Posted By Paul Darren Joseph I recently started work with a construction company and there are signs on all scaffold internal stairways that read "maintain three(3) point contact at all times" yet I observe employees including HSE personnel using the stairs and are carrying tools or documents in one hand. In my opinion you could only maintain a three point contact when you are standing stationary. Once you start moving you automatically reduce your contact points to two. Therefore my questions are 1) Are these sighs practical? 2)should tool transporting practice be prohibited to add some practicality to the sign. Maintaining three point contact on a ladder is practical and it is clear to see the application of that rule. I welcome views on the topic of scaffold stairway 3 point contact. Paul

Posted By Dave Merchant To start with, the stairway on a temporary scaffold structure is not exempt from the WAHR, as this specifically defines WAH 'access' as "...except by a staircase in a permanent workplace". Technically (although it's maybe not obvious), the staircase is considered to be a 'working platform' and NOT a ladder. As such the 3POC rule doesn't apply, but it's sensible guidance to say that if you have the option to use a hand-hold you should. There's no prohibition of carrying items while moving on a staircase (only on some ladders), which is why they're fitted in the first place.