Can anyone advise whether scaffolding still requires 7 day checks even when work has been completed and now not in use? (waiting for it to be dismantled) We have had several examples of where work has been completed, scaffolding has still been left up and because it will no longer be used the scaffold contractor advises that we do not need to continue with the 7 day inspection. The issue I have with this is that although the work may have now stopped their could be bad weather or an incident which could make the scaffold unsafe and this may cause a hazard to tenants, public etc. Often we have to wait weeks or months with the scaffold still up. Would the contractor still be responsible for inspections?

Further to the above post, the scaffold should be clearly not in use with access prevented and a notice to that effect.

Thanks all. "You have a duty to protect the public" I think this is an important statement that JohnW makes. This is my concern with leaving scaffold up too long without inspections especially in tenanted properties. I can't help think that there is also a much wider need to co-ordinate works more effectively between the Supervisor and scaffolding contractor to lessen the chance of scaffolding being up unused. Sometimes difficult to manage especially with response repair works.