Scaffold Inspection Register

Full Description

This scaffold register is used to record every scaffold on your jobsite and confirm each one has been inspected and is safe to use before anyone works at height. Keeping a register means scaffolds are reported, tracked and checked, and workers do not use scaffold systems nobody knows about.

What is a scaffold register?

A scaffold register, also called a scaffold inspection register, is a site record of the scaffolds in use and their inspections. For each scaffold it shows where it is, what type it is, who erected it, when it was inspected, by whom, and whether it is safe to use. It gives supervisors one place to see which scaffolds are due for inspection, which are tagged out of use, and which have been altered or dismantled.

When to use it

• When a new scaffold is erected and handed over for use
• At every routine scaffold inspection
• After alterations, bad weather or any event that could affect the scaffold’s stability
• When a scaffold is tagged out of use, repaired or dismantled
• During safety audits, to show scaffolds are being inspected

What’s included

The download is a Word document (.docx) scaffold inspection register. It is designed to report the usage of scaffolds on site, monitor their inspections and confirm each scaffold is safe to use before elevated work begins. You can edit it to match your site’s scaffold numbering and tagging system.

How to fill it out

1. Give every scaffold a unique number and record its location, type and intended use or load class.
2. Record who erected the scaffold and the date it was handed over.
3. At each inspection, enter the date, the inspector’s name and the result.
4. Note any defects found and the action taken, such as repair or tagging the scaffold out of use.
5. Record re-inspections after alterations, storms or impact damage.
6. Mark the date the scaffold is dismantled so the register stays current.
7. Keep the register on site where supervisors and inspectors can check it.

Tips

• Match the scaffold number in the register to the number on the scaffold tag.
• Review the register at the start of each week to see which inspections are due.
• Use the register together with a detailed inspection checklist, not instead of one.
• Only competent, trained people should inspect and sign off scaffolds.

Related templates and guides

• Scaffold Inspection Checklist Template – the detailed checks behind each register entry.
• Stationary Scaffold Inspection Checklist
• Mobile Scaffold Inspection Checklist
• Guide to Scaffold Inspection and Maintenance
• Scaffold – glossary definition

Frequently asked questions

How often must scaffolds be inspected?

It depends on where you work. In the US, OSHA requires a competent person to inspect scaffolds for visible defects before each work shift and after any event that could affect their structural integrity. In the UK, scaffolds are inspected before first use, at intervals of no more than seven days, and after events that could affect stability.

What is the difference between a scaffold register and a scaffold inspection checklist?

The checklist is the detailed inspection of one scaffold: base plates, ties, platforms, guardrails, access and so on. The register is the summary record of all scaffolds on site and when each was inspected. Most sites use both.

Who can inspect a scaffold?

A competent person who has the training and experience to identify scaffold hazards and the authority to correct them. Many sites use the scaffold contractor’s supervisor or a trained site inspector. Check your local regulations and company safety program for specific requirements.

What is a scaffold tag?

A scaffold tag is a label fixed at the access point of a scaffold that shows its status, usually safe for use or do not use, along with the last inspection date and inspector. The tag on the scaffold and the entry in the register should always match.