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Base/Foundation Inspection

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Ground conditions:

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- Is the ground level, stable, and load-bearing?

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- Has it been affected by weather (e.g. soft or waterlogged)?

 

Base plates and sole boards:

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- Are base plates correctly placed under each standard?

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- Are sole boards used where necessary (on soil, tarmac, etc.)?

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- Are they correctly sized and not rotting or sinking?

 

Levelling:

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- Scaffold is plumb and level—checked using spirit level or plumb line

 

 

Standards (Vertical Tubes)

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- Evenly spaced within tolerance with joints staggered appropriately 

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- Connected securely using appropriate couplers

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- Free from damage, corrosion, or deformation

 

 

Ledgers & Transoms

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Ledgers (horizontal tubes along scaffold length):

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- Securely fixed and evenly spaced with joints staggered appropriately 

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- Not excessively bent or damaged

 

Transoms (across scaffold width):

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- Adequately spaced and fixed to support boards

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- Check intermediate transoms under board joints

 

 

Working Platforms

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Boarding:

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- Full-width, no large gaps (maximum 25mm where necessary)

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- Overlaps are supported and not excessive

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- Boards in good condition with no rotting, splits, cracks etc.

 

Toe boards:

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- Fitted on all open sides of platforms

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- Secure and not missing or damaged

 

Gaps:

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- No significant gaps between platform and building edge unless protected

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Guardrails & Midrails

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Guardrails:

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- Top rail at 950mm or higher with no gap greater than 450mm

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- Rigid, continuous, and capable of withstanding force

 

Midrails:

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- Installed at approximately halfway between platform and top rail

 

End guardrails:

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- Provided at returns or scaffold ends

 

 

Ties and Stability

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Ties:

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- Properly fixed at correct intervals (check with TG20:21 or design)

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- Ties not removed or loosened without permission

 

Anchors:

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- Anchored into solid structure (brick, concrete—not render)

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- Pull-tested (for designed systems)

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- Check for visual damage or loose fixings

 

Bracing:

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- Diagonal braces correctly installed (ledger and façade braces)

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- Fixed within appropriate distance to node points

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Access & Egress

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Ladders or stair towers:

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- Securely tied, extend 1m above landing

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- Ladder angle correct (4:1 rule), rungs intact and non-slip

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- Trap doors operable as per manufacturers instructions 

 

Access points:

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- No obstruction, properly guarded

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- Ladder hatches and gates in place and not damaged

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Loading & Use Considerations

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Loading bays:

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- Properly constructed with edge protection

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- Platforms capable of supporting intended loads

 

Scaffold class (light, general, heavy duty):

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- Match intended use (e.g. bricklaying, material storage)

 

Debris nets, sheeting, or containment:

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- Securely attached; check for wind loading implications

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Condition of Components

 

Check all tubes, boards, and fittings for:

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- Corrosion, cracks, dents, or splits

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- Loose or missing fittings

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- Rusty or seized couplers

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- Damaged plastic/mesh components (if system scaffold)

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Tagging & Signage

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Scaffold tags:

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- Clearly marked with inspection date and inspector’s name

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- “Do not use” tags where scaffold is incomplete or unsafe

 

Signage:

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- Overhead work warnings

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- Exclusion zones marked if scaffold is under construction

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Environmental & Weather Impacts

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- Wind loading (especially with sheeting or nets)

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- Water pooling or corrosion

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- Icy or slippery boards

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Final Safety Considerations

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- No materials or tools left on platforms unattended

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- Public protection in place (fans, hoardings, exclusion zones)

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- Scaffold not modified without competent supervision

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- Scaffold inspections up to date (7-day rule or post-event)

 

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