Scaffolding in New Zealand - Best Practice Guideline for

SECTION 9: INSPECTION AND DOCUMENTARY NEEDS

9.1 Best practice reference documents

During the development of the BPG a number of documents have been accessed for reference. While they are not often quoted directly, where this is the case we have endeavoured to reference and acknowledge this. However, as a number of individuals have collaborated in the preparation of the BPG this may not always be the case. We apologise for any omissions and invite you to contact us to redress this where it has occurred. Email us at info@bsc.org.nz.

The major documents consulted, including relevant criteria and standards documents, include:

AS/NZS 4576: 1995 Australian/New Zealand Standard Guidelines for Scaffolding.
Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992 and associated legislation and regulations.
A Guide to Practical Scaffolding: The Construction and Use of Basic Access Scaffolding, CITB.
Guidelines for the Prevention of Falls, Occupational Safety and Health Service of the Department of Labour.
The Health and Safety in Employment Regulations 1995.
Hazard Identification and Management in the Scaffolding Industry (Gary Wall).

9.1.1 Standards

Table 15 contains a general list of applicable relevant standards a number of which have been consulted in the preparation of the BPG. Additional information on particular standards and specific referencing are contained at various points throughout this document.

Table 15: Standards relevant to scaffolding
Type of equipment	Standard
Chain	AS 2321, ISO 1835
Classification and grading of New Zealand Timber	NZS 3631
Confined space	AS/NZS 2865
Cranes (including hoists and winches)	AS 1418.2
Eye protection	AS/NZS 1337
Eyebolts	AS 2317, BS 4278
Fall arrest systems and devices (including harnesses)	AS/NZS 1891.1
Fibre ropes	AS 4142.2
Industrial fall arrest systems and devices	AS/NZS 1891.3
General scaffolding requirements	AS/NZS 1576.1
Plywood	AS/NZS 2269
Portable ladders, metal	AS 1892.1
Portable ladders, timber	AS 1892.2, NZS 3609
Prefabricated and tube and fitting scaffolding	AS/NZS 1576.3
Protective/safety helmets	AS/NZS 1800, NZS 2264
Rigging screws and turnbuckles	AS 2319, BS 4429
Safety footwear	AS/NZS 2210.1 or 2210.2
Safety standards for high visibility clothing	EN 471
Scaffold couplers and accessories	AS 1576.2
Scaffold planks	AS 1577
Scaffold tubes	AS/NZS 1576.3
Scaffolding - suspended scaffolding	AS 1576.4
Shackles	AS 2741, BS 3551
Sheave blocks	AS 2089
Slings, chains	AS 3775.1
Slings, fibre ropes	AS 1380
Slings, flat synthetic webbing	AS 1353.1
Slings, wire coil flat	AS 1438
Slings, wire rope	AS 1666, ISO 7531
Split heads or U-heads and trestles	AS/NZS 1576.5
Steel wire rope (SWR)	AS 3569,
Structural design (environmental factors)	AS/NZS 1170 Parts 0 - 3NZS 1170.5
Thimbles for wire rope	AS 1138
Timber ladders	NZS 3609
Tube and fitting scaffolding	AS/NZS 1576.6
Trestles, other than trestle ladders	AS/NZS 1576.5
Wire rope and wire rope grips	ISO 12076; AS 2076

9.2 Notification, inspections and registers

All scaffolds, including suspended scaffolds, that exceed 5.0m in height, or from which a person can fall 5.0m or more, must be notified to the DOL at least 24 hours prior to the commencement of erection work. Please refer to Regulations 2 and 26 of the HSE Regulations 1995, which define notifiable work and set out who is responsible for making the notification.

Before use a scaffold or suspended scaffold must be certified safe by a scaffolder holding the appropriate class of certificate of competence. A scaffold register, or card recording system, must be maintained on site showing who has inspected the scaffold and certified it safe for use per the designated purpose.

All special duty scaffolds must be notified to the DOL. Please refer to the redesigned "Notification of Particular Hazardous Works Associated with Scaffolding" form appendixed in the last section of this document.

9.2.1 Register/inspection record requirements

Scaffold register/inspection requirements

For all scaffolding from which a person could fall 5m or more, a scaffold register or similar must be kept on site and be available for inspection.
When complete the inspection records should show:
1. Project name, address, or other clear identification.
2. The location of the scaffold with respect to site coordinates or the location at the building or structure, so that the scaffolding can be clearly located.
3. Miscellaneous details of the scaffold.
4. A record of each inspection carried out.
The inspections must be carried out at the following intervals:
1. Before the scaffold is first put to into use.
2. Weekly while the scaffold is in use.
3. After each structural alteration or addition.
4. Monthly while the scaffold is set up but not in use.
5. After any storm or occurrence that could adversely affect the safety of the scaffold.
The inspection must be carried out by either:
1. A certificated scaffolder of the appropriate class; or
2. A competent person such as a chartered engineer.
The entries of each inspection in the scaffold register must be made and signed by the person who carried out the inspection.

A scaffold register template is appendixed in the last section of this document.

Suspended scaffold register/inspection record requirements

For all suspended scaffolding, boatswain's chairs, swinging stages, etc a suspended scaffold register or similar must be kept on site and be available for inspection.
When complete, the inspection records should show:
1. Project name, address, or other clear identification.
2. The location of the suspended scaffold with respect to site coordinates or the location at the building or structure, so that the suspended scaffolding can be clearly located;
3. Miscellaneous details of the suspended scaffold
4. A record of each inspection carried out.
The inspections must be carried out at the following intervals:
1. Before the suspended scaffold is first used.
2. On each day while the suspended scaffold is in use.
3. After each structural alteration or change to the nature of the anchorage.
4. Monthly while the suspended scaffold is set up but not in use.
5. After any storm or occurrence that could adversely affect the safety of the suspended scaffold.
The inspection must be carried out by either:
1. A certificated scaffolder of the appropriate class; or
2. A competent person such as a chartered engineer.
The entries of each inspection in the suspended scaffold register must be made and signed by the person who carried out the inspection.

A suspended scaffold register template is appendixed in the last section of this document.

9.2.1.1 Pre start or pre use checks

A pre start or pre use check may be conducted by an adequately trained non scaffolder before a scaffold in use is first used for the day. This must include a visual check and a jump test. The scaffold must still be checked daily by a scaffolder holding the appropriate class of certificate of competence while it is in use.

Further, all inspections following shifts, alterations or additions must still be carried out by a scaffolder holding the appropriate class of certificate of confidence.

9.2.1.2 Inspection reports

Inspection reports for tube and fitting scaffolds and proprietary scaffolds are appendixed to this document. They represent a condensed version of the main areas outlined in the BPG giving a quick checklist by which to assess best practices and minimum requirements.

We recommend that all scaffolds are inspected using the appropriate inspection report to show that best practices and minimum requirements have been met. We also recommend DOL Inspectors, Site Safety Officers and the like use the inspection reports when inspecting scaffolds for compliance.

The inspection reports can also be used when checking scaffolds for their register checks.

9.3 Appendix: Documents for use in the field

Appendixed below are a series of compliance, inspection, notification and safety documents designed to be used in the field to assist in the promotion of best practice in scaffolding.

Please photocopy and use them as appropriate.

Notification of Particular Hazardous Work

Available as a pdf file [2 pages, 50kB] or as a word document.

Scaffold hand over certificate

The scaffold hand over certificate releases the scaffold(s) to the client. The scaffold(s) have been inspected by the client and has been erected to the client's requirements. All scaffolds have been erected as per the requirements of the Best Practice Guidelines for Scaffolding in New Zealand. The client undertakes to control the use, and users of the scaffold structure(s) while under their control as required by the Health and Safety Act and Regulations.

Available as a pdf file [1 page, 9kB] or as a word document.

Hazard identification and controls report

The purpose of this procedure is to inspect the work site for hazards, to eliminate, isolate or minimise the hazard.

Available as a pdf file [1 page, 11kB] or as a word document.

Task analysis worksheet

Available as a pdf file [1 page, 20B] or as a word document.

Scaffold register

Available as a pdf file [1 page, 22kB] or as a word document.

Suspended scaffold register

Available as a pdf file [1 page, 13kB] or as a word document.

Inspection report: Tube and fitting scaffolds

Available as a pdf file [1 page, 20kB] or as a word document.

Inspection report: Proprietary scaffolds