Inspection, Maintenance, Safety and Load Requirements
Inspection regime
A scaffold must be inspected by a competent person before first use, at intervals not exceeding seven days while in use, and after any event that could affect its stability - high winds, impact, alteration, or being left unattended for a period. The inspection must be recorded, and the record must identify the scaffold, the date, the findings and the action taken. A tag or label system supports this but does not replace the written record.
What the inspector looks for
Foundations and sole boards for settlement or soft ground; base plates seated correctly; standards plumb and undamaged; ledgers and transoms secure with correct couplers and torque; ties present, correct in type and spacing, and connected to a sound part of the building; bracing complete; platform boards full, close-boarded where required, secured against uplift, and free of gaps; guardrails and toe boards at the correct heights; safe access; and housekeeping, including the absence of stored materials that exceed the duty.
Load requirements
The duty rating defines the maximum live load. The inspector must confirm that the actual use matches the rating - a light-duty access scaffold loaded with bricks is a failure waiting to happen. Point loads, concentrated stacks and impact loading deserve particular attention. Loads must never be imposed on guardrails or toe boards.
Traps
Questions test the seven-day interval, whether inspection is required after bad weather, and whether a tag alone is sufficient evidence. Another trap is treating a visual check by a user as an inspection, or assuming maintenance is only reactive. Maintenance includes replacing damaged boards, correcting couplers and removing debris.
Worked rule of thumb
Use "first, weekly, and after": first use, every seven days, and after any event. If in doubt whether an event is significant, inspect.