Your commercial building may be in need of some renovations at height, or your home may be in need of some TLC. Whether it’s a paint-job you require, or you need to have your whole roof repair or replaced, scaffolding can help you reach the top of your property in order to get a worse-for-wear roof looking brand new again.
However, before you kickstart your renovations, you need to be mindful that you are following the correct regulations. From ensuring your scaffolding team is decked out in the right safety gear, to making sure you have all the correct licenses to undertake the work you need to do on your property: there are several rules and regulations that hold you accountable when it comes to scaffolding. Below, we dive into to the rules and regulations you need to take into account before you begin the work you need to do on your property.
First things first: do you have the permission you need?
Before you begin your scaffolding work, you may take it for granted that you have the permission you need to undertake the work you want to do on your building. However, you need to ensure that this is the case.
The government requires you to work with a scaffolding company who have the correct license they need to undertake the work. Before you hire a reputable scaffolding company to do the job, and you let the work on your property commence, check to make sure they are fully licensed to do the work.
Safety: two pointed approach
When it comes to safety you have two areas you need to carefully consider before you begin scaffolding work. Firstly, you need to consider your safety and the safety of other people who will be in the vicinity of the building while work is taking place.
According to the government’s website, you need to consider whether you need to undertake scaffolding work at less busy times of the day - such as during the workday, as opposeD to rush hour or the lunchtime rush. In addition, you also may need to obtain a highway closure from your local council.
In addition, you also need to regularly check scaffolding to make sure it’s safe - as is required by law in the UK. When do you have to check scaffolding to see if it’s safe use? Firstly, you need to double check it before anyone uses it, to make sure that nobody can hurt themselves while they scale the building to undertake work.
Secondly, the government requires you to also check scaffolding for every 7 days while it’s up. Lastly, you also need to carefully check scaffolding after alterations, damage or very bad weather conditions.
And finally…
Last but not least, you should always make sure your team are up to scratch when it comes to training, as the government note;
“All employees should be competent for the type of scaffolding work they are undertaking and should have received appropriate training relevant to the type and complexity of scaffolding they are working on.”
Each of the above rules are key to ensuring safety when doing renovations - make sure you comply to the correct rules for a seamless, safe, and easy construction project.