Technical requirements for safety in metal scaffolding – Inspection, maintenance and dismantling of metal scaffolding

6.1  Inspection and maintenance of metal scaffolds

6.1.1  The  scaffold  shall  not  be  used  on  a  construction  site  unless  the scaffold  has  been  inspected  by  a  competent  person  before  being taken  into   use   for   the   first   time   and   at   regular   intervals   not exceeding 14 days immediately preceding each use. (Regulation 38F of the CSSR)

6.1.2  The  scaffold  shall  not  be  used  on  a  construction  site  unless  the scaffold   has   been   inspected   by   a   competent   person   after   any substantial addition, partial dismantling or other alteration. (Regulation 38F of the CSSR)

6.1.3  The  scaffold  shall  also  be  inspected  by  a  competent  person  since exposure to weather conditions likely to have affected its strength or stability or to have displaced any part (Regulation 38F of the CSSR). Such weather conditions would be heavy rain, storm, etc. affecting its strength and stability.

6.1.4  The  competent  person  should  check  the  strength  and  stability  of the  scaffold  and  ascertain  whether  it  is  safe  for  workers  to  stay  on or  it  needs  to be repaired.  Inspection  may  be  done  more  frequently depending on the usage and conditions of the scaffold.

6.1.5  Defects  found  during  the  inspection  should  be  rectified  immediately.

The  scaffold  shall  not  be  used  unless  a  report  has  been  made  in Form 5, which specifies the location and extent of the scaffold on the site and includes a statement to the effect that the scaffold is in safe working order, by the competent person carrying out the inspection referred to in Sections 6.1.1, 6.1.2 and 6.1.3 above (Regulation 38F of the CSSR). The Form 5 should be displayed in prominent positions on the scaffold.

6.1.6  For unsafe scaffolds, effective measures should be taken to prohibit their use. They should be marked to show that they are unsafe and should not be used.