Scaffolding safety is essential for preventing falls, injuries, and fatalities. While scaffolding provides a stable working platform when properly erected and maintained, poor practices and lack of awareness create serious risks.
Have your workers received scaffolding safety training?
Proper training is essential for safe scaffold use
Planning for scaffolding safety
Safe scaffolding use begins long before work starts. Proper planning identifies hazards and establishes controls.
Pre-work planning considerations
Before scaffolding is erected, assess:
- What work will be done? — determines scaffold design, load capacity, access requirements
- How long is it needed? — influences whether scaffolding is the most appropriate solution
- Where will it be positioned? — ground conditions, proximity to hazards, public access
- What are the weather conditions? — wind exposure, drainage, seasonal factors
- Who will erect it? — competent contractor with appropriate qualifications
- Who will use it? — number of workers, training requirements, supervision needs
- What could go wrong? — identify hazards and plan control measures
The Work at Height Regulations require work at height to be properly planned, appropriately supervised, and carried out by competent persons. Planning is not optional — it's a legal duty.
Risk assessment for scaffolding
Your scaffolding risk assessment should identify:
Hazards during erection and dismantling:
- Falls from height during assembly
- Falling objects and materials
- Structural collapse during construction
- Working near overhead power lines
- Traffic or pedestrian movements below
- Adverse weather conditions
Hazards during use:
- Falls from platforms or through gaps
- Overloading beyond safe working load
- Structural failure due to modifications or damage
- Access hazards (ladders, stairs)
- Falling materials from platforms
- Collapse due to inadequate ties or base failure
Control measures should include:
- Competent scaffold erection by qualified personnel
- Pre-use inspection and regular statutory inspections
- Clear signage regarding safe working loads
- Adequate edge protection and fall prevention
- Safe access and egress arrangements
- Exclusion zones during erection/dismantling
- Weather monitoring and work stoppage criteria
- Emergency and rescue procedures
Don't just copy generic risk assessments. Your assessment should be specific to the actual scaffold configuration, location, work activities, and site conditions. Review and update it if circumstances change.
Safe working procedures
Before accessing scaffolding
Every worker must check:
- Valid handover certificate — displayed at access point, confirms scaffold is complete and safe
- Inspection status — check inspection tag shows inspection within last 7 days
- Visual condition — look for obvious damage, missing components, or defects
- Weather conditions — do not access in high winds, ice, or other adverse conditions
- Access routes — use designated ladders or stairs, not the scaffold structure
- Load restrictions — check safe working load before bringing materials onto platform
If any of these checks fail, do not access the scaffold. Report the issue immediately to your supervisor or the scaffold contractor. It's not worth risking your life.
While working on scaffolding
Safe working practices:
Always:
- Stay within the protected area behind guardrails
- Distribute loads evenly across bays
- Keep platforms clear of unnecessary materials and debris
- Use tool lanyards or bags for tools and equipment
- Face inward when at the edge of platforms
- Use designated access routes
- Report any defects immediately
- Follow the safe working load limits
Never:
- Remove or modify scaffold components
- Climb on guardrails or standards
- Overload platforms with materials
- Work during adverse weather (high winds, ice, storms)
- Jump onto or between platforms
- Work alone on complex tasks
- Throw materials or tools from height
- Access scaffold tagged as unsafe or incomplete
Safe vs Unsafe Scaffold Working
Unsafe Practices
- •Climbing scaffold structure instead of using ladder
- •Removing guardrails for access 'temporarily'
- •Stockpiling materials beyond load capacity
- •Working in high winds without assessment
- •Modifying scaffold without authorization
- •Ignoring defects or damage
Safe Practices
Recommended- •Always using designated access routes
- •Maintaining edge protection at all times
- •Distributing materials within SWL
- •Stopping work in adverse conditions
- •Reporting defects immediately
- •Following site-specific procedures
Bottom line: Shortcuts and unsafe practices account for the majority of scaffold accidents. Safe working takes seconds longer but prevents injuries that can last a lifetime.
Accessing scaffolding
Ladder access:
- Ladders must be properly secured top and bottom
- Extend at least 1m above the platform landing
- Position at correct angle (approximately 75 degrees)
- Maintain three points of contact when climbing
- Face the ladder, don't carry materials while climbing
- Use both hands — use a tool belt or hoist for materials
Stairway access:
- Preferred method for frequent access or where materials are carried
- Stairs must have handrails
- Keep stairs clear of obstacles
- Use handrails when ascending and descending
Internal access:
- Trapdoors in platforms must be fitted with guardrails or self-closing gates
- Ensure adequate lighting in enclosed scaffold structures
- Keep internal access routes clear and well-marked
Never climb the scaffold structure itself (standards, ledgers, or bracing). This is one of the most common causes of falls. Always use designated access — it's there for your safety.
Common scaffolding hazards
1. Falls from height
Causes:
- Missing or inadequate edge protection
- Working outside protected areas
- Accessing via scaffold structure
- Slips and trips on platforms
- Platform gaps or missing boards
Prevention:
- Ensure complete edge protection on all open sides
- Maintain three-rail system (top, intermediate, toe board)
- Keep platforms clean and free from slip hazards
- Report missing or damaged guardrails immediately
- Never work beyond the protected area
2. Falling objects
Causes:
- Materials stored near platform edges
- Tools dropped from height
- Components falling during erection or dismantling
- Inadequate toe boards
- Working over pedestrian or traffic routes
Prevention:
- Use toe boards and brick guards to prevent materials falling off
- Tool lanyards or tool bags for all hand tools
- Exclusion zones below scaffold during work
- Debris netting in public areas
- Controlled lowering of materials (don't throw or drop)
3. Structural collapse
Causes:
- Overloading beyond safe working load
- Removal or damage to ties
- Inadequate base preparation or settlement
- Unauthorized modifications
- Impact from vehicles or equipment
- Severe weather (high winds, storms)
Prevention:
- Never exceed the safe working load
- Distribute materials across multiple bays
- Regular inspections (every 7 days minimum)
- Protect scaffold from vehicle strikes with barriers
- Monitor weather and stop work if conditions worsen
- Report any damage or modifications immediately
4. Electrocution
Causes:
- Erecting scaffold near overhead power lines
- Moving metal scaffold components into contact with electrical sources
- Inadequate clearance from building electrical systems
Prevention:
- Identify overhead and nearby power lines before erection
- Maintain safe clearance distances (HSE guidance: minimum 3m for 1kV-33kV)
- Use non-conductive materials where necessary
- Isolate or shield electrical hazards where possible
- Warning signage for electrical hazards
5. Weather-related hazards
Causes:
- High winds destabilizing scaffold or causing loss of balance
- Ice and snow creating slip hazards
- Ground softening due to rain causing base instability
- Reduced visibility in fog or heavy rain
Prevention:
- Weather monitoring and work stoppage criteria
- Inspect after adverse weather before resuming work
- Additional ties or bracing in exposed locations
- Clear ice and snow from platforms before use
- Do not work in high winds (typically >40mph or as specified by designer)
Painter falls 8 metres after guardrail removed
A painter working on exterior facade was having difficulty accessing a difficult corner. To make the work easier, he removed a section of guardrail intending to replace it immediately after.
- ✗Removed edge protection without authorization or assessment
- ✗Worked outside the protected area without fall arrest
- ✗No supervision or oversight on site
- ✗Worker not trained on the consequences of removing guardrails
- ✗No procedure for temporary guardrail removal
- ✗Working alone with no one to notice the hazard
While leaning out to paint the corner, the painter lost his balance and fell 8 metres onto hard ground. Serious spinal injuries, off work for 18 months. Company prosecuted and fined £60,000 for inadequate training and supervision.
Edge protection must never be removed. If the work can't be done safely with the existing scaffold configuration, stop and consult the scaffold contractor about modifications. Removing guardrails turns fall prevention into fall certainty.
Loading and material storage
Understanding safe working loads
Scaffolding is rated by load class, typically:
- Class 3: 2.0 kN/m² — inspection, light cleaning
- Class 4: 3.0 kN/m² — general building work (most common)
- Class 5: 4.5 kN/m² — brickwork, blockwork
- Class 6: 6.0 kN/m² — heavy masonry, mass storage
For perspective:
- One person with tools: ~1.0 kN
- Pallet of bricks: ~10 kN
- Full wheelbarrow: ~2 kN
- Standard scaffold board (3.9m): ~0.3 kN
The safe working load includes EVERYTHING on the platform — workers, tools, materials, equipment, and any applied forces. Don't just count the weight of materials; include the workers who will be on the platform at the same time.
Safe material handling
Do:
- Check the safe working load before bringing materials onto scaffold
- Distribute materials evenly across multiple bays
- Store materials away from platform edges
- Keep working areas clear — move materials up as needed rather than stockpiling
- Use proper lifting equipment for heavy materials
- Secure materials to prevent rolling or sliding
Don't:
- Stockpile large quantities of materials on single bays
- Store materials above the level of toe boards near edges
- Concentrate all the load in one area
- Exceed the safe working load even temporarily
- Use scaffold as a storage area for materials not actively being used
- Throw or drop materials from platforms
If you're bringing significant materials onto scaffolding, calculate the loading. For example, two workers (2.0 kN) plus a pallet of blocks (8 kN) is 10 kN. On a 2.5m x 2m bay (5m²), that's 2.0 kN/m² before any tools or equipment. Class 3 scaffold would already be overloaded.
Material hoisting
Safe hoisting practices:
- Use proper hoisting equipment (not makeshift arrangements)
- Gin wheels must be properly rated and secured
- Never stand under loads being hoisted
- Secure loads properly before lifting
- Exclusion zones during lifting operations
- Communication between ground and platform (radio or signals)
- Lower materials in controlled manner (don't drop)
Emergency procedures
Scaffold emergencies
Types of emergencies:
- Person fallen or injured on scaffold
- Structural collapse or partial failure
- Fire or explosion affecting scaffold
- Scaffold struck by vehicle or equipment
- Severe weather damage
Emergency response
If someone falls or is injured:
- Raise the alarm — call emergency services (999)
- Do not move the casualty unless they're in immediate danger
- Provide first aid if trained and safe to do so
- Evacuate the scaffold — get all other workers off safely
- Preserve the scene — don't alter anything (important for investigation)
- Report immediately to management and HSE if serious injury
If structural damage or failure occurs:
- Evacuate immediately — get everyone off the scaffold
- Establish exclusion zone — prevent anyone accessing the area
- Call the scaffold contractor — emergency inspection and stabilization
- Notify HSE if collapse or dangerous occurrence
- Do not attempt repairs unless you're a qualified scaffolder
- Investigation — determine cause before scaffold is returned to use
Rescue planning
Before work at height begins, establish:
- How will you raise the alarm?
- How will emergency services access the area?
- What equipment is needed for rescue?
- Who is trained in first aid?
- What are the evacuation routes?
- How will you account for all workers?
Many scaffold accidents are made worse by poor emergency response. Establish clear procedures, ensure workers know them, and practice emergency drills periodically.
Training and competence
Who needs training?
All scaffold users must understand:
- When it's safe to access scaffold (handover certificate, inspection status)
- How to recognize defects and hazards
- Safe working practices and load limits
- Access and egress procedures
- What to do in emergencies
- How to report problems
Additional training for supervisors:
- Risk assessment for scaffold use
- Inspection procedures and frequency
- Planning and coordination with scaffold contractors
- Recognizing structural issues
- Managing safe systems of work
Training for scaffold erectors:
- CISRS training (Construction Industry Scaffolders Record Scheme)
- TG20:13 or equivalent design standards
- Structural principles and load calculations
- Inspection and handover procedures
- Emergency and rescue techniques
Training must be specific, practical, and regularly refreshed. Generic e-learning alone is insufficient — workers need hands-on training with the actual scaffolding they'll use, and should demonstrate competence before working unsupervised.
Ongoing competence
Competence requires more than training:
- Knowledge — understanding of hazards, regulations, and controls
- Experience — practice in applying knowledge in real situations
- Awareness — ability to recognize when situations become unsafe
- Authority — empowerment to stop work when necessary
Refresher training should cover:
- Changes in regulations or best practice
- Lessons learned from incidents or near-misses
- New equipment or scaffold configurations
- Reinforcement of key safety messages
- Assessment of continued competence
Inspection and maintenance
Daily checks by users
Before starting work each day, visually check:
- Edge protection complete and secure
- Platforms free from damage, gaps, or trip hazards
- Access routes (ladders, stairs) safe and clear
- No obvious structural damage or defects
- Weather conditions acceptable
- Inspection status still valid
Report immediately:
- Any damage or defects
- Missing or loose components
- Weather concerns
- Anything that doesn't look right
Statutory inspections
Required every 7 days by a competent person.
After adverse weather or incidents:
- Inspect immediately before allowing use to resume
- Check for damage, displacement, or instability
- Pay particular attention to ties, base stability, and platforms
- Document findings and any remedial actions
Preventing scaffold incidents
Common causes of accidents
Human factors:
- Taking shortcuts to save time
- Lack of awareness or training
- Removing safety features temporarily
- Working beyond capabilities
- Fatigue or rushing
- Complacency from familiarity
Organizational factors:
- Inadequate planning and risk assessment
- Poor supervision and monitoring
- Lack of training or competence assessment
- Production pressure over safety
- Failure to learn from previous incidents
- Inadequate communication between contractor and user
Physical factors:
- Poor scaffold design or erection
- Inadequate maintenance and inspection
- Unsuitable ground conditions
- Weather exposure
- Unauthorized modifications
Creating a safety culture
Effective scaffolding safety requires:
- Leadership commitment — management actively prioritizes scaffold safety
- Clear procedures — documented safe systems of work, understood by all
- Competent people — proper training, assessment, and supervision
- Open communication — workers empowered to report hazards without fear
- Regular monitoring — inspections, audits, and observations
- Learning from experience — investigate incidents and near-misses, share lessons
- Continuous improvement — review and update procedures based on feedback
The safest workplaces don't just have good procedures — they have cultures where safety is genuinely valued, where speaking up about hazards is encouraged, and where everyone looks out for each other.
Frequently asked questions
No. All workers who use scaffolding must receive appropriate training covering safe access, working practices, load limits, hazard recognition, and emergency procedures. This is a legal requirement under the Work at Height Regulations.
Stop work immediately, do not use the affected area, and report the defect to your supervisor and the scaffold contractor. If possible, barrier or tag the unsafe area. Do not attempt repairs unless you're a qualified scaffolder.
No, not without proper authorization and controls. Removing edge protection creates an immediate fatal fall risk. Contact the scaffold contractor to discuss proper modification or alternative access. Never remove guardrails yourself.
Only what is within the safe working load and required for immediate work. Check the handover certificate for the load class, distribute materials across bays, and avoid stockpiling. If in doubt, ask the scaffold contractor or supervisor.
High winds (typically over 40mph, but check the scaffold design), ice and snow making surfaces slippery, heavy rain reducing visibility and grip, and storms. If conditions worsen during work, stop and seek shelter.
No, never. Always use designated access routes (ladders or stairs). Climbing the scaffold structure is a major cause of falls and is prohibited by safe systems of work. It's slower but much safer to use proper access.
A handover certificate confirms the scaffold has been erected correctly by qualified persons and is safe for use. It includes the safe working load and any restrictions. Never use scaffolding without a valid handover certificate displayed.
Look for the inspection tag or record at the access point. It should show an inspection within the last 7 days. If there's no tag, the inspection is overdue, or you're unsure, do not use the scaffold — report it instead.
Multiple parties share responsibility: the scaffold contractor for design and erection, the principal contractor or site manager for coordinating work, supervisors for monitoring safe use, and every individual worker for following safe procedures.
If someone is injured, call 999 immediately and provide first aid if safe and trained. If there's structural failure, evacuate everyone, establish an exclusion zone, and call the scaffold contractor. Always report serious incidents to HSE.
Next steps
Ensure your scaffolding meets all legal requirements:
Scaffold Requirements and Regulations →
Understand the broader legal framework:
Work at Height Regulations 2005 Explained →
Need scaffolding safety training or site-specific safety procedures? A qualified health and safety consultant can provide tailored training and documentation for your operations.
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