Published December 8th, 2020
What is a Scaffold Inspection Checklist?
A scaffold inspection checklist is used to identify installation oversights and defects in scaffolding. These checklists should carry out critical and thorough evaluations focusing on a scaffold’s strength, rigidity, and stability, to ensure that it passes regulatory safety standards.
This article will feature the following:
- The importance of scaffolding safety inspections
- General scaffold inspection requirements
- OSHA scaffold inspection requirements
- Scaffolding tag requirements
- Technology that can help in conducting efficient scaffolding inspections
Why are Scaffolding Safety Inspections important?
Scaffolding work is vital to the construction industry as 65% of the construction industry work on scaffolds frequently. With the importance of scaffolding work in construction projects, it is crucial that erectors and users involved in scaffolding work be protected through scaffolding safety inspections. These inspections help manage and control the inherent risks of scaffolding work. Thorough scaffold inspections help spot both the apparent and underlying hazards that threaten stability of the ground, scaffolding tower, and work structure – helping protect the livelihood of the workers involved.
Learn the DO’s and DONT’s of scaffolding safety in this article.
What are General Scaffold Inspection Requirements?
Generally, scaffold inspections must be performed in these three instances:
- after installation or assembly in any position
- at least in intervals of 7 days thereafter
- after any circumstances that can jeopardize the safety of the scaffold
The scaffolding inspection procedure should involve a rigorous assessment of scaffolding parameters (e.g. posts, frames, base plates, footing), appropriate scaffolding materials, guardrails and mid-rails, distance from power lines, performance of scaffolding workers, and possible faults in planks. An extensive scaffold inspection checklist can help outline these necessary steps to ensure every aspect of the scaffold inspection is covered.
Scaffolding inspection should be conducted by a scaffold competent person who possesses the minimum qualifications prescribed in their country of work. A final report must be provided by the assessor after each scaffold inspection, which must then be retained at the site until the construction work is completed.
OSHA Scaffold Inspection Requirements
OSHA provides a comprehensive directive regarding the inspection of scaffolding used in construction work. Below, we will be highlighting a few key sections to act as a quick guide to scaffolding safety:
Have a competent person on site
The compliance officer is in-charge of ensuring that a scaffold competent person is present on site. A scaffold competent person must have sufficient training and experience to oversee the safe erection and use of scaffolding as defined by Appendix A in OSHA’s Inspection Procedures for Enforcing Subpart L, Scaffolds Used in Construction.
Always adhere to fall protection requirements
Fall protection is automatically required for employees working at a height of at least six feet or higher. Depending on the type of scaffold in use, employers may be required to provide a guard rail system, a personal fall arrest for each employee, or both.
Check the scaffold’s rated load against the maximum intended load
The scaffold’s rated load refers to the amount of weight a scaffold is designed to carry. The maximum intended load refers to the total weight of the actual load you will put on the scaffold. As a safety measure, OSHA requires scaffolds to be capable of bearing four times the maximum intended load, not the rated load. This ensures that the scaffold is strong enough to hold even if it is affected by accidents, machine failures, or strong winds. Never overload a scaffolding.
Construction businesses based in North America adhere to OSHA standards, while scaffolding work done in the United Kingdom should follow the guidelines on the UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE)’s Work at Heights Regulations 2005.
Scaffolding Tags: Requirements
Scaffolding tags serve as warning devices for workers and other construction site personnel. Accidents, injuries, and other preventable incidents can be averted with the correct use of scaffolding tags. Below is a summary of the most important scaffolding tag requirements as outlined by OSHA:
- Scaffolding tags must be placed at all scaffolding access points.
- Tags must be securely attached to scaffolding and durable enough to withstand environmental conditions.
- Tags must specify if the scaffolding is safe for use, unsafe for use, under construction, or subject to specific weight limits.
- Tags must always be legible.
- Scaffolding tags must specify the date of the last inspection and note if any modifications have been made
Choosing the Right Technology for Scaffold Inspections
Using a mobile scaffold inspection checklist from iAuditor by SafetyCulture, you can perform comprehensive inspections to ensure that scaffolding in construction sites meet relevant safety standards. Record data, capture photos, and recommend corrective actions so scaffolding risks and hazards are taken care of.
Know how to conduct better inspections by downloading this collection of general and featured OSHA checklists covering scaffold quality evaluations and other best practice scaffold inspection checklist, and customize them to suit your own scaffolding safety requirements.
Featured Scaffold Inspection Checklists
Scaffold Safety Inspection Checklist
This scaffold safety inspection checklist template can be used by scaffolding inspection professionals to conduct assessments of scaffolding work to ensure it is safe for use. Here are some guidelines on how you can utilize this digital checklist:
- Begin the checklist by capturing general information about the structure.
- Ensure the foundation and base of the scaffolding is secure and check that the height is within safe dimensions. Inspect the platforms, bracing, tubes and standards for proper installation and capture any defects. Check the load capacity and access points for the scaffolding.
- Finally update the scaffolding tag and capture a photo as a record.
- Preview sample scaffold inspection report.
OSHA Scaffold Inspection Checklist
Use this OSHA Scaffold Inspection Checklist to inspect scaffolds and scaffold parts before each work shift, and after any event that may have caused damage. Make sure that only trained and fully equipped personnel will be performing the task. Use iAuditor to document the inspection and provide an efficient report while on-site.
General Scaffold Inspection Checklist
Ensure workers safety while working at scaffolds. Check scaffold components like base plates, railings, and platforms if installed properly and in good working condition. Capture photo evidence of damaged or defective items and assign corrective actions to another competent person while performing the inspection.
Scaffolding Checklist
Use this scaffolding checklist to audit scaffold components and assure that no defects were recorded. This will also check proper access to get on and off the scaffold and if “Do Not Use” tag is placed when the scaffold is damaged.
OSHA Toolbox Talk: Scaffolding Checklist
Use OSHA toolbox talk: scaffolding template to communicate the general requirements on safety precaution to all workers when using scaffolding. Use iAuditor to confirm that these information were discussed and fully understood by the workers.
PPE Safety Checklist
This PPE safety checklist can be used to select the appropriate personal protective equipment to protect against hazards when working on scaffolding. Common PPE used when working on scaffolding includes head and fall protection. Start by identifying risks that may harm body parts, select the appropriate PPE to be used. Summarize the inspection by providing recommendations of PPE to be used or replaced.
