Scaffolding Toolbox Talk

Scaffolding safety is vital to prevent falls and serious injuries. Below you find a complete free scaffolding toolbox talk for information and help to carry out a scaffolding risk assessment. Learn more about TBTs and view and download more than 60 covering other topics with our toolbox talks library.

Scaffolding health and safety toolbox talk

Introduction

Falls of both persons and objects from scaffolding are a major cause of accidents in the construction industry. In some cases, the scaffold itself falls! Good scaffolding safety helps prevent such hazards.

Main points

Scaffolding must be planned according to requirements including loads, platforms, safe passage, and access/egress.
Scaffolding should only be erected, adjusted, and dismantled by, or under the supervision of, a competent (properly trained) person.
Scaffolding must be maintained and this is the responsibility of all employees. Do not tamper with scaffolding and report any faults or concerns immediately.

Discussion points

Safe access/egress must be provided, which will normally comprise ladders. These must be secured and extend sufficiently beyond platforms for safe mounting/dismounting.
On no account should employees be climbing scaffold.
Scaffold platforms must be fully planked out where practical and should provide a passage for people of at least 600mm in width.
Where stores are stacked on scaffold platforms consider load weights. Ensure 600mm passage is maintained, do not stack materials too high, and stack near standards as opposed to the centre of bays.
For scaffolding over 2m in height then guard-rails, intermediate guard-rails, and toe-boards are required.
Where guard-rails are removed to facilitate loading they must be replaced immediately – consider purpose-built loading bays.
Scaffolding must be suitably tied to structures. On no account remove ties – get a scaffolder to do it.
Do not use incomplete or unsafe scaffolding – report it and get it signposted prohibiting use.
Scaffolding should be formally inspected after initial erection, after significant alteration, after any destabilising event, and at least once every seven days. The findings should be recorded.

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