FAQs

A scaffold will always require some form of stabilising to prevent collapse or overturning. This takes the form of ties, and the compliance sheet or design for the scaffold will dictate the tie pattern and tie requirements. 

It is possible to erect a scaffold without ties, but another method will be required to ensure the stability of the structure. This may take the form of kentledge, rakers or the scaffold being butted against a suitable adjacent structure in all directions to prevent movement. If other methods besides ties are used, the requirements will be laid out in the compliance sheet or design and must be followed. 

For further guidance on the use of ties in scaffolding operations, please read TG4 Anchorage Systems for Scaffolding and the TG20 / TG30 Operational Guide. These are available from our online shop at: https://nasc.org.uk/shop/  

 Please note that the TG30 Operational Guide is currently only available as part of the larger TG30 ePortal. 

There are two types of testing applicable to ties, preliminary testing and proof testing.  

Preliminary testing is required where there is doubt about the suitability of a given type of tie for the base material it is to be installed into. A sample of ties will be installed prior to the scaffolding is erected and tested to the required load to ensure suitability. 

Proof testing is required after the ties have been installed into the base material to provide stability to the scaffolding structure. A sample of ties will be tested to ensure they can sustain the load required. 

Guidance on testing procedure and what to do in the event of failures during testing are covered in TG4 Anchorage Systems for Scaffolding. 

For further guidance on the use of ties in scaffolding operations, please read TG4 Anchorage Systems for Scaffolding and the TG20 / TG30 Operational Guide. These are available from our online shop at: https://nasc.org.uk/shop/  

Please note that the TG30 Operational Guide is currently only available as part of the larger TG30 ePortal. 

The results of any preliminary and proof tests must be recorded in a report. 

The NASC recommend that this report, along with the relevant design or compliance sheet laying out the tie load requirements, are issued to the customer. These documents should be available on site during the erection and handover of the scaffold, and remain available whilst the scaffold remains on site. 

For further guidance on the use of ties in scaffolding operations, please read TG4 Anchorage Systems for Scaffolding and the TG20 / TG30 Operational Guide. These are available from our online shop at: https://nasc.org.uk/shop/  

Please note that the TG30 Operational Guide is currently only available as part of the larger TG30 ePortal. 

There is no universal minimum distance that a tube must extend past a coupler.  

The NASC recommend that it is deemed acceptable as long the tube passes fully through the entire body of the coupler, unless the manufacturer recommends otherwise. 

The Work at Height Regulations 2005 require that: 

7.  Strength and stability calculations for scaffolding shall be carried out unless— 

(a) a note of the calculations, covering the structural arrangements contemplated, is available; or 

(b) it is assembled in conformity with a generally recognised standard configuration. 

The design requirements laid out in the NASC’s TG20 and TG30 documents are recognised by the HSE as satisfying condition (b) above. This means that if a scaffold is built in conformance with either TG20 or TG30, it does not require a bespoke design. To demonstrate this conformance, scaffolding contractors can produce a compliance sheet from the relevant software within the eGuide. 

If your scaffold cannot be built within the scope of TG20 or TG30, then your scaffold will require a bespoke design with input from a competent engineer. 

For further guidance on scaffold designs, please read the relevant TG20 / TG30 Operational Guide, TG21 A Guide to Commissioning Scaffold Design and CG6 Scaffolding Design. These are available from our online shop at: https://nasc.org.uk/shop/  

Please note that the TG30 Operational Guide is currently only available as part of the larger TG30 ePortal. 

The NASC does not provide scaffolding design services and is unable to comment on the suitability of a bespoke design. If you are seeking advice or design services, our website contains a list of NASC members along with their contact information. This list can be filtered to show only NASC Design Members and can be found at the following link: https://nasc.org.uk/members/  

If your query is relating to design information covered in TG20, TG30 or any other NASC guidance documents, please send your queries to either [email protected] or [email protected]  

For further guidance on scaffold designs, please read the relevant TG20 / TG30 Operational Guide, TG21 A Guide to Commissioning Scaffold Design and CG6 Scaffolding Design. These are available from our online shop at: https://nasc.org.uk/shop/  

Please note that the TG30 Operational Guide is currently only available as part of the larger TG30 ePortal. 

Yes, a scaffold tube rack will require a design and calculations to ensure that it is a safe and stable structure both loaded and unloaded. 

The NASC provide a standard design for a tube storage rack within TG25 Scaffold Tube Storage Racks.  If this design is unsuitable for any reason, you will require a bespoke design. Please note that scaffolding racks will require regular inspections under either The Work at Height Regulations (WAHR) 2005 or The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER) 1998, depending on the circumstances of its use. 

If the scaffolding rack is boarded and accessed by operatives in any way, then it will be subject to the inspection requirements of the WAHR 2005. If no part of the scaffold is accessible by operatives, then it will be subject to the inspection requirements of PUWER 1998. 

For further guidance on scaffold designs, please read the relevant TG20 / TG30 Operational Guide, TG21 A Guide to Commissioning Scaffold Design and CG6 Scaffolding Design. These are available from our online shop at: https://nasc.org.uk/shop/  

Please note that the TG30 Operational Guide is currently only available as part of the larger TG30 ePortal. 

For further guidance on tube storage racks, please read TG25 Scaffold Tube Storage Racks. This is available from our online shop at: https://nasc.org.uk/shop/  

Yes, any cladding added to a scaffolding needs to be factored into the design of the scaffold, whether this is a bespoke design or a TG20 / TG30 compliant design.  

Cladding includes plastic sheeting, debris netting and shrink wrapping and generally refers to any covering fixed to a scaffold to prevent the escape of dust and debris or to provide weather protection. 

Cladding on a scaffold can have a sail-like effect, increasing the forces acting on a scaffold and its ties. This needs to be considered when designing a scaffold as additional measures may be required to ensure the safety and stability of the structure. This may take the form of additional ties and kentledge, etc. 

For further guidance on scaffold designs, please read the relevant TG20 / TG30 Operational Guide, TG21 A Guide to Commissioning Scaffold Design and CG6 Scaffolding Design. These are available from our online shop at: https://nasc.org.uk/shop/  

Please note that the TG30 Operational Guide is currently only available as part of the larger TG30 ePortal. 

For further guidance on the cladding of scaffolding, please read TG27 Cladding of Scaffolding. This is available from our online shop at: https://nasc.org.uk/shop/  

The NASC ePortal is the web-based home of certain NASC digital resources. 

Currently the ePortal hosts the TG20 and TG30 eGuides. 

NASC ePortal access is subscription based. The price and the availability of certain content is based upon whether you are a full member of the NASC.  

For full details of resources available and pricing information, please visit the ePortal at: https://eportal-login.nasc.org.uk/Account/Login  

There are currently two NASC eGuides, one for TG20 A Comprehensive Guide to Good Practice for Tube and Fitting Scaffolding while the other is for TG30 A Comprehensive Guide to Good Practice for System Scaffolding. 

Each eGuide is a web-based application which allows a competent user to create a compliance sheet representative of either a TG20 or TG30 compliant scaffold. This compliance sheet is created by entering the relevant details into the eGuide, such as the height and length of the scaffold, the type of scaffold and the location of the scaffold (to estimate the wind factor), etc. This then either returns a compliance sheet, confirming a scaffold built to this specification is legally compliant, or a notification informing the user that their proposed scaffold will require a bespoke design. 

For full details of resources available and pricing information, please visit the ePortal at: https://eportal-login.nasc.org.uk/Account/Login  

TG20 is a comprehensive guide to good practice for tube and fitting scaffolding, produced by the NASC. TG20 was developed in response to BS EN 12811, a European Standard that defines the design requirements for scaffolding but has little guidance on how to carry out the associated works. TG20 aims to provide a practical approach to the erecting and striking of tube and fitting scaffolding designed to BS EN 12811, as well as provide a set of parameters that scaffolds can be built within without requiring the involvement of a designer / engineer.  

TG30 is a comprehensive guide to good practice for system scaffolding, produced by the NASC in collaboration with manufacturers and suppliers of system scaffolding. TG30 was developed in response to the growing use of system scaffolding across the industry. TG30 aims to provide a practical approach to the erecting and striking of system scaffolding designed to BS EN 12811, as well as provide a set of parameters that scaffolds can be built within without requiring the involvement of a designer / engineer.  

For further guidance on TG20 and TG30, please read the relevant TG20 / TG30 Operational Guide. These are available from our online shop at: https://nasc.org.uk/shop/  

A TG20 or TG30 compliance sheet is a two-page document which aims to summarise the dimensions and criteria of a scaffold built to the relevant generally recognised standard configuration (see Work at Height Regulations 2005). 

It allows a scaffolding contractor to show their customer that the work they have completed complies with statutory requirements and is compliant with TG20 or TG30. 

The main features of a compliance sheet are the representative illustration of the scaffold, the compliance badges and criteria, any permitted additional features and a sign off section. 

For further guidance on compliance sheets, please read the relevant TG20 / TG30 Operational Guide. These are available from our online shop at: https://nasc.org.uk/shop/  

To start producing compliance sheets, please visit the ePortal at: https://eportal-login.nasc.org.uk/Account/Login  

For NASC guidance on the competence required to produce compliance sheets, please read the information provided at the following link: https://nasc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/TG20-Competence.pdf  

This information was originally provided to support the release of the TG20 eGuide, but the information within is still applicable to compliance sheets created through the TG30 eGuide. 

For further guidance on compliance sheets, please read the relevant TG20 / TG30 Operational Guide. These are available from our online shop at: https://nasc.org.uk/shop/  

To start producing compliance sheets, please visit the ePortal at: https://eportal-login.nasc.org.uk/Account/Login  

The illustration shown on a compliance sheet is only intended to show the principal compliance features of the scaffold. Details such as gable ends, returns and changes in height, etc. are permitted in accordance with the criteria listed on the reverse of the compliance sheet and the guidance in the relevant operational guide. 

It is also important to remember that many of the compliance criteria listed on the compliance sheet are stated as maximums, e.g., if your compliance sheet states a maximum bay length of 2m, you are still allowed to build bays smaller than 2m where required. 

Section 2 in both the TG20 and TG30 Operational Guides provide clarity around the usage of compliance sheets and is a good starting point for handling customer queries regarding compliance sheets. 

For further guidance on compliance sheets, please read the relevant TG20 / TG30 Operational Guide. These are available from our online shop at: https://nasc.org.uk/shop/  

To start producing compliance sheets, please visit the ePortal at: https://eportal-login.nasc.org.uk/Account/Login  

If you are unable to design the desired scaffold within the relevant eGuide, there is unfortunately no other way to obtain a compliance sheet for it. 

Several types of scaffolding, such as temporary roofs, shores and suspended scaffolds, etc., will always require a bespoke design from a competent designer / engineer. 

For further guidance on compliance sheets, please read the relevant TG20 / TG30 Operational Guide. These are available from our online shop at: https://nasc.org.uk/shop/  

To start producing compliance sheets, please visit the ePortal at: https://eportal-login.nasc.org.uk/Account/Login  

If you are seeking advice or design services, our website contains a list of NASC members along with their contact information. This list can be filtered to show only NASC Design Members and can be found at the following link: https://nasc.org.uk/members/  

Both the TG20 and TG30 eGuides have been created to be compliant with design requirements defined in BS EN 12811. A key part of these requirements is to consider the effects of the wind factor upon the scaffold. 

To satisfy this, the eGuides both make use of the Great Britain and Ireland wind factors. 

If you are interested in using either of the eGuides outside of the UK, then please contact [email protected]   

There is currently no legal requirement to issue a handover certificate upon completion and handover of a scaffold.  

The NASC recommends that Scaffolding Contractors provide handover certificates to customers. Customers employing the services of a Scaffolding Contractor should make their expectations regarding handover certificates known during the tender process. 

If you are an NASC Contractor member and wish to purchase a set of handover certificates from the NASC, please visit our online shop at: https://nasc.org.uk/shop/  

For further guidance on handover certificates, please read SG35 Handover of Scaffold Structures and First Scaffold Inspection. This is available from our online shop at: https://nasc.org.uk/shop/

The NASC recommends that a handover certificate includes: 

• Customer’s name  
• Scaffolding Contractor’s name 
• Site and location 
• Date scaffold completed 
• Details and dimensions of the scaffold 
• Details of tie testing records
• Details of compliance sheets / designs 
• Details of first inspection 
• Date and signature of the person handing over the scaffold on behalf of the Scaffolding Contractor 
• Date and signature of the person receiving the scaffold on behalf of the customer 

This list is not exhaustive, and handover certificates may include more information than that listed above.  

If you are an NASC Contractor member and wish to purchase a set of handover certificates from the NASC, please visit our online shop at: https://nasc.org.uk/shop/  

For further guidance on handover certificates, please read SG35 Handover of Scaffold Structures and First Scaffold Inspection. This is available from our online shop at: https://nasc.org.uk/shop/  

It is the responsibility of the user/hirer to ensure that a scaffold has been inspected.  

If you are deemed competent to inspect scaffolding, you may carry out the inspections yourself. Alternatively, you may instruct a competent person to inspect the scaffolding for you. This may be an individual within your company, working for the Scaffolding Contractor, or from an external third party. 

The expectations regarding who will be carrying out inspections, and at which stage, should be made known during the tender process. 

For further guidance on scaffold inspections, please read SG35 Handover of Scaffold Structures and First Scaffold Inspection. This is available from our online shop at: https://nasc.org.uk/shop/  

Additional information can also be found on the HSE’s website at: https://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/safetytopics/scaffoldinginfo.htm#inspection  

As per the HSE and SG35 Handover of Scaffold Structures and First Scaffold Inspection, a scaffold is required to be inspected: 

• following installation/before first use 

• at an interval of no more than every 7 days thereafter 

• following any circumstances liable to jeopardise the safety of the installation eg high winds. 

The third requirement can also include adaptions to the scaffold, unauthorised modifications, vehicles colliding with the scaffold, overloading of the scaffold, etc. 

For further guidance on scaffold inspections, please read SG35 Handover of Scaffold Structures and First Scaffold Inspection. This is available from our online shop at: https://nasc.org.uk/shop/  

Additional information can also be found on the HSE’s website at: https://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/safetytopics/scaffoldinginfo.htm#inspection  

The HSE define a competent person as an individual who “has sufficient training and experience or knowledge and other qualities that allow them to assist you properly”. 

The NASC recommend that scaffold inspections are undertaken by someone who holds the relevant CISRS card and has the necessary knowledge and experience required to carry out scaffold inspections. It is the responsibility of those appointing the competent person to assess the suitability of their knowledge and experience.  

Further guidance on CISRS training can be found on the CISRS website at: https://cisrs.org.uk/

For further guidance on scaffold inspections, please read SG35 Handover of Scaffold Structures and First Scaffold Inspection. This is available from our online shop at: https://nasc.org.uk/shop/  

Additional information can also be found on the HSE’s website at: https://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/safetytopics/scaffoldinginfo.htm#inspection  

Yes, but there is currently no NASC guidance document on this specific subject. 

The inspections requirements will vary depending on the specific nature and use of the scaffolding structure. 

If the scaffolding structure is a permanent component of a larger structure, such as an installation in a commercial premises, the NASC would recommend appointing a competent engineer to advise on the suitability of the structure, any alterations needed and an inspection regime if required. 

If no part of the scaffolding structure is being used as a working platform, but it is still being used for work purposes, e.g., as falsework or to support lifting equipment, then it may fall under the requirements of The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER) 1998 or The Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER) 1998.  

PUWER 1998 specifies regular inspections, which the NASC recommends are decided upon by carrying out an appropriate risk assessment.  

LOLER 1998 requires that equipment is subject to a thorough examination before first use and at regular intervals of every 6 months for lifting equipment used to lift people and all accessories regardless of use, and 12 months for all lifting equipment not used to lift people. 

For further guidance on LOLER 1998, please read SG9 Use, Inspection & Maintenance of Lifting Equipment and Accessories for Lifting in Scaffolding. This is available from our online shop at: https://nasc.org.uk/shop/  

Additional information can also be found on the HSE’s website at:  

https://www.hse.gov.uk/work-equipment-machinery/puwer.htm 

https://www.hse.gov.uk/work-equipment-machinery/loler-overview.htm  

No, it is not a requirement that a scaffold is tagged when inspected. It can however be a useful way to identify when a scaffold was last inspected and if it is fit for use.  

Any customer expectations regarding the tagging of scaffolds should be made known during the tender process. 

For further guidance on scaffold inspections, please read SG35 Handover of Scaffold Structures and First Scaffold Inspection. This is available from our online shop at: https://nasc.org.uk/shop/  

Additional information can also be found on the HSE’s website at: https://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/safetytopics/scaffoldinginfo.htm#inspection  

The Work at Height Regulations 2005 require platforms to be constructed without gaps unless measures have been taken to protect people from falling through them and to prevent the risk of injury from materials or objects falling through. 

The NASC’s TG13 Non-Standard Boarded Platform states that the 50mm gap caused by the standards passing through the board is generally acceptable and recommends that any other gaps between boards do not exceed 25mm.  

Any customer expectations regarding the covering of gaps between boards beyond this should be made known during the tender process. 

For further guidance on boarded platforms, please read TG13 Non-Standard Boarded Platform. This is available from our online shop at: https://nasc.org.uk/shop/  

The Work at Height Regulations 2005 require platforms to be constructed without gaps unless measures have been taken to protect people from falling through them and to prevent the risk of injury from materials or objects falling through. 

Gaps between the scaffold and the building façade are generally unavoidable. The size and management of these gaps should be subject to consideration during the planning of works, prior to work starting. 

The NASC’s SG29 Internal Edge Protection on Scaffold Platforms recommends that a gap less than 225mm (the width of a scaffold board) is acceptable if required for other trades to carry out their work, e.g. clearance left for painting / rendering, etc. 

If the gap exceeds 225mm, and is required or unavoidable, a safe system of work needs to be put in place following a suitable risk assessment. This is likely to involve edge protection, i.e., guardrails and toeboards, and / or fall prevention equipment. 

Please note that the gap between the scaffold and the building façade may not be consistent along the full length of the structure, and internal edge protection or other safe systems of work may be required only in certain areas. An example of this might be a scaffold lift erected at window level of a building. A larger gap would likely be present at the window recesses than at the building façade. 

Any customer expectations regarding the requirement of internal edge protection should be made known during the tender process. 

For further guidance on internal edge protection, please read SG29 Internal Edge Protection on Scaffold Platforms. This is available from our online shop at: https://nasc.org.uk/shop/  

Further to a previous statement made by NASC in 2012, the confederation has received an increasing number of enquiries regarding its stance on the use of impact wrenches during erection/dismantling and alterations to scaffolding. 

In order to provide clarity and advice for members and other users of impact wrenches, NASC has recently completed some testing. A wide range of drop forged couplers from different suppliers in various conditions (new, used, lubricated and unlubricated) were tightened using two popular types of impact wrenches as well as a traditional scaffolding spanner. In excess of 60 tests were completed. 

The subsequent results data indicated that there were no concerns or adverse effects in respect of any of the tests carried out (for both impact wrenches and traditional scaffold spanner). It is therefore the view of the confederation that the use of impact wrenches during erection/dismantling and alterations to scaffolding is acceptable. However there are several important recommendations which should be considered by the employer prior to authorising the use of impact wrenches by employees: 

The recommended force required to tighten a fitting is 50 N/mtr as stated in EN 74. Most wrenches have stated torque settings (N/mtr) in excess of this recommended figure. However during testing it was noted that settings published by the manufacturer can differ greatly from what is actually achieved. It is therefore recommended that any employer considering authorising the use of impact wrenches carries out testing to establish that the impact wrench which they intend to authorise for use by their employees is capable of applying the correct torque to scaffold fittings on a consistent and recurring basis. Further to completion of an adequate risk assessment by the employer the impact wrench may then be deemed fit for purpose for erection/dismantling and alterations to scaffolding by their employees. 

It is recommended that prior to use of an impact wrench on site the employee should first undergo a suitable period of training, familiarisation and monitoring, to ensure that the impact wrench is being used in the correct manner at all times. 

NASC recognises that impact wrenches can offer certain benefits. However members and users of such equipment should be aware that there is potential for concern regarding use and operation. Employers should adequately assess the risk for their own particular situation and ensure that they put in place protocols to cover safe use. It is recommended that any assessment should also address noise and hand/arm vibration. 

In addition to the initial training and familiarisation phases, it is recommended that employers should carry out regular toolbox talks refreshing operatives with company policy and rules for the safe use of impact wrenches. 

In the event that a nut is stripped off the ‘T’ bolt it is recommended that the fitting should be returned to the employer’s yard where a new replacement ensemble (‘T’ bolt, nut & washer) can be fitted by the company’s maintenance team. 

Impact wrenches are normally supplied with rechargeable lithium batteries that provide a more stable power pack. However the confederation recommends that all users follow manufacturer’s instructions and that battery life should be monitored. 

This statement only applies to drop forged scaffold fittings. NASC does not recommend the use of impact wrenches with ‘pressed’ type scaffold fittings. 

NASC has developed a basic Tool Box Talk which members and other users of impact wrenches may find useful. 

NASC will continue to monitor the situation and will issue further information if required. 

Do not endanger yourself by approaching any live construction works, especially those which you believe are being carried out unsafely. 

Under no circumstances should you attempt to access or alter any part of the scaffolding, even if you believe you are competent to do so. 

It is best to contact your local authority and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and supply as much information as possible. The specific nature of the issue will decide which regulatory authority is ultimately responsible. If it is safe to do so, it is recommended that you photograph the works in question and supply this to the regulatory authorities.  

The Work at Height Regulations 2005, Schedule 6, Paragraph 5 states that:  

5.  A portable ladder shall be prevented from slipping during use by— 

(a) securing the stiles at or near their upper or lower ends; 

(b) an effective anti-slip or other effective stability device; or 

(c) any other arrangement of equivalent effectiveness. 

There is no specific requirement regarding the equipment or method used to secure the ladder.  

The NASC recommend in SG25 Access and Egress from Scaffolding, via Ladders and Stair Towers etc. that ladders are secured using square lashings of suitable rope or wire, proprietary ladder couplers, cables ties of sufficient strength and use, or scaffolding fittings (of the appropriate type and method of fixing). 

For further guidance on scaffolding ladders, please read SG25 Access and Egress from Scaffolding, via Ladders and Stair Towers etc. This is available from our online shop at: https://nasc.org.uk/shop/  

What are the requirements for inspecting a scaffolding ladder? 

The Work at Height Regulations 2005, Section 12 require that all ladders, as work equipment, is inspected at regular intervals.  

The NASC recommend that if the ladder is used as part of a scaffold structure, the ladder is inspected as part of the required statutory scaffolding inspections. The inspection and any findings must be included within the inspection report. 

If the ladder is not used as part of a scaffolding structure, it is not subject to the same requirements as a scaffold. An inspection must still take place and be documented in an inspection report, but the intervals at which this is can be determined by a suitable risk assessment. 

For further guidance on scaffolding ladders, please read SG25 Access and Egress from Scaffolding, via Ladders and Stair Towers etc. This is available from our online shop at: https://nasc.org.uk/shop/  

As lifting equipment, gin wheels are subject to the requirements laid out in The Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER) 1998. 

Gin wheels must undergo a thorough inspection every year. All accessories, including any rope, must be inspected every six months. Records of these inspections must be retained, with copies also held on site. 

For further guidance on gin wheels, please read SG9 Use, Inspection & Maintenance of Lifting Equipment and Accessories for Lifting in Scaffolding. This is available from our online shop at: https://nasc.org.uk/shop/  

All gin wheels must be inspected by a competent person, defined by the HSE as someone who has the skills, knowledge and experience necessary to undertake the duty. 

For further guidance on gin wheels, please read SG9 Use, Inspection & Maintenance of Lifting Equipment and Accessories for Lifting in Scaffolding. This is available from our online shop at: https://nasc.org.uk/shop/  

Any competent individual who has been deemed required to wear a harness as part of a risk assessment and who has received suitable training is able to wear a harness. This training must include any rescue procedures. While using this equipment, a sufficient number of operatives trained in the rescue procedures must be in attendance to carry out any rescue required.  

For further guidance on the use of harnesses in scaffolding operations, please read SG16 Management of Fall Protection Equipment and SG4 Preventing Falls in Scaffolding Operations. These are available from our online shop at: https://nasc.org.uk/shop/  

The Work at Height Regulations 2005 require employers to only undertake work at height when it is not reasonably practicable to undertake the work from anywhere else. When work at height is undertaken, the employer is then required to take suitable and sufficient measures to prevent, as far as is reasonably practicable, a person falling any distance liable to cause personal injury. If this risk cannot be eliminated, then PPE must be provided to minimise the distance and consequences of a fall. 

Due to the nature of scaffolding work, it is generally accepted that it is not possible to completely eliminate the risk of a fall occurring during scaffolding operations. To this end, the NASC recommends that all scaffolders are issued a safety harness, that it is worn at all times when working at height and is used in accordance with the guidance laid out in SG4 Preventing Falls in Scaffolding Operations.  

For further guidance on the use of harnesses in scaffolding operations, please read SG16 Management of Fall Protection Equipment and SG4 Preventing Falls in Scaffolding Operations. These are available from our online shop at: https://nasc.org.uk/shop/  

The Work at Height Regulations 2005 require that work equipment exposed to conditions that may cause deterioration is inspected at suitable intervals and after any events that are likely to jeopardise the safety of the work equipment.  

The NASC recommend that harnesses are subject to three levels of inspection: 

• Pre and post use inspections carried out by the user. This should be a visual and tactile inspection and is not required to be recorded.

• Statutory thorough examinations carried out by a competent person. These must be carried out periodically at minimum intervals as specified by the employer’s inspection regime. The NASC recommends that fall arrest equipment undergoes this thorough inspection at least once every three months. These inspections must be recorded, and the records retained. 

• Additional interim inspections, as required. Certain harsh conditions may require the work equipment to be inspected more regularly than the company’s inspection regime requires. If the equipment is inspected due to specific events likely to cause deterioration, then these inspections must be recorded and the records retained. 

For further guidance on the use of harnesses in scaffolding operations, please read SG16 Management of Fall Protection Equipment and SG4 Preventing Falls in Scaffolding Operations. These are available from our online shop at: https://nasc.org.uk/shop/  

Employers must ensure that those carrying out statutory harness inspections are competent in their ability to do so, meaning they have the training, skills, knowledge and experience required to carry out their duties. 

CISRS training courses only cover how to carry out pre and post use inspections of harnesses and does not train operatives to carry out statutory thorough inspections. 

The NASC recommends that all scaffolding contractors arrange formal training on inspecting fall protection equipment, which includes their responsibilities, the limitations of their competency and when specialist assistance is required during inspections. This training may be delivered in house or through a reputable training provider.  

For further guidance on the use of harnesses in scaffolding operations, please read SG16 Management of Fall Protection Equipment and SG4 Preventing Falls in Scaffolding Operations. These are available from our online shop at: https://nasc.org.uk/shop/  

The Public Highway is any highway over which the public has a right of way via foot (footpath / footway), bike (cycle track), horse (bridleway) or vehicle (carriageway). Generally, this covers any highway under control of a Highway Authority (TFL, county council, strategic highways company e.g. National Highways) as these authorities have a legal requirement to preserve the public right of way. 

It is important to note that private roads and streets are not necessarily excluded from the public right of way, and clarification should be sought from the relevant owners or authorities. 

For further guidance on scaffolding operations taking place on the Public Highway, please read SG34 Guidance on Protection of the Public and CG1 Pavement Licences. These are available from our online shop at: https://nasc.org.uk/shop/  

A license is required to erect or maintain a scaffold on or over the Public Highway. These are issued in writing by the relevant highway authority for that highway. Scaffolds that span multiple elevations or larger areas may require approval from multiple highway authorities. 

Under the Highways Act 1980, it is a fineable offence to erect or maintain a scaffold on or over the highway unless a license has been issued in writing by the relevant highway authority.  

For further guidance on scaffolding operations taking place on the Public Highway, please read SG34 Guidance on Protection of the Public and CG1 Pavement Licences. These are available from our online shop at: https://nasc.org.uk/shop/  

The recipient of a license for a scaffold from a highway authority is required to carry out certain duties under the Highways Act 1980. These are listed below: 

(4) Subject to subsection (6) below, it is the duty of a person to whom a licence is issued by a highway authority in respect of a relevant structure— 

(a) to ensure that the structure is adequately lit at all times between half an hour after sunset and half an hour before sunrise; 

(b) to comply with any directions given to him in writing by the authority with respect to the erection and maintenance of traffic signs in connection with the structure; and 

(c) to do such things in connection with the structure as any statutory undertakers reasonably request him to do for the purpose of protecting or giving access to any apparatus belonging to or used or maintained by the undertakers. 

If the recipient of the license is not the scaffolding contractor, but there are expectations from the customer that the scaffolding contractor will fulfil some or all of these duties, this should be made clear at the tender stage. 

The NASC recommend various safety precautions for contractors when undertaking scaffolding operations near to members of the public or on / over the Public Highway. This includes but is not limited to: 

• Exclusion zones

• Protection gantries 

• Brickguards 

• Cladding 

• Protection fans 

• Physical barriers 

The full list and details can be found in SG34 Guidance on Protection of the Public. 

For further guidance on scaffolding operations taking place on the Public Highway, please read SG34 Guidance on Protection of the Public and CG1 Pavement Licences. These are available from our online shop at: https://nasc.org.uk/shop/  

A temporary staircase intended for use by the public will always require a bespoke design, built in accordance with any necessary regulations applicable at the time. 

If the staircase is considered a fire escape route, then there are specific requirements listed under The Building Regulations 2010 and its associated Approved Documents. 

For further guidance on scaffolding operations taking place on the Public Highway involving staircases, please read SG25 Access and Egress from Scaffolding, via Ladders and Stair Towers etc., SG34 Guidance on Protection of the Public and CG1 Pavement Licences. These are available from our online shop at: https://nasc.org.uk/shop/  

Working near overhead power lines is subject to the same health and safety regulations as standard construction work, being covered under The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 and The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015, which all require the work to be suitably planned, managed and risk assessed to reduce the risk to health and safety as far as is reasonably practicable. 

In addition to the above, the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 further stipulates that electrical systems and work activities near or involving an electrical system are of such a nature as to prevent, so far as is reasonably practicable, danger. 

For further guidance on scaffolding operations taking place near or involving overhead power lines, please read SG5 Overhead Power Sources and Earthing of Scaffold Structures. These are available from our online shop at: https://nasc.org.uk/shop/  

Working near or over water  is subject to the same health and safety regulations as standard construction work, being covered under The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 and The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015, which all require the work to be suitably planned, managed and risk assessed to reduce the risk to health and safety as far as is reasonably practicable. 

For further guidance on scaffolding operations taking place near or involving overhead power lines, please read SG42 Working Over or Near Water. These are available from our online shop at: https://nasc.org.uk/shop/