Hi guys - looking for a bit of guidance here - we are working in a school gym hall (stripping out old lights and ceiling grid then replacing with new) we have built a bird cage scaffold platform completely decking out the roof at a height that allows us to remove the ceiling grid & lights, there are no gaps at the perimeters as it goes wall to wall on both sides. my question is thus - to gain extra height to allow us to work above the ceiling grid height to carry out some repairs/works can we use stepladders or build an aluminium tower ontop of our scaffold platform? i know the fact that we need to use further access equipment ontop of our scaffold would immediately say that no it is too low and needs raised however the budget is very tight and does not allow for raising the scaffold platform, doing these repairs and then dropping the platform height back down to fit the new ceiling & lights

Hi Robert, I have seen this scenario many times! While the purists would say no, sometimes we have to join the real world and manage risk. If as you say the Birdcage is wall to wall with no gaps, the scaffold planks are clamped into position & not free to move around as they usually are and as long as whatever access equipment, materials and men you put on the platform are within the SWL of the platform (I would advise you consult the scaffold designer) I see no reason why this could not be carried out. Regards Clive

Robert As far as I can see the only problem I could when using steps up there would be the uneven surface of the scaffold boards or gaps between the boards causing instability when working. Perhaps some other form of access equipment would be more suitable for use up there. The basis of your question appears to be can you use ladders, steps, hop ups etc to gain extra height when on a scaffold. The answer is yes as long as it doesnt increase the risk of a fall from the scaffold perimeter (ie raise you above a level that renders the fixed edge protection useless) which in this case it wont as it goes wall to wall. This is my take on this.