Why use Scaffold Tags? – it’s Not Law…
For projects that require working at height, a risk assessment needs be conducted to establish the right type of scaffolding and project complexities.
The risk assessment should contain what type of scaffolding safety measures need to be in place, any required additional components due to ground factors, the duration alongside the structure will be installed.
Other factors that required assessment and recording are; frequency of use, risk factors posed upon installation of the scaffold alongside any posed upon removal of the scaffold.
All contractors working on the structure should also be given the risk assessment, prior to works commencing.
Scaffolding Responsibilities and Inspections
As soon as a scaffolding arrives on site, after a full and documented risk assessment. Responsibility begins right away. To ensure all risk factors highlighted in the risk assessment are catered for appropriately.
Once the installation of the scaffolding is complete, scaffold inspection procedures must be conducted on each lift. Inspections must be fully documented by a qualified and competent person, inspections of the structure are legally required on a weekly basis, thereafter until dismantled.
Additional inspections are required following any adverse weather conditions, high winds and environmental factors that may have affected the scaffolding structures stability, structural soundness or strength.
Additional inspections are also required following any adaptations, damages or substantial additions.
Scaffold Tag and Ladder Tags – Why Use Them?
Scaffold Tags and Ladders Tags are not required by UK legislation to be incorporated into scaffolding inspection procedures.
However, using a scaffold tag and ladder tag system can significantly help manage hazards and scaffold inspection procedures.
Using or not using a scaffold tag and ladder tag system, is entirely up to the scaffolding contractor or responsible party. Currently, contractors and scaffold companies are not required by UK law to use a scaffold inspection tag system.
However, it is required by ISO, HSE and UK legislation – all scaffolding contractors, companies or responsible parties MUST have a risk assessment procedure in place and a scaffold inspection procedure.
Scaffold Tie Tests…are they Really Necessary?
In short, conducting scaffold ties tests are a necessary to ensure structural stability.
Tie tests should be incorporated alongside all structural inspections of the scaffold – prior to works commencing, weekly thereafter.
Scaffold Tie tests must also be conducted by a competent, qualified person. Scaffold Tie tests need to be conducted by a competent and qualified, third party, this can be someone from the same company, permitting they are competent and qualified.
When conducting scaffold tie tests, a minimum of three anchors must be tested using load test equipment. At least five percent of the overall quantity, equating to 1 in every 20scaffold ties must be tested.
Upon finding scaffold ties that fail to meet required safety margins, testing and proofing must be increased to 1 in every 10.
Additionally, each scaffold tie anchor must be tested a minimum of one and half times of the required tensile load – with no significant movement or failure.
In Summary
Risk assessments, scaffold inspection procedures and scaffolding safety is required by law, and the responsibility of the scaffolding contractor or company to ensure a full inspection procedure is conducted – prior to any tradesman, contractors, loads, tools or equipment using or being loaded onto the structure.
Scaffold Tags and Ladders Tags are by no means a fail-safe, and certainly not the only safety procedure required. Scaffold tags and ladder tags, although not required by UK legislation, significantly help contractors and responsible parties manage scaffold inspection procedures more efficiently.
If you’d like more details on any of the scaffolding services, scaffold hire and sales available from Scaffold Services Scotland, contact us on – 0141 779 2861 or email us at – info@scaffoldservices.scot