29 October 2019
The Health and Safety Inspectorate has identified a number of dangerous tower scaffolds in use in recent months.
Whilst a tower scaffold can provide a safe working place and be an effective means of preventing a fall when working at height, it is essential that the type of tower selected is suitable for the type of work, and it is erected and dismantled by people who have been trained and are competent to do so.
The photographs below illustrate some of the defective towers found to be in use during recent construction visits.
In all of these cases the tower scaffolds were incorrectly assembled and/or had essential components missing, including working platforms, guard rails and bracing, placing the users at high risk of very serious, and potential fatal, injuries.
To ensure their safe use, and compliance with the legal requirements, all tower scaffolds must be erected:
- following a safe sytem of work, in accordance with the manufacturers or suppliers instruction manual
- on firm, level ground with the locked castors or base plates properly supported (never use blocks or other materials to take the weight of any part of the tower)
- with all stabilisers or outriggers installed in accordance with the instruction manual
Tower scaffolds must comply with the standards for all types of scaffolds, ie double guardrails, toe-boards, bracing and a safe means of access. They must also be inspected following installation and then at suitable intervals by a competent person. If a person could fall two metres of more from a working platform the tower scaffold must be re-inspected after every seven days, and the inspections recorded.
Further guidance on the legal requirements relating to tower scaffolds is available.
Guidance on the Construction Regulations 2016
The HSE also provides specific guidance which may be of interest.
Tower scaffolds: What you need to do UK HSE website
gov.je