Scaffolds make working at a height and in hard to reach areas very convenient. However, they also expose workers to the hazards of working at heights. It is extremely important to make the job site as safe as can be. This means investing in high quality equipment and personal protective equipment (PPE) as well as maintenance of all these. Here is what you need to know about scaffolding inspections.

First of all comes a competent and trained professional. A competent person is that who either has a qualification in the field of scaffolding, or who has gained enough experience to be able to identify faults and be authorised to take required steps. Only such a person should carry out a scaffolding inspection to make sure it is safe for use.

The person inspecting the scaffold must be equipped with at least the following PPE: hard hat, safety glasses, and safety shoes. A work site is packed with hazards so it is best to be prepared. There are inspection checklists that make the job easier to manage so it is recommended to always keep a few print outs of it handy; and a pen/pencil to go with them.

In addition to executing a regular monthly inspection of a scaffolding system, it is also essential to inspect the scaffold in the following situations:

1. After an incident that might have affected the scaffold's stability

2. After the scaffold has been repaired

3. After a scaffold has been erected

Foundation is a significant part of everything and a strong foundation means a stable structure. A scaffold is always erected on a base plate so the first step is to make sure that the plate is securely in place. This ensures a stable scaffold.

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Scaffolds are available in multiple types and configurations, and each one is intended for a specific aim. The type of scaffold and the purpose for which it is required also determines the kind of inspection it will undergo.

Depending on the type of scaffold, it is necessary to check the distance between the standards and the ledgers, and whether they are connected properly. Because the platform is at a height, guard rails must be used for safety. Again, an inspector checks the distance between the guard rails and whether they are fastened properly. A scaffolding inspector checks the scaffold's components to make sure there are no missing parts or loose fittings, no faults in them, and that they are compatible with the scaffold.

The scaffold's standards, ledgers, or guard rails must never be used to climb up. Ladder or access stairs are to be used for climbing. Ladders attached to a scaffold must be inspected for proper connection to keep workers from falling off.

If planks are used to make a scaffold platform, an inspector ensures that the planks are safely connected to each other to avoid slippage.

The height of the scaffold must be three times or less its lateral dimension. If the height exceeds that, the inspector should check the scaffold for outriggers.

For mobile scaffolds that have wheels/castors for easy movement, different inspection steps are taken. Each castor of the scaffolding structure must have a braking device so that the scaffold can be stopped in place. The inspector must check the presence of brakes and also whether they work or not. Additionally, the wheels must be pinned to the scaffold structure.

A scaffold should only be loaded with half its own weight. It should never be overloaded as that can prove to be dangerous. It is the responsibility of the scaffolding inspector to check the stability of the scaffold.

In a nutshell, a scaffolding inspection involves a comparison of actual configuration to the initial configuration. Next comes making sure that the design of the scaffold is suited to the purpose for which it is intended. Scaffolds come in different designs with different parts so it is also required to ensure the compatibility of components with the structure. When an inspection is complete, the scaffolding system must be marked safe to use, mitigation required, or unsafe for use.

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