I was recently asked by a client for a scaffold rescue plan! I am aware of such a rescue plan for the erection / stripping of scaffold etc but not heard of one for utilising the scaffold as a working platform. I took the view that if they were walking wounded they would egress the scaffold the same route as they accessed it, if the injury was beyond the realms of the first aider then the emergency services would be called. having spoken to the emergency services they informed me that if they were to attend an incident where scaffold was being used they would only use their own equipment anyway. Any thoughts?

The degree of rescue provision that is needed is dependent on the risks presented. You have not given any details about the works so it is difficult to comment. If the risk of an injury that will prevent them egressing normally is low, then no special measures are required. If not then additional measures will be required. This could range from simply putting in a stair case to having a rescue team capable of providing rescue by rope.

Is this not an over-application and misinterpretation of WAH2005 Regs 4 and 7? There are conceivable emergencies to contend with (e.g. fire on adjacent building, worker incapacity) but does any one working from a scaffold need 'rescue'? This isn't suspended access working or complex aerial work - it's working from (or via) a temporary, properly constructed, platform. I would suggest to the client that 'rescue' is not appropriate to this scaffold work. Tell him how you would deal with foreseeable emergencies. Quote Reg 4 & 7. As a matter of interest, do you or your client specify stairs (as opposed to ladders) for scaffold access and egress? If not, why not?