Hi fatbob. The safety issues were all considered, and this is an excerpt from my build thread on CTH.
I am pondering the safety issues which would never enter these guys minds (I doubt they have much experience in working at heights) - hard hats maybe, but that won't help if they break their back in a fall. Safety harnesses (they have never used before) would probably lead to an accident.
It turned out that I had underestimated their experience - they have all worked on several medium rise condo sites in Udon. I stand by my assessment however, that safety harnesses they have never used before would probably lead to an accident.
As for scaffolding, it is directly below him. He is only painting over the welds in the centre - all steel was painted on the ground before it was welded in place up top. He could easily reach the welds standing on the platform, but chose to climb along the battens as was his experience. Too lazy to slide the platform along the rails? Maybe.
I did note, as I carefully observerved them moving around the roof framework, that they always adhered to the safety code of having three points of contact at all times.
Cheers
John