protection, falling objects and coordination. The second point comes from conservation legislation: Art. 9 of Law No. 2863 on the Conservation of Cultural and Natural Property prohibits construction and physical interventions contrary to the decisions of the regional conservation board, and also counts major repairs, installations and drilling as physical interventions. In OHS terms, the practical meaning is that even “small” jobs such as fixing anchors into a wall for scaffolding must be decided together with the project architect and the approved implementation project.
Restoration scaffolding: narrow streets, anchoring and pedestrian access
Most accidents in the historic bazaar involve scaffolding: someone falls from it, something falls from it, or the scaffolding moves because it could not be tied in adequately. Annex 5 of the regulation sets the following minimum requirements for prefabricated facade scaffolding:
| Topic | Rule in Annex 5 | Point to watch in a historic building |
|---|---|---|
| System | Facade scaffolding with a certificate of conformity to TS EN 12810-1; timber scaffolding may not exceed 13.5 metres | Do not allow scaffolding in the bazaar built “with whatever timber is to hand” |
| Plan | Assembly, use and dismantling plan; the ground, pedestrian and vehicle traffic and power lines are included in this plan | Street width, shop entrances and projections such as signs and awnings are marked on the plan |
| Anchoring | Fixing according to the manufacturer’s instructions; the lowest anchor no more than 4 m above the base plate | Anchor points are chosen with the project architect, using joints or later additions |
| Sheeting | On scaffolding covered with netting, tarpaulin or boards, the number of anchors is increased according to wind load | Tarpaulin stretched for dust turns the scaffolding into a sail; the anchoring calculation is redone |
| Side protection | Main guardrail at least 1 m above the platform, toe board at least 15 cm; a 47 cm sphere must not pass through openings | Where the scaffolding cannot be erected close to the facade, the gap between scaffolding and wall is also protected |
| Walkway | At least 60 cm wide, with side protection and no material on it | Removed stone and roof tiles are not stacked on the walkway |
On the inspection side there are two separate obligations. Annex 5 requires the scaffolding to be inspected by a competent person appointed by the employer before it is put into use, at least once a week, after any modification, after a long period out of use and after a seismic tremor or strong wind. Annex III of the Regulation on Health and Safety Requirements for the Use of Work Equipment provides for a 6-monthly periodic inspection of building scaffolding. For tagging and the weekly inspection form, see our article on building scaffolding inspection and tagging.
Old building collapse risk: do not start dismantling before you understand the structure
The most serious accidents in restoration happen when the building “responds” unexpectedly: a timber tie beam that is removed brings the ceiling down with it, a timber floor on which rubble is piled collapses, an arch whose covering has been removed opens up as it loses load. Section A of Annex 4 of the Regulation on OHS in Construction Work requires employees in buildings under maintenance, repair or demolition to be protected against risks arising from the weakness and fragility of the structure. This provision means the old building collapse risk must be assessed before work starts.
In practice we recommend this sequence:
- Gather the information. The survey, restitution and restoration projects and the structural report state which elements are load-bearing and which were added later. The OHS specialist should not close the risk assessment without reading these documents.
- Support first, then dismantle. In interventions on arches, domes and tie beams, dismantling does not begin until temporary support (props, shoring, formwork scaffolding) is in place. The support plan and the dismantling sequence are written down and explained to the team on site.
- Do not overload floors. The joists of a timber floor may be rotten. Removed material is not accumulated within the floor; as Annex 4 requires, material is not thrown to the ground but lowered in a controlled manner with a bucket, crane or rubble chute.
- Mark fragile surfaces. Rotten boards under roof tiles, roof lights and lead-covered dome surfaces are not stepped on during work; a walking platform and lifeline are used.
- Look again after every change. As dismantling progresses, the structure changes. At every new stage, the supports and scaffolding anchors are rechecked; the same check is repeated after an earthquake.
Restoration dust: mortar, stone and old paint
In a historic building, dust is more mixed than on new construction. A wall whose plaster is scraped releases lime mortar, later repairs release cement, and cut stone and brick release fine dust containing crystalline silica. Old paint layers on timber joinery and doors may contain lead compounds; when these layers are sanded or stripped with hot air, dust and fumes are produced. Corrugated roof sheets, flue pipes or insulation on services added to the building later may contain asbestos.
For this reason, restoration dust should be dealt with at the start of the job with a materials inventory:
- Preliminary survey: The plaster, paint and later additions to be removed are listed. Material suspected of containing asbestos is not broken until sampling and analysis have clarified the situation; for details, see our article on suspected asbestos in old buildings.
- Wet methods and on-tool extraction: For stone cutting and chasing, wet cutting or hand tools with extraction adaptors are used; a HEPA-filtered vacuum is preferred to dry sweeping.
- Separation: The dusty area is separated from the rest of the bazaar with tarpaulins and temporary partitions; care is taken that shop ventilation and the han courtyard do not open onto this area.
- Measurement and monitoring: The extent of exposure is known through measurement, not estimation. We plan workplace environment measurements with authorised laboratories and enter the results into the risk assessment. Our articles on crystalline silica dust for silica risk and on the difference between FFP1, FFP2 and FFP3 for mask selection provide guidance.
Visitor and shopkeeper safety: working in an open bazaar
In the Hans District, the hardest part of a restoration is often that the bazaar does not close. Annex 4 of the regulation requires access to areas where falling objects may pose a danger to be prevented or, where necessary, a covered walkway to be built. Where pedestrian traffic must continue, a protected walkway that keeps shop entrances open is built beneath the scaffolding and covered with a platform that withstands falling objects.
Art. 10 of the Regulation on Emergencies in Workplaces requires that persons likely to be present at the workplace, such as customers and visitors, and nearby workplaces also be taken into account when determining response and evacuation methods. In the historic bazaar, this translates into the following concrete arrangements:
| Situation | Measure |
|---|---|
| Lowering material and crane lifts | Moved to the hours before the bazaar opens or after it closes; the area is closed off with tape and a banksman |
| Work in the han courtyard | An information sign at the courtyard entrance; the visitor route is separated by barriers |
| Welding, grinding, hot tar | Hot work permit, fire watch, information to neighbouring shops |
| After work | The scaffolding ladder is locked or removed; children and curious passers-by are prevented from climbing |
| Emergencies | The han’s exits and assembly point are determined together with the workplaces; the shared emergency plan is updated |
For the obligations of the workplaces in the hans themselves, see our article on Osmangazi bazaar and han shopkeepers.
Who is responsible for what: employer, contractor and coordinator
In restorations the work is often fragmented: the stonemason, the timber team, the roofer and the electrician come from different firms. Art. 8 of the Regulation on OHS in Construction Work requires that, where there is more than one employer or subcontractor on the same construction site, the employer or the project manager assigns a health and safety coordinator and has a health and safety plan prepared before work begins. If the work lasts longer than 30 working days and employs more than 20 workers continuously, or exceeds 500 person-days, a notification with the information in Annex 3 is also made to the provincial directorate before work begins. For the coordinator’s duties, see our article on OHS in construction work: the HSP and the coordinator.
In practice we recommend dividing responsibilities as follows:
- Employer / project manager: Appoints the coordinator, has the plan prepared and selects contractors on OHS criteria.
- Each contractor: Obtains occupational safety specialist and health surveillance services for its own employees and aligns its own risk assessment with the joint plan.
- Project architect and site manager: Determine the dismantling sequence, temporary supports and anchor points.
- OHS specialist: Monitors the site, writes findings in the approved logbook and follows up scaffolding and edge protection inspections.
For area-specific planning for other workplaces in Osmangazi, see our Osmangazi OSGB page, and for the general risk picture of the construction sector, see our construction sector page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is restoration also covered by the Regulation on OHS in Construction Work?
Yes. Restoration is listed separately in the list of construction work in Annex 1 of the regulation. The provisions on scaffolding, edge protection, falling objects, the coordinator and the health and safety plan also apply to restoration work.
Can we drill holes in a historic wall to anchor scaffolding?
In listed buildings, work such as drilling and installations counts as physical intervention under Law No. 2863 and may not be carried out contrary to the decisions of the regional conservation board. Determine the anchor points together with the project architect, in line with the approved implementation project.
How often is restoration scaffolding inspected?
A competent person inspects the scaffolding before it is put into use, at least once a week, and after any modification, long idle period, strong wind or tremor. In addition, building scaffolding undergoes a periodic inspection every 6 months.
Can pedestrians be allowed to pass beneath the scaffolding while the bazaar is open?
Only if a protected walkway is built that is covered against falling objects and keeps shop entrances open. If this cannot be done, access to the area is closed and heavy work is moved to the hours when the bazaar is closed.
A certified specialist matched to your hazard class: site inspections, approved logbook, training plan, annual plan and report follow-up.
Bursa SİSTEMER OSGB Technical Team — written from the field experience of our OHS specialists and workplace physicians. Legal information is valid as of the publication/update date; contact us for an assessment specific to your business.