Expert Tips for Managing Scaffolding Inspections Over the Festive Season

With Christmas on the horizon, it’s that time of year for construction site managers, to ensure the safe closure of sites during the holiday season.

We spoke to Jamie Lyons, our Consultancy Manager and Senior Health & Safety Advisor, for his top tips on managing scaffolding inspection requirements over the festive period.

Planning Ahead for the Christmas Break

Christmas often represents the longest downtime for construction sites across the UK, offering a well-deserved pause for hardworking teams who have battled cold and wet conditions. However, inadequate planning for site security can lead to unexpected issues that disrupt operations when work resumes.

Jamie’s Key Recommendations:

1. Securing Scaffolding Against Unauthorised Access
2. Establishing an Inspection Regime for Inactive Scaffolds

To ensure scaffolding remains safe and secure, it’s essential to leave it in good condition. Consider:

• Securing all decking boards and clearing platforms of stored materials that might be dislodged by severe weather, such as high winds.
• Temporarily removing items stored on loading bays or work platforms to prevent potential hazards.

Preventing Unauthorised Access

Responsibility for preventing access to scaffolding rests with the principal contractor, main contractor, or client. Conduct a thorough risk assessment to determine the best method to secure the site. The Work at Height Regulations 2005 (WAHR) specify:

“While a scaffold is not available for use, including during its assembly, dismantling or alteration, it shall be marked with general warning signs in accordance with the Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996 and be suitably delineated by physical means preventing access to the danger zone.”

Practical steps include:

• Physically restricting access by removing ladders or locking stair towers.
• Posting warning signs to indicate the scaffold is unsafe for use.

For ladders that must remain on-site, install locked ladder guards that cover at least six rungs and fit the ladder’s width. This ensures that even small feet, such as those of young children, cannot gain access.

Scaffolding Inspection Requirements Over the Holidays

The WAHR mandates that scaffolds in active use must be inspected every seven days. However, scaffolds that are not accessed during the Christmas break do not require such frequent checks.

Still, the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM) emphasize:

“All practicable steps must be taken, where necessary to prevent danger to any person, to ensure that any new or existing structure does not collapse if, due to the carrying out of construction work, it –
a) may become unstable; or
b) is in a temporary state of weakness or instability.”

This means scaffolding must remain stable, even when the site is closed.

If adverse weather conditions—such as storms or high winds—occur during the closure period, reopening the site for an inspection may be necessary to ensure the scaffolding’s integrity.

Wishing You a Safe and Joyful Christmas

By taking these precautions, you can ensure your site is safe and secure over the festive season, allowing you to enjoy a stress-free break. From all of us, we wish you a Merry Christmas and look forward to working with you in 2025!