The Need for Regular Scaffolding Inspections

08 May 2023

Regular scaffolding inspections are necessary to ensure that scaffolding is safe to use. Using scaffolding as a work platform can be risky if it is not constructed appropriately and securely by an individual qualified to do so. Working at a height already exposes workers to several hazards, and one of these risks, an unsafe work platform, may be readily minimised by putting the appropriate protocols in place. While operating on-site in a public setting, you have to consider a greater number of individuals than your immediate staff, as members of the general public will also be wandering underneath your structure. This indicates that precautions need to be put into place for workers and passers to ensure that no one trips, nothing is dropped, and no injuries occur due to your building.

The Importance of Regular Inspections

Scaffolding can be damaged by weather, wear and tear, and improper use. A qualified inspector can identify potential hazards and recommend appropriate repairs or modifications. Regular scaffolding inspections can also prevent accidents and injuries by identifying potential risks before they become serious problems.

Inspection Requirements and Regulations

Before any access is permitted, any scaffolding ought to be subjected to a thorough inspection, after which a skilled and experienced scaffolder should attest in writing that the scaffolding in question is risk-free. Anyone who comes into contact with a scaffolding structure more than 4 metres off the ground must have a qualified scaffolder inspect it before they come in contact with it, and a ticketed scaffolder must erect the scaffolding structure itself. This ensures the safety of anyone who comes into contact with the structure.

Because scaffold towers will vary in structure and function, they should only be constructed by competent scaffolders with the appropriate degree of certification for the specific construction project. These towers range from simple structures with a single floor to more complex designs with canter levers and steps. Bearing this in mind, every scaffold needs to be approved and signed off on by someone with the appropriate skill set and certification for the difficulty involved.

Scaffolds With A Height Of More Than Four Metres Must Be Inspected

Before using any scaffolding that is suspended, cantilevered, hung, or spur, as well as any other type of supporting system from which a person or object could fall, and that is higher than four metres, a written confirmation should be in place from a competent person certifying that the scaffolding construction is complete and that an inspection has declared the structure to be safe for use. This confirmation should be in place before using any of these types of scaffolding.

Competency for Predetermined Inspections

Competent people should carry out the predetermined inspections at the prescribed intervals. Inspections on a predetermined schedule should be done no less frequently than once every thirty days.Before utilising the scaffolding, checks must be performed if something affects the scaffolding’s structural integrity.Before using the scaffolding again, it must be inspected if any component requires maintenance or repair.If it is found during a scaffold inspection that the scaffolding system poses one or more health and safety risks, the following actions must be taken:

• Before the scaffolds may be utilised again, the necessary fixes, alterations, and additions must be done.

• A knowledgeable individual must check and certify the scaffolding once necessary repairs, alterations, or additions have been made.

Handover Inspections

Handover inspections are required after scaffolding assembly, repairs, alterations, or additions. Handover inspections require a handover certificate from a competent person. The scaffolding structure must be dismantled before these handover certificates may be removed.

Post-Handover Inspections

Once a trained individual inspects and uses the scaffolding, post-handover inspections are done. These inspections should be done at least every 30 days when a person or item might fall above 4 metres, although they could be done more often based on the structure’s size, workplace circumstances, weather, and other factors that could affect its stability.

Alternatives

Contact the scaffolding system provider or manufacturer about inspection intervals to ensure safety.Scaffold maintenance should examine used and stored parts.Before being used on the building site, scaffolding components should be thoroughly examined to prevent rusting.The construction site should save inspection documents for easy access.Every inspection record should include the date, time, location, notes, model or specification reference, and inspector’s name.

Regular scaffolding inspections are essential to ensure the safety of workers and the public. They can prevent accidents and injuries by identifying potential hazards before they become serious problems. Inspections should be conducted by a competent person who has received appropriate training and should include checks on the scaffolding’s structural integrity, stability, and alignment. Failure to inspect scaffolding regularly can result in significant financial losses and legal consequences.

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