In brief
Everyone working on a scaffold is protected by guardrails; the person erecting the scaffold, however, works on a level where the guardrail has not yet been fitted. This article covers the erector's fall risk, a safe erection sequence that keeps the guardrail one step ahead, the limits of harness use, dismantling, and the steps up to the scaffold passing its first inspection and being tagged.
Scaffold erection safety: the risk is greatest on an unfinished scaffold
A scaffold is erected to protect people working at height. But the person who erects and dismantles the scaffold is on a structure where this protection does not yet exist or is being removed: the platform is half-boarded, the guardrail has not been fitted, the ties have not been connected, and the tubes they are carrying upset their balance. Scaffold erection safety is therefore a separate subject from the scaffold itself.
Typical situations that increase the fall risk for the erector are:
- Climbing to the next level before the guardrail has been fitted,
- Climbing up the frame or standards,
- Stepping on a platform unit that has not been laid or secured,
- Leaning towards the edge when passing materials to or from the ground,
- Carrying long components in the wind,
- Removing the guardrail of the level being stood on during dismantling.
This article focuses on the scaffold assembly and dismantling sequence, in other words the moments when the erector leaves themselves unprotected. We described the weekly inspection of an erected scaffold and the green–red tag system in our article on scaffold inspection and tagging.
Before erection: plan, team and area
The section on scaffolds in Annex II of the Regulation on Health and Safety Requirements for the Use of Work Equipment requires three things before erection:
- Plan: Depending on the complexity of the scaffold, an erection, use and dismantling plan is prepared by a civil engineer in construction work (4.3.2). The plan is given to the person supervising and to the workers concerned (4.3.6.1).
- Supervision: Erecting, dismantling or making significant changes to the scaffold is done under the supervision of the assigned civil engineer (4.3.6).
- Trained team: This work is carried out by workers who have received adequate training in understanding the plan, safety during erection and dismantling, preventing workers and materials from falling, measures according to weather conditions and the loads the scaffold can carry (4.3.6).
For the erection area, in addition:
- The bearing capacity of the ground and the surface on which the base plates will sit are checked; any excavation, manhole cover or made ground is entered in the plan.
- Proximity to power lines is assessed.
- During erection, parts of the scaffold not ready for use are marked with warning signs and access to the danger zone is physically prevented (4.3.5). The area below the erection zone is closed off against falling materials.
- Weather conditions are assessed. Temporary work at height is carried out only in weather conditions that do not endanger workers (4.1.6). For assessing wind, see our article on cranes and work at height in strong winds.
Scaffold erection sequence: the guardrail goes first
A safe scaffold erection sequence is based on minimising the time the erector is unprotected. The details vary with the scaffold system and the manufacturer's instructions; the basic logic is as follows:
- Base: Base plates and, where needed, sole boards are placed according to the plan, and adjustable bases are levelled.
- First lift: The standards, ledgers and braces of the first lift are erected; the first lift platform is fully boarded.
- Fitting the guardrail from below: Before climbing to the next level, that level's guardrails are fitted from the safe platform below. Manufacturers provide advance guardrail units for this. That way, when the erector climbs to the new level, edge protection is already in place.
- Boarding the platform: The platform units of the new level are placed and secured against slipping.
- Ties: The scaffold's connections to the facade are made at the intervals in the plan and as erection progresses; levels are not raised without ties on the basis of "we'll tie it later".
- Access: Access between levels is provided by an internal scaffold stair or an access tower; nobody climbs up the frame.
- Materials: Components are not thrown up by hand; they are moved in a way that prevents falls, using a rope and pulley, a lifting device or passing them by hand from level to level. Hand tools are tethered to the wrist or belt.
The work at height provisions in Annex 4 of the Regulation on OHS in Construction Work also support this sequence: assembly work that does not have to be done at height is done on the ground first, and work at height is planned in advance and carried out under the supervision and control of a competent person. Preparing as many frame and guardrail sets as possible on the ground and passing them up ready therefore shortens the time spent at height.
The erector's fall protection: guardrail or harness?
The order in the legislation is clear: collective protection first, then personal protection. Annex II 4.1.1 of the Work Equipment Regulation gives priority to collective protection measures. Annex 4 of the Regulation on OHS in Construction Work also requires safety to be ensured primarily with guardrails, platforms and similar collective measures, and a full body harness attached to an anchor point or lifeline to be used where these cannot completely eliminate the risk or must be removed temporarily. Erection and dismantling are exactly this "temporary removal" situation.
Points to watch when a harness is used:
| Situation | Correct practice | Common mistake |
|---|---|---|
| Connection point | A scaffold component the manufacturer permits as an anchor, or an independent anchor | Attaching to a platform unit, a guardrail or an unsecured tube |
| Changing level | Staying attached at all times with a twin-leg lanyard | Being unprotected between unclipping from one point and clipping on to the next |
| Low levels | Choosing a connector suited to the fall clearance | The falling person hitting the ground because of the shock absorber's deployment distance |
| Suspension | A rescue plan and equipment written in advance | Planning rescue on the basis of waiting for the fire brigade |
For selecting and maintaining a harness, see our article on the full body safety harness, and for connection points, our article on anchor points and lifelines.
Scaffold dismantling: reverse order and common mistakes
Scaffold dismantling is carried out in the reverse order of erection and under the same supervision. Points to watch during dismantling:
- Dismantling proceeds from top to bottom, level by level. Nobody moves to the level below until all the components of a level have been lowered.
- Ties stay in place until the level they are connected to is dismantled; lower ties are not released in advance to "speed up the job".
- Dismantled components are not thrown to the ground. Annex 4 of the Regulation on OHS in Construction Work requires that materials are not thrown directly to the ground from any height, and that they are lowered in a balanced and safe manner.
- The area below and around the scaffold is kept closed during dismantling; nobody not assigned to the work is present in the dismantling area.
- Dismantled components are stacked neatly on the ground; damaged components are separated and not used in the next erection.
From erection to the inspection tag
A scaffold is not opened for use just because erection has finished. Art. 7 of the Work Equipment Regulation requires the scaffold to be inspected by persons authorised to carry out periodic inspections after its first erection and after it has been raised or altered. Under Annex III, those authorised to carry out periodic inspections of scaffolds are civil and mechanical engineers, technical teachers who graduated from the relevant departments, and construction technicians and senior technicians. Inspection results are recorded with a wet signature and kept.
| Stage | What is done? | Who? |
|---|---|---|
| End of erection | The erection team compares with the plan and remedies shortcomings | Team leader, supervising engineer |
| First inspection | Inspection and report before opening for use | Person authorised to carry out periodic inspections |
| Tagging | A "safe for use" tag if suitable, otherwise a "do not use" tag | The person who carried out the inspection or an authorised person |
| Load information | The maximum load that can be carried is displayed visibly on the scaffold | Person responsible for erection |
| After alteration | Re-inspection after an added level, removing and re-fixing, or damage | Person authorised to carry out periodic inspections |
We explained how to read the wording in the inspection report in our article on how to read a periodic inspection report. For planning inspections of your equipment, see our periodic inspection service page. On construction sites in Bursa and the surrounding provinces, under our OHS specialist service we prepare the scaffold erection instruction, the rescue plan and the erection team's training to suit the site; other topics specific to building sites are on our construction sector page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What certificate does a scaffold erector need?
A scaffold erector certificate should be understood as a vocational training certificate. Construction work in hazardous and very hazardous workplaces is on the Annex 1 list of the vocational training regulation; a vocational training certificate is required, before recruitment, from the worker who actually erects scaffolds. In addition, the Work Equipment Regulation requires erection to be carried out by workers who have received adequate job-specific training. For valid certificates, see our article on the list of occupations requiring vocational training.
Is a safety harness enough when erecting a scaffold?
It is not enough as a measure on its own. The priority is an erection sequence that fits the guardrail in advance. The harness is used, attached to a suitable anchor and together with a rescue plan, at moments when collective protection cannot be provided.
Can a scaffold be erected in windy weather?
Temporary work at height is carried out in weather conditions that do not endanger workers. Carrying long components in the wind upsets balance; if the limit in the scaffold manufacturer's instructions and the risk assessment is exceeded, erection and dismantling are stopped.
Can the scaffold be used as soon as erection is finished?
No. After first erection, the scaffold is not opened for use until it has been inspected and found suitable by a person authorised to carry out periodic inspections. If there are shortcomings, a "do not use" tag is attached and access is prevented.
A certified specialist matched to your hazard class: site inspections, approved logbook, training plan, annual plan and report follow-up.
Bursa SİSTEMER OSGB Technical Team — written from the field experience of our OHS specialists and workplace physicians. Legal information is valid as of the publication/update date; contact us for an assessment specific to your business.