Scaffolding Rules & Regulations for the UK

These policies are primarily set out in the UK’s Work at Height Regulations (2005), establishing legal requirements for all work at height. Industry best practices are further detailed in guidance from the National Access & Scaffolding Confederation (NASC) and British Standards (BS EN 12811, BS 5975 and BS 2482).

It’s vital you adhere to the regulations in order to keep yourself and your colleagues safe. In this article, we’ll outline how to make your working environment as safe as possible.

When beginning a scaffolding project, you can’t just rock up and begin erecting the scaffolding straight away. There are a number of pre-project measures you must undertake to ensure the safety of everyone working on the job.

Risk assessment

First, you’re required to fill out a risk assessment form, identifying potential hazards that could lead to injury or worse. Risk assessments are a legal requirement under the Work at Height Regulations (2005), and must be carried out by a competent person.

Risk assessment forms tend to be extensive, and for good reason, as they benefit contractors, employers and employees. Here’s how:

Safety improvements

Risk assessments highlight everything that could go wrong on a project, raising awareness of precautions that must be taken by workers. This will help to reduce the risk of accidents and injury.

Reducing liability

If something were to go wrong on the job, having a comprehensive risk assessment can reduce a company’s legal liability. This minimises the chance of the company having to make large compensation payments if an employee is injured on the job.

Saving money

Some areas of a building may be at greater risk of damage than others. If this is highlighted in a risk assessment, scaffolders can prepare accordingly, preventing future damage compensation payments.

Hierarchy of control

The hierarchy of control is a framework designed to help you mitigate risks. It favours eliminating the risk altogether before moving onto other measures, such as:

• Elimination – Can the need for scaffolding be avoided? For example, using extendable tools from ground level instead of working from height.
• Substitution – Can a safer method be used? For example, using a mobile elevated work platform (MEWP) instead of scaffolding for a short-duration task.
• Engineering controls – Can physical safety measures be implemented? For example, installing guardrails, toe boards and netting to prevent falls.
• Administrative controls – Can safer working procedures reduce risk? For example, implementing regular scaffold inspections, worker training and access control.
• Personal protective equipment (PPE) – Can workers be protected individually? For example, providing harnesses and lanyards for workers at high-risk locations.

Method statements (RAMS)

For more complex scaffolding projects, a method statement – also known as risk assessment and method statement (RAMS) – may be required.

This document details step-by-step procedures for safely erecting, using and dismantling the scaffolding, ensuring all workers understand the correct processes.

A method statement should include:

• A detailed plan of work, outlining each stage of scaffolding assembly and dismantling.
• Identification of hazards and control measures in line with the Hierarchy of Control.
• Emergency procedures, including fall rescue plans.

Weather conditions & environmental risks

Risk assessments must also account for adverse weather conditions, which can significantly impact scaffolding safety. This includes:

• High winds – If winds exceed 38 mph (force 5 on the Beaufort scale), scaffolding work should be halted.
• Ice & snow – Platforms should be cleared of ice and snow before work begins, as slippery surfaces increase the risk of falls.
• Heavy rain – Prolonged rain can affect scaffolding stability, particularly on soft ground.
• Lightning – Metal scaffolding poses a severe electrical hazard in thunderstorms, requiring work to be postponed.

Location checks

Before erecting the scaffolding, mandatory checks on the planned location and its surroundings must be made. Here is what you need to be looking out for:

• Firm, level surface: Scaffolding must be set up on firm and level surfaces to ensure structural integrity is maintained.
• No overhead power cables: According to the National Access & Scaffolding Confederation (NASC), you should never erect scaffolding within three metres of an overhead power line. For high-voltage lines, you shouldn’t be within 15 metres, unless the power is outed by the local electricity company. If you’re working within close proximity of power lines, you must contact the electricity provider.
• Highways (inc. pavements): Setting up scaffolding on highways (including pavements) is possible providing you have a licence granted by the local council. Also known as a pavement permit, this licence will be time-limited, and can result in legal issues if you continue to work outside of your allotted time frame. If scaffolding blocks pedestrian access, additional pedestrian management measures are required. These include temporary footpaths and barriers.

The 2005 Work at Height Regulations state that only competent persons can design, erect, alter and dismantle scaffolding. While erecting the scaffolding, there must always be a competent supervisor on hand to oversee the process.

Design regulations

As you’d expect, there are plenty of regulations to navigate during the design process of the scaffolding. These include:

• Ensuring the system you choose is appropriate for the job you are working on.
• Not building the scaffolding higher than the manufacturer’s recommendations.
• Including anti-fall measures such as guardrails, toe boards and safety nets.

Anti-fall regulations

Guardrails

Guardrails should be present on each open side of the scaffold. They should be a minimum of 950mm above the platform and any gap between the top rail and intermediate rail should not exceed 470mm.

Toe boards

These must be suitable and sufficient to prevent tools and people from falling off the platform and putting those below in danger.

Safety nets

There must be sufficient space below the safety net to prevent the person from hitting the ground. Mesh size should adhere to BS EN 1263-1, typically 100mm.

Assembly regulations

When erecting the scaffolding, assembly instructions should always be followed with maximum precision. After all, one flaw in the entire scaffolding setup can have disastrous consequences.

When assembling the scaffolding, you’ll have to comply with regulations regarding scaffolding boards. These are strict and extensive.

Scaffold board regulations

In the UK, all scaffold boards must comply with British Standard 2482, which determines their dimensions and the materials they’re made from. Here is a rundown of the UK scaffold board regulations:

Dimensions

• All scaffolding boards must have a standard width of 22.5cm.
• Scaffold boards can be no longer than 3.9m. Boards often come in lengths of 1.5m, 1.8m, 2.4m, and 3m.
• Scaffolding boards have a minimum thickness of 38mm.

Materials

The British Standard requires scaffold boards to be made of European Whitewood, which is known for its strength and resistance to warping. Some scaffold boards also contain a metal strip at both ends, known as metal end bands. This provides added strength to the boards, but is optional, depending on manufacturer specification.

Scaffold boards must be regularly replaced, especially if they are showing any signs of wear and tear. Replace any boards that are split, excessively worn or damaged. Work must not commence on a scaffolding setup until scaffold boards have been fully installed and checked.

Strict rules and regulations don’t subside once the scaffolding is up, with UK law stating that scaffolding should undergo regular inspections. It must first be checked before you use it, and then every seven days after it has been erected.

It should also be thoroughly checked after any alterations have been made, or if it has been subject to damage or extreme weather conditions.

When inspecting the scaffolding, always use a checklist to ensure that no potential issues are skipped over. These checklists should include a full run-through of each component, ensuring everything is damage-free and where it should be.

They should also include:

• Effectiveness of anti-fall measures
• Structural integrity and overall stability
• Strength of scaffolding base plates
• Presence of scaffold boards
• Security of all ladders

Lastly, it’s advisable to tag all scaffolding to show that it is safe for use. Although tag systems aren’t a legal requirement, the law requires inspection of scaffolding by a competent person. Using a visible tag system is a useful way of ensuring that everyone knows that scaffolding has been inspected and is or isn’t safe to use.