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Making sure your scaffolding is safe and ready for action is key. Here are the times you have to give it a good once over: 

• After Installation: Right after it’s set up.
• At least every 30 Days: Yep, regular check-ups like clockwork.
• After Tweaks: Any time you make changes, give it a good once-over.
• Post-Storm or Shake-Up: If mother nature throws a fit or an incident happens that affects its stability, give it a good look.
• Daily Check Before Use: A quick safety scan before diving in each day.

All scaffolds must be checked by a competent person before handover and scaffolds taller than 4m must be erected and inspected by someone who holds a high risk work license. Handover checks can involve completing a handover certificate and should be kept at the workplace until the scaffold is taken down.  Scaffold tags are a great way to identify whether a scaffold is safe to use or not, and are used after it has been checked. Tags should be clearly displayed where workers can see as they approach the scaffold. The tags should be at every access point to the scaffold or at least at eye level on the ladders.The tag should include the following:

• Safety Status: Whether it is safe or unsafe to use.
• Contact details: The name and contact phone number of the person who erected it.
• Weight Limits: The weight loadings of the scaffold
• Hazards: Any hazards identified on the scaffold
• Records: A record of each inspection including who inspected or altered the scaffold and when it was done.

 If there’s no tag, it might not be safe to use! Get in touch with your scaffold installer to sort it out and get it tagged.

Every 30 days a licensed scaffolder (if over 4m) or competent person (under 4m) should be checking the scaffolding to make sure it is safe. If the inspector has found any damages or non-compliant areas of the scaffold, then access needs to be stopped  and the tag updated stating the scaffold is not compliant and should not be used.

A thorough inspection of your scaffolding should also be conducted after any tweaks, fixes, or wild weather. And don’t forget to keep records of all these inspections.

If you have any questions get in touch with the team at HazardCo or have a look at our other working at heights blog here