The Main Contractor’s Guide to Statutory 7-Day Scaffold Inspections

Who is legally liable if a scaffold check is missed, and what exactly needs to be recorded under the Work at Height Regulations?

If you manage a construction site, housing development, or facilities maintenance contract, scaffolding is likely a daily reality. But while it provides essential access, it also represents one of your biggest areas of statutory liability.

Under Regulation 12 of the Work at Height Regulations 2005, scaffolding must be inspected by a "competent person" at strict, mandatory intervals.

Yet, on busy sites, these checks are frequently misunderstood, poorly logged, or missed entirely. In this guide, we break down the hard legal requirements for 7-day inspections, who is responsible, and what a compliant report must actually include.

1. When Exactly is an Inspection Legally Required?

Many site teams treat scaffold safety as a general weekly reminder, but UK law defines three strict, non-negotiable triggers:

• Before First Use: Before any operative steps onto a newly erected structure or a platform where a person could fall 2 metres or more, it must pass an initial inspection (usually evidenced by a handover certificate).

• Every 7 Days: While the scaffold remains in position, it must be re-inspected at least every 7 days. This is a maximum gap—not "roughly once a week."

• Following Adverse Events: The 7-day clock resets immediately if the structure undergoes any modification, is subjected to structural impact from machinery, or experiences extreme weather (such as high winds or storms) that could compromise its stability.

  
  

2. Who is Deemed a "Competent Person"?

A common mistake on site is assuming that anyone with a general construction background can sign off a scaffold register.

Under UK regulations, competence must directly match the complexity of the scaffold. For standard structures built to NASC TG20:21 compliance sheets, the inspector must hold a recognized industry qualification, such as a CISRS Scaffold Inspection Training Scheme (SITS) certificate. For complex, bespoke, or engineered designs, a CISRS Advanced inspector is required.

Crucially, while you can outsource the physical inspection to a specialist, the overall legal duty to ensure those inspections happen remains with the user/hirer of the scaffold (the principal contractor or management company).

3. What Does a Compliant 7-Day Inspection Cover?

A professional statutory audit is not a quick glance from ground level. A compliant check requires a methodical physical review of several critical structural points:

• The Footing: Verifying base plates, sole boards, and ensuring there is no ground settlement or soft patches near drains and voids.

• The Structure: Checking that standards are plumb, ledgers and transoms are securely coupled, and structural bracing is intact.

• The Ties: Ensuring physical tie-ins to the building are secure and configured correctly to handle wind loading.

• The Platforms: Confirming working platforms are fully boarded, boards aren't damaged or overhanging excessively, and proper guardrails (minimum 950mm high) and toe boards are fitted.

• The Access: Inspecting ladder towers, staircases (like Haki towers), and safety gates.

  
  

4. The 24-Hour Reporting Rule

Conducting the inspection is only half the battle; the paperwork must follow a strict legal framework.

By law, a written report must be completed by the inspector and passed to the site manager or duty holder within 24 hours. This report must detail the location of the scaffold, any defects identified, the actions taken to rectify them, and the inspector’s credentials.

These records must be kept on site until the project is finished, and then archived safely for at least three months.

Why Independence Matters

When your scaffolding contractor inspects their own work, there is an inherent conflict of interest. Hiring an independent specialist like Structural Shield ensures a completely unbiased, third-party audit. We don’t erect or alter structures; our only goal is keeping your workforce safe and your business legally protected.