Posted By RS1000

For an 'ordinary' scaffold, say 3-4 lifts, what level of qualification would be acceptable for those carrying out the checks.
I have had a basic scaffold appreciation cert in the past but have recently heard that this is nowhere near enough.
I have also been told that the inspector needs to check before accepting the handover cert.
I have always worked on the premise that the handover cert confirms it is satisfactory for 7 days, then do a tour every Monday or more if its been very windy, then sign it off in the register.

Posted By Ron Hunter
I have growing concerns and unease as to the extent that Clients and main contractors are advised to go to in developing competencies to enable them to independently assess the competence of what should be a specialist contractor.

I feel the HSE (and others) are dodging the issue here.

There are many very good scaffold contractors out there. There exists at least one industry body. Others out there are "not so good" and I'm sure those of us in the industry are well aware of the (all too) common problems.

Handover Certificates are not a mandatory requirement.

Just how far do we take this type of issue? What about the specialist suppliers of edge protection, mast climbers etc etc.? Would you expect to have the same application of diligence on these and other areas of specialist kit by the client or PC? Is it not a reasonable expectation that the specialist company should be the people with the reliable expertise? If they aren't, then how is this to be fixed?

Posted By Ron Hunter
If only life were that simple db..........if only.

Posted By Ron Hunter
"The level of competency/capability of an Individual to Quality Assure a particular Scaffolding Structure is governed by his/her degree of Practical and Theoretical ability to recognise overt patent defects and omissions and more importantly the covert breaches of B.S.

Know your limitations and if in doubt call upon the services of a Pro."

Is that not exactly what happens when I engage a competent & professional scaffold erector?

Posted By teaboy
have you thought about taking the CITB scaffold safety inspection certificate course? i did mine at the national construction college at bircham newton, good course, intensive though

Posted By Garry Adams
db
By RS1000 own admission...he has a basic Scaffolding Appreciation Certificate.

This would indicate the level of Competence/ Capability, an Appreciation Certificate falls short of the Level of competency required to conduct a Statutory Safety Survey as part of a Scaffolding Safety Management System.

Garry...

Posted By Robert K Lewis
However the operative words are "in the past" the advent of BSEN12811 and TG20 have moved the goalposts appreciably. Thus the training held may well be out of date.

Bob

Posted By patrick carr
Hi all
RS1000, our site managers hold the same cert as you mate, and i dare say a lot of other construction companies managers do likewise, the general scaffold appreciation certificate,IMO is for the cosmetic look of a standard 3/4 storey scaffold structure, as you mention, I.E plumb stds, level ledgers, no missing h/rails, toeboards, stable ground etc etc. We once had a asst site manager, who signed-off a scaffold strike (dismantled)as all in good working order, in the scaff register book.

On the handing over of a scaffold you take it as all is well (cosmetically) until your next inspection,7 days or after certain circumstances I.E adverse weather conditions, nearby excavations etc.for example, when you take your car to a garage for 4 new tyres, if they look good you think they have been done correct, you don't take the trims off and grab the torque spanner off the mechanic and try every wheel nut.So you rely on your specialist contractor (scaffolding erectors)to do the right job, as has been stated in this thread.

On more complex designs, as stated by Garry and Bob, you would need more specialist assistance, back to the car scenario again, if you were lucky enough to be able to buy a brand new car, you would just pop in the showroom and buy it,as everything should be in perfect working order. However how many people have the knowledge to go and buy a used car and know exactly that what they are looking at is up to standard, me for one always takes along a person that knows what they are looking at.

regards
paddy

Posted By Garry Adams
Ron

Firstly, excuse my knee jerk reaction to your post...and yes I concur the onus upon the Principal contractor to marshal the actions of all and sundry maybe on the face of it harsh...however, it is becoming a norm for Principals to engage the services of a Non-Bias Statutory Scaffolding Inspector, this Non-Bias stance worked well on large Industrial Projects.

Garry...

Posted By db
Gary,

I didn't say that what RS had was sufficient anywhere in my post.

The appreciation course is not enough.

Posted By Garry Adams
Bob

Perhaps the content of this thread has deviated from the original point, however, the expansion of the discussion is generic to the desired outcome, i.e. Inspections and the level of competency/capability required.

I agree with your comments regarding Benchmarking...the correlation , configuration and permutation of the more intricate and esoteric Scaffolding Structures can be challenging both for the Scaffold Design Engineer and the Scaffold Erector.

Garry...

Posted By Robert K Lewis
Rob

Even 2 or 3 lift scaffolds may be complex in some situations and the size does not necessarily define the level of competence to inspect. I have not been with you when you inspect and can make no comment on your own competence. That is ultimately down to your employer and it is not possible to know from a distance. The qualification was a good start but as I have said it does have limitations particularly if done some years ago.

Bob