Scaffolds

Make sure the scaffold has been completed and is ready for use. Carefully read all tags or notices attached to the scaffold.

Make sure the scaffold has been provided with properly secured access. For example: single ladders or temporary stairways. On a mobile scaffold, make sure the lower access ladder is clear of the supporting surface.

Do not climb up the framework of the scaffold. Use the access provided.

Make sure the access ladder of a tower-frame scaffold is always on the inside of the scaffold. The access opening in the working platform should be protected by a hinged trapdoor, sliding hatch or similar.

Always make sure materials and equipment on working platforms aren't obstructing access along any length of the platform. Keep platforms tidy by frequently removing extra material and debris.

Make sure the operational area for a mobile scaffold is a hard, flat surface. Penetrations or obstructions on the surface could destabilise the scaffold during relocation.

If the supporting surface for a mobile scaffold is sloped, make sure the scaffold is fitted with adjustable castors with brakes. Use the adjustment to level the scaffold before use. Where the surface gradient is more than 5°, separate adjustable baseplates or similar must be used to take the load off the castors while the scaffold is in use.

Do not place a mobile scaffold closer than one metre to a slab edge, penetration or step-down. This is unless a fixed barrier is in place to prevent it crossing that point.

Make sure all approaches, access points and platforms have effective lighting. Lighting should not cause glare or deep shadows.

Do not interfere with a scaffold by removing any of these elements:

• ties
• braces
• guard railing
• platform planks
• toeboards
• other members.

Any alterations needed to the scaffold must be carried out or directly supervised by a person with the appropriate certificate of competency.

Apply the wheel brakes to the castors of a mobile scaffold before use. Do not release the brakes while anyone is on the scaffold.

Wherever a person or object could fall a risk assessment must be completed including:

• rigid guardrails
• midrails
• and toeboards.

These should all be securely installed.

Do not attach shade-cloth or other sheeting to a scaffold unless you know it has been designed for the extra dead loading and windloads.

Do not use the scaffold as an anchorage for lifting gear. This is unless it has been designed for the additional loading.

Do not overload the working platforms. If you're not sure of the scaffold’s duty classification, treat it as light duty. The maximum allowable light duty loading is 225kg per platform per bay. This includes the weight of persons and materials.

Some platform decking units are constructed from aluminium grid mesh. If this is the case, the material or tools you are using could fall through the gaps in the grid mesh. To stop this from happening, cover the platform surface with non-slip sheets of plywood or other approved material.

Do not try to gain extra height by:

• climbing on the guard railing
• placing planks across the guardrails
• placing a step ladder or trestle on the working platform.

Do not move a mobile scaffold while anyone is on it. This is unless the scaffold has been specifically designed to allow for this.

When relocating a scaffold by crane, make sure it is slung from the base. Also make sure that the slings are long enough to enclose the scaffold, are the correct working load limit and comply with the engineers design. More scaffold tubes may need to be fixed to provide suitable lifting points.

For large scaffolds, a purpose­ designed lifting frame may be required to prevent the scaffold from distorting during lifting. Make sure all members are secure against dislodgment. Also make sure that all loose materials have been removed from the platforms.