Are you considering getting a scaffolding inspection? There are a few reasons to do this, but it’s always a good idea to ensure that your structure is as safe as possible. After all, there is a high potential for accidents if the platforms are poorly set up.
How Often Do You Need a Scaffolding Inspection?
On a construction site, you need to have the scaffolding inspected before you start to use it, to ensure it is safe. After that, you should plan to have inspections done on a weekly basis, until the project is over. If there are storms or other issues that could compromise the safety of the scaffolding, then you should plan to hold off using the structure before it is checked out again.
Potentially compromising situations include:
- High winds
- Earthquakes or tremors
- Heavy storm
- Partial collapse of the building or scaffolding
- Reported irregularities
It’s best to avoid any use of the scaffolding if there is a possibility that it has been compromised.
What Happens During an Inspection
A proper inspection should be done by someone who has the necessary experience to know when something is amiss. In some cases, the inspector is assessed under CISRS, but more often, they will be trained in specific types of scaffolding systems.
The inspector will examine the structure and ensure that there are no risk factors that indicate the structure is unsafe. If they find anything that could be dangerous, they will create a report on that issue and suggest a corrective action. This includes defects, bad construction, or any points that are not as strong as they should be.
A proper inspection will take time as the most important parts of the scaffolding are looked at and tested to ensure stability. When the inspection is complete, you will receive a report stating any problems found, as well as suggested fixes.
After you’ve received the report, it’s essential that you take steps to fix any potential issues. This will protect your workers, as well as the building involved. Neglecting the stated issues in the report could result in injury and lawsuits in the future.
The report must be kept on site for the duration of the construction and then should be retained at the home office for several months after the construction has been completed. This ensures that any accidents can be checked against the records to determine if suitable action was taken.
Scaffoldings can be very useful in construction, but they are also one of the more dangerous parts of a building site. Regular inspections will keep you alerted to potential issues so you can prevent accidents before they happen. This makes the reports a very important part of the building process.