Scaffold inspections: how often and what to check
Scaffolds must be inspected by a competent person before first use, at regular intervals (every 7 days is the standard rule in UK-style regimes), and after any alteration, impact or weather event that could affect stability. Every inspection must be recorded, and the record kept.
When scaffold inspections are required
- Before first use — after erection and handover from the scaffolding contractor.
- At intervals not exceeding 7 days while the scaffold remains in use (UK Work at Height Regulations model; check local law — some regimes require more frequent or shift-based checks).
- After any event likely to affect stability — high winds, storms, frost heave, vehicle impact.
- After any alteration — ties removed, lifts added, boards or guardrails changed.
“Competent person” means someone with the training, knowledge and experience for the scaffold type in question — for complex designs, that usually means a scaffolding supervisor or engineer, not whoever is free.
The inspection checklist
- Foundations: base plates and sole boards bearing properly, no undermining or washout.
- Standards and ledgers: plumb, level, undamaged, correctly coupled.
- Ties: present at the designed spacing, tight, connected to sound structure — missing ties are the classic post-alteration failure.
- Bracing: facade and plan bracing as designed.
- Boards: full decks, no traps, no excessive gaps or overhangs, undamaged.
- Edge protection: guardrails and toe boards at every working lift.
- Access: ladders secured and extending above landings; gates functioning.
- Loading: materials within design load; no impact damage.
- Tag: status tag current and matching reality.
Records that satisfy an inspector
Each record needs: site and scaffold location, date and time, inspector's name and competence, result, faults found and actions taken. Regulators ask for these within statutory timescales — a filing cabinet three sites away fails that test. Photos of faults (and their fixes) turn a compliance record into a defense. Recurring 7-day inspections belong on an automatic schedule, because the gap between “due Friday” and “done the following Wednesday” is exactly what enforcement notices are made of.
Doing this in TerenIQ
TerenIQ keeps scaffold compliance on rails:
- The scaffold checklist is a template, scheduled every 7 days per scaffold — overdue inspections flag themselves before the deadline passes.
- Inspections run on the phone at the scaffold, with photos pinned to the location on the drawing.
- Failed items become assigned tasks immediately — and the record shows the fault-to-fix timeline.
- Every inspection is stored with inspector, GPS and timestamp, exportable the moment an inspector asks.
Frequently asked questions
Who can inspect a scaffold?
A competent person — someone with adequate training, knowledge and experience for that scaffold type. For system scaffolds a trained supervisor may qualify; for designed scaffolds you typically want a scaffolding-qualified inspector.
Do mobile towers need the same inspections?
Mobile access towers need inspection after assembly and before use, after relocation, and at regular intervals. Follow the manufacturer's instructions and local regulations.
How long must scaffold inspection records be kept?
Typically until construction ends, with a common statutory minimum of 3 months after — but keep them for the project record permanently; storage is free and disputes are not.