Scaffold Spot Audit Checklist

• Site

• Location
  Address

• Conducted on

  Date

• Prepared by

• Personnel present

Documentation

• Has steel wire mesh/shade cloth or containment sheeting been provided where workers are exposed to a risk of falling materials from the scaffolding

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are procedures in place to inspect scaffolding every 30 days

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are there handover or checklists in place

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• System in place to inspect the scaffolding after trades have used it e.g. formworkers, concretes, bricklayers and tilers

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is a work method statement or appropriate documentation available for the management of scaffolding on site once erected

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is there a system in place to prevent damage from loads suspended from a crane and is it recorded in SWMS

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Have workers been inducted on the safe use of the scaffolding

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Tagging system on scaffolds above 4 metres and located at each access point

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Tagging system legible and up to date

  Yes

  No

  N/A

Construction of scaffolding

• Is scaffold over 4m erected by a certified/licensed scaffolder

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Where the working platform is less than 4m was it erected by a competent person

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Have trades completed a Working at Heights course

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• During construction of the scaffold is the immediate area around the base barricaded off or otherwise controlled to minimise risk of injury from falling objects

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are harnesses required for the safe construction/dismantling of scaffold

  Yes

  No

  N/A

Supporting Structure

• Is the supporting structure in good condition and adequate strength/has it been assessed by a competent person/engineers certificate obtained

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is there a risk of the supporting structure being overloaded from other sources adequately controlled

  Yes

  No

  N/A

Foundation

• Scaffolding erected on suitable foundation/footings e.g. Not adjacent to trenches, excavation, underground services, soft ground

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Base plates used are a minimum 100mm x 100mm and 6mm thick

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• If on soft ground are sole boards bing used to distribute the load evenly e.g. unstable ground, gaps

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are the sole boards continuous and where ever possible support 2 standards and a minimum 220mm

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are sole boards a minimum 220mm wide

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is packing used under sole boards suitable e.g. hard wood

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Screw jacks not to extend more than 600mm or as per manufacturers requirements

  Yes

  No

  N/A

Openings in scaffolding e.g. driveways

• System in place to prevent scaffolding being struck by vehicles and/or plant e.g. concrete blocks, guards, fenders, traffic management

  Yes

  No

  N/A

Steel wire mesh/shade cloth/containment sheeting/ signage

• Has the scaffolding been designed for wind loading where signage is being tied to scaffolding

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is the sheeting adequately fixed/tied

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are there any rips or gaps in sheeting

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is there an engineers certificate for the ties

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is there a minimum 50mm overlap

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Signs on scaffolding - any engineering calculations - wind loading design

  Yes

  No

  N/A

Overhead power lines (OHPL)

• Is scaffolding erected close to OHPL

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Has OHPL been de energised

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• If the OHPL have not been de energised, is there a system of work to ensure the scaffolding complies with local requirements during erection, altering, use and dismantling

  Yes

  No

  N/A

Mixed Components

• Are mixed components being used

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are they compatible

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Engineers certificate available if required

  Yes

  No

  N/A

Ties

• Have ties been installed as per manufacturers/suppliers instructions/information and AS/NZS 1576

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• System in place to monitor ties as other trades progress e.g. formworkers, bricklayers, tilers, etc

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• System in place to monitor ties as the structure is demolished

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Do the ties pick up 2 standards or ledgers

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are single leg ties used - is relevant documentation available

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Have 90° fittings been used (swivel fittings not to be used)

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are ties provided every 4m (vertically) in height

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are ties provided as per AS1576 - Vertical = every 4m<br> Horizontal = 3rd bay

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• 

• Where drilled in anchors being used are engineering drawings/calculations, etc are available on site

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Do the ties obstruct access along the full length of the working and access platforms

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Sheeted or netted scaffolds fitted with additional ties to resist wind loads

  Yes

  No

  N/A

Temporary Ladders

• Are ladders adequately secured at the top and bottom

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is the ladder in good condition

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are ladders no less than 1:4 or no more than 1:6 slope

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is the ladder extended 900-1000mm above the landing platform

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are temporary ladders no more than 6m between successive ladder landings

  Yes

  No

  N/A

Platforms (General)

• Are platforms free from obstruction

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are planks in good condition and a minimum 220mm wide

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Do planks overhang supports by 150mm - 300mm

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are planks adequately secured when they overlap

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are loads on any given platform easily distributed

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are standards correctly positioned I.e. staggered

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is the duty of the scaffolding suitable for the task i.e. heavy medium or light

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is the scaffold width appropriate for the duty e.g. heavy duty 5 planks

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are signs erected on the bays indicating duty of the bays i.e. scaffold tag

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are any of the platform bays being used to stack/store materials e.g. Bricks, Formwork

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Does the weight of these materials exceed the rated WLL per platform bay

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is there any material etc. being stacked/stored above the height of the handrail

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is there any signage indicating scaffolding incomplete where required

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are openings at working platform level covered and secured e.g. plywood (17 mm), planks

  Yes

  No

  N/A

Temporary Stairways

• Has separate stairway access been provided to access scaffolding

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is the stairway a minimum 500mm wide

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is the access landing a minimum 500mm x 450mm

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is a handrail provided along each stairway

  Yes

  No

  N/A

Bracing

• Has face bracing been provided i.e. longitudinal at no more than 3 bays apart, unless other wise specified

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Has been provided at the end of the scaffolding i.e transverse bracing

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Does the bracing extend the full height of the scaffolding

  Yes

  No

  N/A

Hop up brackets

• If hop up brackets are 500 mm above or below the working platform, has adequate fall prevention been provided

  Yes

  No

  N/A

Access

• Is the access along the working platform - minimum 450mm wide for persons and tools only (2 planks)

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is the access along the working platform - minimum 675 wide for persons and materials (3 planks)

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are incomplete scaffolding platforms blocked off and/or signs used

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is there suitable access to and from the working platform e.g. from the building to the scaffold

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is there safe access between working platform during use, erection and dismantling

  Yes

  No

  N/A

Edge Protection

• Is edge protection provided where a person or object could fall (2m or more)

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Handrail, mid rail and toe board or brick guard provided

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Where guard rails and toe boards (150mm) only are being used is a suitable infill such as brick guards or infill panels being used

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are guard rails erected between 900mm and 1100mm above the platform

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Where brick guards are being used is the mesh aperture no more than 50mm x 50mm

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Where the gap between the scaffolding and supporting structure is more than 225mm has edge protection been provided

  Yes

  No

  N/A

Workers using the scaffolding

• Do the workers on site using the scaffold alter the scaffolding themselves

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are the workers on site that are using the scaffolding aware that any alterations to the scaffolding is to be done by a scaffolder

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is there mobile scaffold on site?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

Documentation, Signage and Procedures

• Tagging system on scaffolds above 4 metres (if tagging systems on equipment below 4 metres, system must be maintained)

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Tagging system fitted on each entry point

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Tagging system legible, durable and up to date

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• If incomplete scaffold has Warning signs for incomplete scaffold have been fitted

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Mobile scaffold above 4 metres high has been erected by licensed scaffolder. Mobile scaffold below 4 metres has been erected by trained personnel.

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are checklists in place

  Yes

  No

  N/A

Construction of Scaffold

• Mobile scaffold complies with suppliers specifications and safety regulations

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Has scaffold been braced correctly

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Mobile scaffold has equipment and comments in place as per Manufacturers specifications and diagram attached

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• 

• Has scaffold been erected on firm even surface

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Ladder correctly fitted where scaffold over 2 m

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Castors in good condition and locked

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Outriggers and ties fitted where required

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Working platform fully decked

  Yes

  No

  N/A

Edge Protection

• Top rail fitted

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Mid rail fitted

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Kick boards fitted

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is there suspended scaffolding on site?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

Documentation and procedures

• Handover certificate provided and scaffold tag available on site

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are the daily pre operation checks being carried out and recorded in a log book

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are procedures in place to inspect the scaffolding every 30 days

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are procedures in place to inspect the scaffolding every time it is altered/moved

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Has the suspended stage been erected by a certified person as per drawings/instructions

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Has the necessary written instructions and checklists been provided by the user e.g. safety equipment, emergency procedures, communication

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Have operators been trained in the safe use of the suspended scaffolding e.g. safety equipment, emergency procedures, communication

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Have the operators been inducted on the use of the suspended scaffolding

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are drawings/calculations available onsite for such things as the suspension rig design and number of counter weights per needle

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are drawings available where the needles are supported by scaffold tubing

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are daily pre operational checks carried out prior to the swinging stage being used and recorded in a log book

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is there effective means of communication between the occupants of the suspended scaffolding and those ground level

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is the maintenance records available on site for all comments e.g. cradle, hoists, ropes, etc.

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Does the cradle have a compliance plate

  Yes

  No

  N/A

Cradle

• Is the cradle assembled correctly and in good repair with no obvious defects e.g. cracked welds

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is there a system in place to prevent the cradle from coming into contact with the structure

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is there safe access along the entire length of the platform

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• SWL/WLL clearly marked on the cradle

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is there a system in place to prevent overloading of the cradle

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is there a system in place to prevent the suspended scaffolding coming into contact with OHPL

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is there a system in place to prevent lateral movement

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is the width of the platform between 450mm and 900mm

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is there a system to secure the suspended scaffolding stage when it is not in use

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is a guardrail, mid rail, and toe board provided along the length of the platform

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Where access and egress is not from ground level is the cradle secured to prevent movement

  Yes

  No

  N/A

Access

• Has safe access been provided for workers to enter and leave the cradle from ground level

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Where access and egress is not from ground level has suitable fall protection been provided e.g. harnesses and (2) lanyards (per harness) been provided

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is there a safe point of attachment for harnesses if being worn

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Where access and egress is not from ground level has the cradle been secured against movement

  Yes

  No

  N/A

Suspension rig counter weights

• Are the counter weights individually labelled with their weights in kgs

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are the counter weights installed as per design/drawings

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are counter weights purpose designed

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are they secured to the needles so that removal requires the use of a tool

  Yes

  No

  N/A

Suspension rig - needles and supporting beams

• Has the suspended scaffolding been erected as per drawings/instructions

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is the outboard ends of the needles higher than the inboard ends

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Do the needles have a positively fixed stop at the end of each needle to prevent ropes from slipping off

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are anchorage bolts used in conjunction with lock-nuts

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Friction anchors and chemically inserted anchors are not to be used

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are chains/slings protected if running over sharp edges

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is there a primary and secondary rope fitted to each needle

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are all wire ropes independently attached to the suspension rig

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is excess rope allowed to hang freely below the cradle,or inserted into a rope winder to prevent kinking

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• For long periods of time, is the access rope and cables stored in the cradle

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are unauthorised persons prevented from accessing the suspension rig

  Yes

  No

  N/A

Hoists

• Are the scaffolding hoists in good condition with no obvious damage/defects

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Has weather proof covers been provided for hoists

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is the wire rope being used the correct size and type for the hoist (refer to compliance plate)

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is each hoist provided with a secondary protection device

  Yes

  No

  N/A

Falling materials

• Has the area below the suspended scaffolding been blocked/barricaded off to prevent persons being hit by falling materials

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is there a system in place to prevent hand tools from falling out of the platform e.g. tool lanyard or meshing cradle

  Yes

  No

  N/A

Electrical

• Has an adequate power supply been provided for the suspended scaffolding

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is there easy access to the power supply switch board

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Has the electrical cable been installed to prevent accidental removal from the switchboard

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are unauthorised persons prevented from accessing the electrical supply board

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Does the suspended electrical cable have adequate running clearance

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is the suspended electrical cable of sufficient length and correct size

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is there a system place to prevent damage to electrical cables

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Have all electrical leads /components, etc. been tested as required by each state

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is the central control box fully enclosed, lockable, shatterproof and waterproof

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are the operating buttons/levers of a "dead man" type

  Yes

  No

  N/A

Corrective Actions

• Description

• Add media

  Media

• Risk Rating

  High Risk; Action immediately

  Medium Risk; Action within 24 hours

  Low Risk; Action within 7 days

• Action by

• Date completed

  Date

• Completed sign off

  Sign