Glossary
The building and construction industry records more than four times the fatal injury rate of the UK average across all sectors. Even so, deaths among construction workers have stayed low in recent years, and the UK's legal requirement for scaffold inspections is part of the reason why. This article looks at scaffold structures and scaffold testing in more detail, and at the role they play in keeping construction workers safe.
The HSE construction statistics from 2021 report that:
- 74,000 workers suffered from work-related illnesses
- 39 fatal injuries occurred to workers, 50% of which are from falls from height
- 61,000 non-fatal injuries occurred to workers, 19% of which are due to falls from heights
Key Takeaways
- Inspections for scaffolding check the safety and stability and sign the scaffold inspection tag.
- Scaffold inspections must be performed by a competent person after the initial setup and at least once a week afterwards.
- The CISRS provides a scaffold inspection training scheme (SITS) for someone wishing to become a professional scaffold inspector.
What Is a Scaffold?
Scaffolds give construction crews a safe working platform, or access to areas that can't be reached from ground level. The structures themselves are temporary, built from scaffolding components. "Scaffolding" refers to those components: tubes, couplers, frames and other materials. Under the Work Health and Safety Act (WHS), scaffolding is classed as plant.
Erecting, dismantling or altering scaffolding — a structure temporarily constructed to support a platform from which someone could fall more than four metres — is known as scaffolding work. That work must only be carried out by an appropriately licensed person.
Types of Scaffolds
Builders and the wider construction industry come to mind first, but they are far from the only users. The film and TV industry relies on scaffolds too, as do window cleaners, house renovators and civil engineers. Which type you need depends on where and how it will be used.
Single scaffolding is used mainly for working on brick constructions, which is why it is also called bricklayers' scaffolding. It consists of ledgers, standards, putlogs and so on, and is erected parallel to the wall at a distance of around 1.2 metres. The standards sit about 2 to 2.5 metres apart. Vertical ledgers connect them at intervals of 1.2 to 1.5 m, and putlogs rest in holes in the wall at intervals of 1.2 to 1.5 metres.
Double scaffolding, or independent scaffolding, is the usual choice for stone masonry and is also known as mason's scaffolding. Because cutting holes in a stone wall for putlogs is difficult, two rows of scaffolding are built instead for added strength. The first row sits 20 to 30 centimetres from the wall, the second a metre out from the first. Putlogs supported by both frames are then added, with rakers and cross braces providing further reinforcement.
Cantilever scaffolding, or single frame scaffolding, has standards supported on a series of needles taken out through holes in the wall. With double frame scaffolding, needles are strutted inside the floors through openings. Cantilever scaffolding tends to be used when the ground cannot support standards, when the ground near the wall must stay free of traffic, or when an upper part of a wall is being constructed.
Suspended scaffolding consists of a working platform hung from the roof by chains or wire ropes, which can be raised or lowered as needed. It is used chiefly for pointing, repair work, painting and similar tasks.
Trestle scaffolding is a platform supported on movable ladders or tripods. It is generally used for interior work — repairs and decorating — up to a height of 5 metres.
Steel scaffolding, or fitting scaffolds, is built from steel tubes joined by couplers or fittings, and it is very easy to erect or dismantle. It costs more than the alternatives, but it is also safer. Its strength, durability and fire resistance make it a widely used option.
How long a scaffold lasts depends on the materials it is built from. As a rough estimate, a high-quality steel scaffold should last for around 25 years.
The Law: Scaffold Inspection Requirements
Scaffold inspection and testing are a legal requirement, so they must be carried out by a competent person — someone with the knowledge, experience and appropriate training for the type of scaffold involved. For construction businesses, keeping these inspections on schedule is a core part of staying compliant. That competency usually comes from the Construction Industry Scaffolders Record Scheme (CISRS) qualification.
Platforms used for construction work from which a person may fall 2 metres or more fall under the Health and Safety Executive's (HSE) regulations for working at height. The HSE also accepts the guidance set out in NASC SG04, preventing falls in scaffolding operations.
A professional scaffolding inspector confirms that the scaffold is safely designed and constructed, reducing the risk of accidents. An inspection may also be required to satisfy the conditions of a construction insurance policy.
Scaffolds can collapse for reasons such as overloading or instability, so regular inspection matters. A damaged scaffold may become structurally unsound and give way. Metal components can rust or corrode over time and leave the structure unstable. Timber planks used for a platform can crack or shift if they are damaged, and that can cause a fall.
Work at Height Regulations 2005: When And How Should Scaffolding Be Inspected?
The Work at Height Regulations 2005 require inspections on site after assembly and then at seven-day intervals. A scaffold must be inspected before use, with the result confirmed in the initial inspection report or a handover certificate. Inspections are equally important after any event that could affect safety — alterations, adverse weather or an earthquake among them.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) scaffold inspection checklist is thorough. An inspector will check, for example:
Basic Scaffold Inspection Checklist
- Are the components and planking in good condition?
- Is it level and plumb?
- Are guard railings in place?
- Has the area around the scaffold been secured?
- Is a competent person in charge of the erection and inspection?
- Has the scaffold inspection form been signed off and approved for use?
- If an inspection has revealed a scaffold is unsafe, is the “Do Not Use” tag attached at all points of access?
HSE Scaffold Inspection Report
An HSE scaffold inspection report is also required to contain the following information:
- Personal details of the person for whom the inspection was carried out.
- Name and position of the scaffolding inspector.
- Date, time and location of the scaffold inspection.
- Description of the scaffolding structure.
- Any risks identified.
- Actions to be taken to rectify these issues.
- Details of any further steps required.
Who Is Responsible?
Under health and safety law, responsibility for scaffolding and scaffolds is shared across designers, scaffolding contractors and scaffolding workers. Once an erected scaffold has been inspected, a scaffold inspection tag is attached to the structure to show compliance with OSHA, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, regulations.
Who Can Inspect a Scaffold? CISRS Basic Scaffold Inspection Course
Anyone inspecting a scaffold needs the right training, skills and experience. A person who holds a CISRS scaffolder cardholder qualification is competent to inspect the structures covered in the CISRS part 1 and part 2 introductory scaffold inspection courses.
More complex scaffolds call for someone who has passed the CISRS advanced scaffold inspection course. Anyone inspecting system scaffolds also needs product knowledge of the specific system, on top of the basic scaffold inspection course.
In short, a CISRS scaffold inspection qualification covers a basic scaffold structure, while anything more complex requires the CISRS advanced scaffold inspection credential plus extensive experience.
How to Become a Scaffold Inspector?
Becoming a professional scaffold inspector means passing a scaffold inspection course such as the CISRS Scaffolding Inspection Training Scheme (SITS). The course is aimed at CISRS scaffold cardholders and at those renewing inspection cards. It also covers anyone responsible for checking and inspecting scaffolds for safety, and for signing the registers and certificates that statutory regulations demand.
For safety reasons, anyone using a scaffold should be competent for the work they are carrying out and trained accordingly. A worker might hold a CISRS trainee scaffolder or CISRS scaffolding labourer card if they are carrying out labouring duties in support of scaffolding works. Trainee scaffolders should always be supervised by a trained, competent scaffolder while working.
Construction workers new to scaffolding can apply for a scaffolders labourer green card, which proves their grasp of health and safety regulations and COTS, the CISRS operative training scheme. More advanced qualifications follow, including the red card for trainee scaffolders, the blue card for experienced scaffolders and the gold card for advanced scaffolders.
Scaffold Inspections With ToolSense
ToolSense is an asset tracking and equipment management solution. With it, you can manage scaffold testing, schedule the next inspection, and keep detailed records of dates and responsible parties. The ToolSense equipment inspection software works much like a scaffold inspection app, letting you manage scaffold inspection checklists and reports on one central platform.
How ToolSense Improves Your Equipment Safety Inspections
Conclusion
HSE scaffold inspection is central to reducing the risk of accidents. Professional inspectors confirm that scaffolds are built and maintained correctly and that they comply with health and safety legislation. Plenty of companies offer the service, but the cost varies widely depending on the type of scaffold, its size and the UK region. It pays to get quotes from several professional scaffold inspection companies before hiring one.
FAQ
What Does a Scaffolding Inspector Do?
A scaffolding inspector carefully examines erected scaffolding to make sure that it is safe, both for the people working on it and any passers-by. He then signs the scaffold safety inspection certificate or tag.
What Aspects of the Scaffold Should be Inspected?
All components of the scaffold should be inspected such as tubes, couplers, frames and other materials, and in addition, the structure should be checked for stability.
What Are the Safety Rules Regarding Scaffolds?
The Work at Height Regulations 2005 applies to scaffolds.
Are Scaffold Inspections a Legal Requirement?
Scaffold inspection tag systems are not a legal requirement. However, scaffolding from which someone could fall 2 metres or more must be inspected by a competent person. The scaffold inspection frequency is on completion and at a minimum of once a week after that.
Are Scaffold Handover Certificates a Legal Requirement?
Scaffold handover protocols are not required by law. However, it offers considerable advantages to both scaffolders and their customers and should therefore be used.
Do You Have to Use Scafftags?
Labelling a scaffold as safe for use is best practice, although it is not required by law.
