Who is allowed to inspect a scaffold?

A competent person, meaning someone with the right mix of training, knowledge and experience for that particular scaffold. For most scaffolds that is a CISRS-qualified scaffold inspector. A trained non-scaffolder, such as a site manager who has completed a scaffold inspection course, can inspect a basic structure.

Do you need a written scaffold inspection report?

Yes. The person inspecting must produce a report before the end of the work period in which the inspection was done, and the duty holder must have it within 24 hours. The scaffold tag on site is a visible summary, not a replacement for the report.

Does scaffolding need re-inspecting after bad weather?

Yes. Any event that could affect the scaffold's stability triggers a fresh inspection before it is next used. High winds, heavy snow, an impact from a vehicle or an alteration all count, no matter when the last 7-day inspection fell.

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Industry19/07/20263 min read

How Often Should Scaffolding Be Inspected? UK Rules

Scaffolding in the UK must be inspected before it is first used, then at intervals of no more than every 7 days, and again after any event that could affect its stability, such as an alteration or bad weather. That is the rule under the Work at Height Regulations 2005, and it applies to any scaffold from which a person could fall more than two metres.

Simple enough on paper. The bits people get wrong are the two extra triggers, who is allowed to sign it off, and the difference between the tag and the report.

The 7-day rule, and the two triggers people forget

The seven days is a maximum, not a target. A scaffold can be inspected more often, and busy sites often are, but the gap between inspections can never exceed seven days while the scaffold is in use.

The two triggers that catch people out are:

Before first use. A newly erected or newly altered scaffold gets a handover inspection before anyone works from it. The seven-day clock starts from there.
After anything that could affect stability. High winds, heavy snow, a knock from a delivery lorry, or any alteration means a fresh inspection before the scaffold is used again, regardless of where you were in the weekly cycle.

The HSE guidance on scaffolds is clear that adverse weather and alterations reset the position. A scaffold inspected on Monday and battered by a gale on Wednesday is not "still in date" because it is only day three.

Who counts as a competent person

Every inspection has to be carried out by a competent person: someone whose training, knowledge and experience match the type and complexity of the scaffold in front of them.

For most scaffolds that means a CISRS-qualified scaffold inspector. For a basic structure, a non-scaffolder who has completed a recognised scaffold inspection course, a site manager for example, can be competent to inspect it. The more complex the scaffold, the higher the bar. A designed or bespoke scaffold needs someone qualified to judge it, not just a card. If you are working out where the inspection qualification sits, our guide to CISRS cards and levels lays out the ladder.

The tag on site is not the report

Two things get produced, and they are not the same:

The scaffold tag (often a Scafftag) hangs at the access point and gives an at-a-glance status: safe to use, who inspected it, when. It is a visual signal for everyone climbing on.
The inspection report is the legal record. It must be completed before the end of the work period in which the inspection happened, and the person in control of the work must receive it within 24 hours. Reports are kept until the next inspection is recorded.

A green tag with no report behind it does not meet the regulations. If you are ever asked to work off a scaffold with no tag, or a tag that is clearly out of date, that is your cue to stop and ask.

What this means on the ground

If you run scaffolds, the practical version is: handover inspection before use, a recorded inspection at least weekly, and a re-inspection after any weather or change, each one written up within the day and the tag kept current.

If you work off them, you are entitled to expect a current tag and, behind it, a real report. Knowing the rule is part of being a safe, employable scaffolder, alongside the right PPE and on-site kit.

Looking for a firm that runs a tight, safe site? Browse the latest scaffolding jobs and apply direct to the companies hiring.

Common questions

How often should scaffolding be inspected?: Before it is first used, then at intervals of no more than every 7 days, and again after anything that could affect its stability, such as an alteration, high winds or other adverse weather. The requirement comes from the Work at Height Regulations 2005.
Who is allowed to inspect a scaffold?: A competent person, meaning someone with the right mix of training, knowledge and experience for that particular scaffold. For most scaffolds that is a CISRS-qualified scaffold inspector. A trained non-scaffolder, such as a site manager who has completed a scaffold inspection course, can inspect a basic structure.
Do you need a written scaffold inspection report?: Yes. The person inspecting must produce a report before the end of the work period in which the inspection was done, and the duty holder must have it within 24 hours. The scaffold tag on site is a visible summary, not a replacement for the report.
Does scaffolding need re-inspecting after bad weather?: Yes. Any event that could affect the scaffold's stability triggers a fresh inspection before it is next used. High winds, heavy snow, an impact from a vehicle or an alteration all count, no matter when the last 7-day inspection fell.