Do I Need Scaffolding for My Project?
Practical guidance on when scaffold access is required and when a ladder may be sufficient.
Read Guide →Scaffold Inspections: What the Law Requires
When a scaffold must be inspected, who is allowed to do it and what to ask your scaffolder for.
The Short Answer
Yes. HSE says the law requires inspection of scaffolding from which a person might fall 2 metres or more, with a report issued by a competent person on completion and at least weekly after that. It may also need inspecting after bad weather, and always after any modification. Scaffold tags are not a legal requirement, but they are a useful visible sign that an inspection has happened.
When Is a Scaffold Inspected?
Before First Use
A scaffold should be inspected in position after it is built, and before anyone uses it. This is the handover inspection.
At Least Weekly
Where a person might fall 2 metres or more, the scaffold needs a further inspection and report at least weekly while it is up. The regulations say the platform must have been inspected within the previous 7 days.
After Bad Weather
High winds, heavy rain or an impact can affect a scaffold. HSE says inspection may also be required after bad weather.
After Any Alteration
If a scaffold is modified, for example when a lift is added or a board is moved, it must be inspected again before use.
Who Can Inspect a Scaffold?
The inspection must be done by a competent person: someone whose knowledge, training and experience suit the type and complexity of the scaffold. HSE also says scaffolds should only be designed, erected, altered and dismantled by competent people, under the direction of a competent supervisor. Scaffolders hold a CISRS card as evidence of their training; you can check a card on the NOCN card checker.
What Is the Inspection Report?
The inspection is recorded in a written report, which notes any defect that could create a risk and any action taken. Under the Work at Height Regulations 2005 the report must be provided within 24 hours of completing the inspection. Tags and certificates supplement the report; they do not replace it.
What to Ask Your Scaffolder For
- The inspection record or certificate when the scaffold is handed over
- When the next inspection is due
- Evidence that the people building it are CISRS-qualified
- Who to call if the scaffold is damaged or looks wrong. Do not use a scaffold you think is unsafe
What You Get From Axis Scaffolding
Axis Scaffolding hands over a scaffold inspection certificate on every job, and our CISRS-qualified team checks the scaffold routinely through the hire period. Tell us who needs access (roofer, solar installer, builder) and we will tell you what the scaffold needs.
Sources checked October 2026: HSE — scaffolding · Work at Height Regulations 2005, reg. 12 · HSE — the law
Common Questions
HSE says the law requires inspection of scaffolding from which a person might fall 2 metres or more, with a report by a competent person on completion and at least weekly after that. It may also need inspecting after bad weather, and always after any modification.
No. HSE says tag systems are not a legal requirement; the legal duty is the inspection and the report. A visible tag is a useful way to show people it has been inspected.
A competent person: someone with the knowledge, training and experience appropriate to the type and complexity of the scaffold. HSE also says scaffolds should only be designed, erected, altered and dismantled by competent people under a competent supervisor.
Ask for the inspection record when the scaffold is handed over, and ask when the next inspection is due. Axis Scaffolding hands over a scaffold inspection certificate on every job.
Why Call Axis Scaffolding?
- CISRS-qualified, fully insured scaffolders based in Rayleigh
- 5.0 from 31 Google reviews
- A scaffold inspection certificate handed over on every job
- Free, no-obligation quotes — call 01702 820468 or request one online
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