Ainscaff Scaffolding · Scaffold Inspection Compliance · Dublin, Cork and Galway

Scaffold Inspection Requirements for Site Managers

By Ainscaff Scaffolding

In Ireland a scaffold must be inspected by a competent person before it is first used, at least every seven days after that, and again after any event likely to have affected its stability, most often high winds or an alteration. Each inspection must be recorded and the record kept available on site.

How often a scaffold must be inspected in Ireland, who can do it, and what a compliant inspection record contains are questions most site managers only look up once an inspection is overdue. This guide sets out the duty in full, based on the standard Ainscaff applies across every commercial scaffold we hire.

The Three Inspection Triggers

Under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations 2013, a scaffold used as a place of work at height must be inspected at three points:

• 1
  Before First Use After erection and before anyone works from it, confirming it matches the design and is safe.
• 2
  At Least Every Seven Days A recurring inspection throughout the hire, no more than seven days apart.
• 3
  After Any Event Affecting Stability High winds, impact, an alteration, or a substantial change in ground conditions.

Who Can Inspect a Scaffold?

Inspections must be carried out by a competent person, someone with the training, knowledge and experience to identify defects and judge whether the scaffold is safe. That competence is specific to the type and complexity of the scaffold: a simple independent scaffold and a complex cantilever or birdcage structure demand different levels of experience. Ainscaff's inspectors are trained for the scaffolds we erect, and inspection is available as part of the hire rather than left to the client to arrange.

What the Inspection Record Must Show

A compliant scaffold inspection record should identify the site and the scaffold, the date and time of inspection, the name and signature of the competent person, the results of the inspection including any defects found, and confirmation of the action taken to put defects right. The record should be completed before the end of the working period in which the inspection is carried out, and kept available on site until the work is complete.

How This Page Relates to Our Inspection Service

This article explains the duty; Ainscaff's scaffold inspection service carries it out. If you need a scaffold, yours or another contractor's, inspected and certified, see our Scaffolding Inspection Service, where HSA-aware, trained inspectors provide dated records across Dublin and nationwide.

Inspection FAQs

• How often must scaffolding be inspected?

  Before first use, at least every seven days thereafter, and after any event likely to affect its stability such as high winds or an alteration. Seven days is a maximum interval, not a recommendation.
• Does a scaffold need re-inspecting after high winds?

  Yes. Adverse weather is an event likely to affect stability, so a further inspection is required before the scaffold is used again. Ainscaff inspects after any adverse weather event as standard.
• How long must inspection records be kept?

  Records should be kept available on site until the construction work is complete. Ainscaff retains scaffold inspection records for the hire period and for at least 12 months afterwards.
• Can the same crew that built the scaffold inspect it?

  Inspection must be by a competent person; it can be someone from the scaffolding contractor provided they have the right training and experience for that scaffold. Many clients also value an independent inspection, which Ainscaff can provide.