Following two major scaffold collapses in Edinburgh and a subsequent collapse in Kilmarnock, which is currently under investigation, HSE Inspectors across Scotland have carried out a considerable number of site visits to discuss scaffolding issues. In addition a number of events have been held to further raise awareness within the industry, namely: Scaffolding Safety and Health Awareness Days in Edinburgh and Dundee and advisory events in the West and North of Scotland.
However during inspections we are continuing to find sub-standard scaffolds erected and inspected by personnel with inadequate training, experience and skills to execute their roles competently. Many of the scaffolds should have been designed but were not.
As a competent scaffold contractor you are required to provide a suitable stable working platform that has been erected by competent personnel. It is important that you have in place arrangements to ensure this, and that these arrangements are reviewed regularly and take into account the following factors, and any others you deem appropriate:
A HSE HSE checklist has been produced in consultation with the construction industry and gives additional guidance on the appropriate standards that HSE expects in relation to scaffold operations particularly in relation to design issues and training requirements.
We would ask that you consider these issues and ensure that you have in place sufficiently robust arrangements to demonstrate compliance with the required standards.
We will be raising these matters through a series of Head Office visits in the near future, however should you wish to discuss any aspect of this with us please do not hesitate to do so.