Guide
Ensure scaffolding safety on your site
How to meet your legal duties for scaffolding on construction sites. Covers design and planning, erection by competent scaffolders, the mandatory inspection regime, handover procedures, loading limits, and safe access.
Scaffolding is one of the most common ways to provide a safe working platform at height on construction sites. However, poorly erected or badly maintained scaffolding causes serious injuries and deaths every year. As an employer or principal contractor, you have a legal duty to ensure that scaffolding on your site is designed, erected, inspected, and used safely.
The Work at Height Regulations 2005 set out specific requirements for scaffolding in Schedule 7. These apply to any scaffold, including independent tied scaffolds, birdcage scaffolds, tower scaffolds, and system scaffolds. If you control the site or the work, these duties apply to you.
When scaffolding is the right choice
Before specifying scaffolding, you must apply the hierarchy of controls required by the Work at Height Regulations:
Scaffolding sits at the "prevent" level of the hierarchy. It provides collective protection, meaning it protects everyone on the platform without relying on individual behaviour. This makes it preferable to personal fall protection such as harnesses. Choose scaffolding when:
- The work cannot be done from ground level
- The task will take more than a few minutes
- Workers need both hands free
- Multiple workers need access to the same area
- Materials or tools need to be stored at the working level
Design and planning
Scaffold design must account for the specific conditions of your site. For standard configurations of tube and fitting scaffolding, the NASC technical guidance TG20:21 provides compliance sheets that demonstrate the scaffold meets structural requirements without requiring individual design calculations. For non-standard or complex scaffolds, a design calculation by a structural engineer is required.
Your scaffold design must consider:
- The loads it will carry, including workers, materials, equipment, and environmental loads such as wind and snow
- Ground conditions and foundation requirements
- Tie patterns to the building or structure
- Access and egress points
- Proximity to overhead power lines, public areas, or traffic
- Whether sheeting or netting will be used, which increases wind loading
Erection by competent scaffolders
Scaffolding must be erected, substantially altered, and dismantled only by competent persons working under the supervision of a competent supervisor. In practice, this means scaffolders should hold a Construction Industry Scaffolders Record Scheme (CISRS) card at the appropriate level:
- Scaffolder - can erect basic and standard scaffolds
- Advanced scaffolder - can erect complex and non-standard structures
- Scaffold supervisor - can supervise scaffolding operations
Labourers assisting with scaffolding should hold a CISRS Labourer card. Check cards are current before allowing anyone to erect scaffolding on your site.
The scaffolding inspection regime
Once erected, scaffolding must be inspected at specific intervals. The inspection regime is set out in Schedule 7 of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and is not optional.
How to manage scaffolding safely on your site
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1. Commission the scaffold from a competent contractor
Select a scaffolding contractor whose operatives hold current CISRS cards. Ask for evidence of competence. For complex scaffolds, request a design drawing or TG20:21 compliance sheet. Agree the specification in writing, including loading requirements and any special features such as loading bays or access towers.
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2. Ensure proper foundations and ground preparation
The scaffolding contractor should assess ground conditions. Scaffold standards (uprights) must sit on base plates, and on soft ground these need sole boards to spread the load. The ground must be firm, level, and free from excavations or underground services that could subside.
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3. Arrange the initial inspection before first use
Before anyone uses the scaffold for the first time, a competent person must inspect it and produce a written report. Do not allow access until this inspection is complete and the scaffold is confirmed safe. Display the inspection report on site.
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4. Implement the 7-day inspection cycle
Schedule inspections at intervals not exceeding 7 days. Appoint a competent person to carry these out and produce written reports within 24 hours of each inspection. Keep all reports on site until the scaffold is dismantled, then retain them for 3 months.
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5. Inspect after adverse weather or any event affecting stability
After high winds, heavy rain, frost, impact, or any other event that could affect the scaffold, arrange an additional inspection before work resumes. This is in addition to the regular 7-day cycle.
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6. Control handover and alterations
When the scaffold is handed over by the scaffolding contractor, receive a handover certificate confirming the scaffold is complete and safe for use. If any alterations are needed, only competent scaffolders may carry them out. After any substantial alteration, a further inspection is required before use.
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7. Enforce loading limits and safe use
Ensure all workers on site understand the scaffold loading limits. Do not allow materials to be stockpiled beyond the designed capacity. Ensure access is only through the designated points, not by climbing the outside of the scaffold. Keep platforms clear of debris and trip hazards.
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8. Plan for dismantling
Dismantling is as hazardous as erection. Use competent CISRS scaffolders, cordon off the area below, and ensure no one is using the scaffold during dismantling. Remove materials from platforms before dismantling begins.
Common problems and enforcement action
Incomplete scaffolds used without authorisation. Workers sometimes access scaffolds before they are complete or after partial dismantling. Use scaffold tags (such as the NASC SG4 tagging system) to indicate whether a scaffold is safe to use. Red tags mean the scaffold must not be used.
Unauthorised alterations. Workers on site may remove boards, guardrails, or toe boards to pass materials through. This is extremely dangerous. Any alteration must be done by a competent scaffolder, followed by re-inspection.
Overloading. Storing excessive materials on platforms is a common cause of scaffold collapse. Make the loading limits clear at each access point.
Missing inspection records. HSE inspectors routinely ask for scaffold inspection records on site visits. Missing records can result in enforcement notices or prosecution.
What happens next
Once your scaffold management system is in place, review it regularly. If your work at height activities involve other equipment such as mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs) or ladders, ensure you have separate procedures for those. For the overarching requirements, see Comply with work at height regulations.