Scaffolding is a critical component of construction and maintenance work, but it can also be hazardous if not properly inspected and maintained. Proper inspection of scaffolding during erection and operation is necessary and required by law. Ensuring worker safety and complying with regulations such as OSHA standards can help prevent jobsite accidents.

In this guide, we will discuss who has the authority to inspect scaffolding and what to look out for when doing so.

 

 

 

Why is it Necessary to Conduct Scaffolding Inspections?

 

Scaffolding is an indispensable temporary facility in construction, decoration and maintenance operations, but its structure is complex and the use environment is changeable. Once a safety hazard occurs, it is very easy to cause a serious accident. Scaffolding inspections are a safety measure required by law and are also the most effective means to prevent accidents such as falls and collapses. The following are the five core reasons why scaffolding inspections must be conducted:

• Legal mandatory requirements (OSHA/national standards)
• Prevent fatal falls
• Ensure structural stability
• Deal with the impact of environmental changes
• Improve workers' safety awareness and compliance operations

 

 

 

Personnel Authorized to Carry out Scaffolding Inspections

 

According to OSHA 1926.450(b), only specially qualified personnel are authorized to conduct scaffolding inspections. This is an iron rule to ensure construction safety.

OSHA has three core requirements for qualified personnel:

• Professional people who have professional knowledge related to scaffolding, can identify scaffolding-related hazards (such as structural defects, electrical hazards, etc.) or are familiar with all the provisions of 29 CFR 1926 Subpart L;
• People with corrective authority, such as those who have the right to immediately stop unsafe operations or those who can enforce corrective measures
• People with qualification certificates, such as those who have completed OSHA-approved training courses (such as 30 hours of scaffolding-specific training), and companies must retain qualification documents for reference

 

 

 

Does OSHA Require Scaffold Certification?

 

 

OSHA does not mandate a specific "scaffolding certification" card or permit. However, it does absolutely require that anyone who inspects, designs, or supervises scaffolding work be a "qualified person" and have received documented training that complies with OSHA standards (29 CFR 1926 Subpart L).

 

 

 

The Fundamentals of Scaffolding Safety

 

• The load-bearing capacity of the scaffolding must indicate the maximum load (static load + live load + wind load), and overloading is strictly prohibited (typical violation: stacking too many building materials);
• The ground load-bearing capacity of the scaffolding site must be ≥50kPa (soft soil requires steel plates), and all vertical poles of the scaffolding system must be equipped with bottom supports and pads;
• The working platform of the scaffolding must be equipped with a guardrail ≥90cm high, the height of the skirting board ≥15cm, and the safety net must be fully covered (aperture ≤5cm);
• The personnel who build or dismantle the scaffolding must hold a "special operation operation certificate" or a high-altitude operation certificate (scaffolder category) issued by the housing and construction department, etc. The inspector of the scaffolding needs to be a "qualified person" appointed in writing by the company, or a person who has completed 40 hours of professional training (including load calculation courses).

 

 

 

Responsibilities of Scaffolding Inspection

 

 

Different countries and regions have different requirements for how often scaffolding should be inspected for safety:

Standard	Initial Inspection	Routine Frequency	Special Circumstances	Record Retention
US OSHA	Pre-use mandatory	Before each shift + post extreme weather	After modifications/impact/overload	3 years post-project
EU EN 12811	Third-party certified	Weekly minimum	Winds > Beaufort 8 or <-10°C	10 years
China GB 51210	Supervisor sign-off	Daily pre-shift	Post-earthquake/rainfall/7+ days idle	Permanent archives
ISO 10075	Load-test verified	Every 48 hours	Material corrosion/deformation	5 years recommended

 

 

 

Who Inspects and Builds Scaffolding?

 

The safety of scaffolding depends on the standardized construction and inspection by certified personnel.

• Scaffolding construction personnel: Certified scaffolders who need to complete special operations training or supervised auxiliary workers who have received fall prevention training and basic safety knowledge education
• Construction supervisors: Project safety officers who have been strictly reviewed, OSHA qualified personnel or EU certified supervisors who hold CISRS advanced certificates
• People who have the right to inspect scaffolding: Comparison of differences in various regions

Inspection Type	Who Conducts It?	When?
Pre-Use Inspection	Competent Person (OSHA) / Scaffold Supervisor (EU)	Before first use
Daily/Routine Check	Competent Person or trained inspector	Each shift
Post-Event Inspection	Competent Person (after weather, impacts, or modifications)	Immediately after incident
Thorough Examination (EU EN 12811)	Certified Scaffold Inspector (CISRS/Equivalent)	Every 7 days

 

• Qualification requirements for inspectors: Comparison of regional differences

-China

• Must hold a "Construction Safety Officer Certificate" + written authorization from the company
• High-risk projects require the participation of registered safety engineers

 

-US/EU

• OSHA: "Qualified Personnel" designated by the employer (training certificate required)
• EU: CISRS Inspector Certificate (more than 32 hours of training)

 

-Special scenarios

Cantilever/overload scaffolding must be signed and confirmed by a structural engineer

 

 

 

What Are the Responsibilities of Scaffolding Inspection?

 

Scaffolding inspection is the core link to ensure construction safety, involving multiple responsible parties. The following are the main core responsibilities of the inspector:

 

• Structural Safety Verification

-Check the vertical deviation of the pole (≤1/100 height, GB 51210)

-Confirm the torque value of the fastener (ISO standard: 40-65 N·m)

-Evaluate the foundation settlement (allowable value <10mm/24h)

 

• Protection System Review:

-Guardrail height (upper pole ≥1.05m, middle pole 0.5-0.6m, OSHA 1926.451)

-Kickboard integrity (≥150mm, EN 12811)

-Safety net tension (droop <1m/3m span)

-Document management

-Fill in the electronic/paper inspection form (with GPS positioning and timestamp)

 

• Issuance of Three-color Labels:

-Green card (passed)

-Yellow card (restricted use)

-Red card (immediate removal)

 

• After Extreme Weather:

-Measurement of temperature deformation of steel pipes (expansion coefficient 11×10⁻⁶/℃ when >40℃)

-Checking the pull-out resistance of anchors (increase 50% when wind speed >8)

 

• Scaffolding in Chemical Area:

-Weekly corrosion inspection (ultrasonic thickness gauge, scrapped if wall thickness <3.2mm)

-Anti-static ground resistance test (<10Ω)

 

• Mobile Scaffolding:

-Recheck wheel brake force after displacement (≥1.5 times working load)

-Check the effectiveness of locking device

 

 

 

Inspection of the Work Environment

 

Scaffolding work environment inspection is a key link to ensure construction safety, and a systematic assessment of natural conditions, site conditions and human factors is required.

• Before inspection: confirm the qualifications of the scaffolding inspector;

 

• Core inspection items

-meteorological conditions (real-time wind speed ≤13.8m/s (level 6 wind), precipitation impact <3cm (otherwise suspend work))

-Geological stability (foundation settlement <5mm/8h, ground bearing capacity ≥50kPa (geological report required))

-Electromagnetic environment (high-voltage line distance ≥6m (below 110kV), lightning protection grounding resistance ≤10Ω)

-Chemical pollution (corrosive gas concentration H₂S <10ppm (OSHA limit), metal component corrosion rate annual corrosion amount <0.2mm)

 

• High-altitude working environment

 

• Chemical zone environment

 

 

 

How Do You Conduct a Scaffolding Inspection?

 

Tools to prepare before inspection

• Torque wrench (check bolt tightness, standard value 40-65N·m)
• Laser level (vertical deviation ≤1/100 height)
• Thickness gauge (wall thickness of steel structure after corrosion ≥90% of original thickness)

 

Inspection location

• Foundation: hardened ground bearing capacity ≥50kPa
• Vertical pole: vertical deviation ≤50mm/10m height
• Scaffolding board: steel fence has no warping, wooden springboard thickness ≥50mm
• Protection system: upper crossbar 1.2m, middle crossbar 0.6m, skirting board 0.18m

 

 

 

All Workers Must Be Trained in Scaffold Safety Measures

 

Workers receiving scaffolding safety measures training can reduce the probability of scaffolding accidents.

• Training Content:

-Scaffolding load calculation

-Extreme weather response

-Properly wear safety belts (hang high and use low)

-Identify sources of danger (such as corroded fasteners)

 

 

 

Safe Operation of a Scaffold

 

• Must Do

• Check personal protective equipment before work (five-point safety belt + non-slip shoes)
• Pile materials evenly (no single-point concentrated load)
• Lock the wheel brakes of the mobile scaffold before work

 

• Strictly Prohibited

• Remove the wall connection without authorization (a project in Shanghai overturned as a result)
• Climb cross braces (special ladders should be used)
• Work on icy scaffolding (stop work and de-ice immediately)

 

 

 

Scaffold Inspection Checklist

 

• Daily Check Items:

-All fasteners are not loose (torque wrench spot check 20%)

-Safety net is not damaged (holes ≤ 50mm)

-Ground resistance ≤ 10Ω (special inspection during thunderstorm season)

 

• Weekly Check Items:

-Steel structure weld cracks (penetrant flaw detection)

-Foundation settlement (total station monitoring, change ≤ 5mm/week)

 

 

 

Final Thoughts

 

Builders: Must be trained and supervised (OSHA) or certified (EU/UK/AU).

Inspectors: Must be a Competent Person (OSHA) or CISRS certified (EU).

Records: Keep signed inspection logs (3+ years US, 10 years EU).

Complex Scaffolding: Engineer approval required if rated load >125% or unusual design.

 

 

 

FAQ

 

• Who can legally inspect scaffolds?

Only a “qualified person” (as defined by OSHA) or a certified scaffolding inspector is authorized to inspect scaffolds.

 

• Does OSHA require inspectors to be “scaffolding certified”?

No, OSHA does not issue specific “scaffolding certifications,” but inspectors must:• Be trained in accordance with OSHA 1926.454• Demonstrate competency through documented training (e.g., OSHA 30-hour construction)• Be formally appointed by their employerException: Some states (e.g., California) require additional certification.

 

 

 

Reference

 

Scaffold Roles and Responsibilities -Princeton EHS —— Princeton University

Scaffold Inspection: What You Need to Know —— Essential Site Skills