Inspecting and Preparing the Site
Ground and foundations
Site preparation starts with verifying ground conditions against the design assumptions. Candidates should understand base plates, sole boards, and the need for firm, level, drained footing. Soft spots, backfilled trenches, and services beneath the footprint are classic failure causes. Check that sole boards are sized and oriented to spread load, and that base plates sit flat, not on their edges.
Materials inspection
Inspect every component before it goes up: tubes for bends, cracks, or excessive corrosion; couplers for thread damage and correct type; planks for splits, knots, and correct span rating; frames and modular units for bent members. Reject and tag out defective gear rather than sending it back into the rack.
Setting out and exclusion
Mark the footprint, establish the exclusion zone, and confirm overhead clearance from powerlines. Check access routes for the delivery and the crew, and confirm the scaffold does not block escape routes or fire equipment.
Traps
- Accepting a visually level surface without checking for voids or backfill.
- Using mismatched couplers or right-angle couplers where swivel couplers are required.
- Overlooking a service pit or drain beneath a base plate.
- Leaving the exclusion zone unmarked during erection.
Rule of thumb
If a base plate cannot sit flat and fully supported on a sole board, stop and fix the ground before adding another lift.