ScaffoldersWhat Contractors Need to Know

Scaffolders provide the safe access platforms that almost every other trade depends on, and the compliance requirements for scaffolding work are correspondingly rigorous. Scaffolding failures can be catastrophic — involving multiple fatalities and injuries — so the regulatory framework is detailed and strictly enforced.

The CISRS (Construction Industry Scaffolders Record Scheme) is the industry standard for scaffolder competence in the UK. CISRS cards are available at multiple levels: Labourer, Trainee, Scaffolder (Part 1 and Part 2), and Advanced Scaffolder. Each level requires completion of the appropriate CISRS training course and an NVQ in Accessing Operations and Rigging. The CISRS Scaffold Inspection card is a separate qualification for those who inspect completed scaffolds but do not erect them.

TG20:13 is the industry design guide for tube and fitting scaffolding, published by NASC (the National Access & Scaffolding Confederation). It provides compliance sheets for standard scaffold configurations — where a scaffold falls within TG20 parameters, a full design calculation is not required. Where a scaffold falls outside TG20 parameters (for example, due to unusual loading, height, or configuration), a bespoke design by a qualified engineer is mandatory.

Under the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and CDM 2015, scaffolds must be inspected before first use, after any event likely to have affected stability (such as strong winds), and at intervals not exceeding 7 days. Each inspection must be recorded, and the scaffold must not be used until the inspection confirms it is safe. Scaffold handover certificates must be issued to the site before any other trade uses the scaffold.

NASC is the principal trade body for the scaffolding industry in the UK. NASC membership requires compliance with a detailed set of safety, technical, and employment standards. Many principal contractors require scaffolding subcontractors to be NASC members.