This occupation is found in the Construction and the Built Environment Industry.
Employers range from small, medium businesses to large enterprises. Projects vary in size, scale, and duration, and could include domestic refurbishments, new built housing, large scale industrial, commercial properties and challenging locations, like bridges, powerlines, towers and offshore. Scaffolders work outdoors in changeable weather, indoors or both depending on the project.
The broad purpose of the occupation is to provide access solutions or structural support which allows other trades to carry out their roles safely whilst working at height.
Scaffolders construct, alter and dismantle scaffolding structures using a variety of scaffolding equipment, tools and methods. They build secure and stable temporary structures where scaffold working platforms can be installed to create a safe working environment for other workers. With sustainable construction at the forefront of all projects, it is expected that scaffolders do so by also giving consideration to the environment and sustainability of materials, waste awareness and recycling.
Scaffolders are working in accordance with customers’ specifications following design drawings, compliance sheets and manufacturers’ specification when installing, altering or dismantling scaffolding structures.
In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with members of the public, clients, site managers, and other trades such as roofers, slaters & tilers, groundworkers, bricklayers, carpenters, plumbers, decorators etc. Scaffolding is a safety critical trade and each individual working in the sector has a responsibility to themselves, their working environment, and others who they may encounter whilst carrying out their role.
An employee in this occupation will be responsible for working in a team, using equipment, materials and tools to erect, adapt and dismantle scaffolding structures according to designs or manufacturers' specification.
Scaffolders are also responsible for ordering materials, tools, and equipment. They work to industry recognised safe systems of work, health safety and environmental guidance and legislation including the HSAWA, Work at Height, COSHH, RIDDOR, PPE regulations and other relevant industry guidance.
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Duty 1 Work in compliance with occupational health and safety and environmental legislation, relevant regulations, and recognised industry guidance to ensure the health, safety and wellbeing of self and others always. Report in a timely manner any non-compliances against the scaffolding design and construction programme to the appropriate person. |
K1 K2 K3 K4 K5 K6 K7 K8 K9 K10 K11 K19 K20 K21 K22 K23 K24 K25 K26 K27 K28 K29 K30 K32 K33 K34 S1 S2 S3 S4 S5 S6 S7 S8 S9 S10 S11 S12 S13 S14 S15 S16 S17 S18 |
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Duty 2 Check and maintain tools equipment and components before and after use to erect, alter and dismantle scaffolding; and store them. |
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Duty 3 Prepare the work area, checking it is safe and in accordance with method statements and risk assessments and implement the necessary control measures. |
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Duty 4 Erect, alter and dismantle scaffolding structures to meet scaffold design and specification. |
K1 K2 K3 K4 K5 K6 K7 K8 K9 K11 K12 K15 K16 K17 K18 K19 K22 K23 K24 K25 K26 K33 |
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Duty 5 Maintain a clear and tidy workspace and ensure that waste materials are disposed of in accordance with current legislation and sustainably. |
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Duty 6 Undertake appropriate inspection of finished ready for use scaffold structures and take remedial action. |
K1 K2 K4 K5 K22 K24 K25 K27 K34
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Duty 7 Complete accurate records of work undertaken in accordance with company policies and procedures. |
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Duty 8 Work to the construction programme, adapting to changes in schedule and requirements where necessary. |
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Duty 9 Collaborate with stakeholders including clients and other construction trades. |
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Duty 10 Carry out continuous professional development to maintain knowledge of current and future developments affecting the role. |
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K1: Awareness of health and safety regulations, relevance to the occupation and the operative's responsibilities. Health and Safety at Work Act Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH). Manual handling. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Work at height. Working in confined spaces. Situational awareness. Isolation and emergency stop procedures. Emergency evacuation procedures. Slips, trips and falls. Safety equipment: guards, signage, fire extinguishers.
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K2: Scaffold guidance (quality): manufacturer’s instructions, National Access and Scaffolding Confederation (NASC) guidance Technical Guidance (TG)20 (Good Practice guidance for Tube and fitting Scaffolding Safety Guidance, system manufacturer’s user guides, SG4, (Preventing Falls in Scaffolding Operations) SG6 (Manual Handling in the Scaffolding Industry) TG4 (Stability, ties and anchors) statutory regulations, British and European Standards.
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K3: Purpose of company, site induction and toolbox talks.
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K4: Provision for the safety of themselves, the workforce, the public affected by scaffolding work, and future users of the scaffold structure: use of personal fall protection equipment correctly, use of warning signs and physical barriers, making scaffold structures safe from access when incomplete during breaks and end of the day.
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K5: The types and uses of scaffolding material: tools, tethering, fittings, tube, boards, or system equipment.
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K6: Common scaffold materials: tubes, boards, decking, prefabricated components, systems and fittings, purpose, and use.
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K7: The methods of inspection and servicing scaffold materials, components and tools.
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K8: The methods of founding scaffolds on differing types of surfaces: soft ground, concrete, and steel.
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K9: Scaffolding in public places and pavements: local authority regulations, safety methods and walkways.
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K10: The different techniques and methods used to move, handle and store materials, components and equipment.
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K11: The methods and principles for protecting the public and others during work activities and site security arrangements.
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K12: Methods of interpreting and extracting relevant information from drawings, specifications, work instructions manufacturer’s instructions. The procedures for when this information may be incorrect.
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K13: Verbal communication techniques.
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K14: Team working techniques.
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K15: Methods of attaching and spacing ledgers, bracing and transoms to support working platforms and strengthen the scaffold structure.
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K16: Methods of erecting, altering, and dismantling independent scaffolds with feature, towers, birdcages, chimney stacks, loading bays with or without beams, truss outs with beams, splays, and bridging sections with beams and gantry scaffolds.
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K17: Methods of erecting, altering, and dismantling independent with stairway access and returns and putlog scaffolds.
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K18: Methods of erecting, dismantling independent scaffolds.
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K19: Methods of raising and lowering materials using rope and gin wheel and rope, light lines, and safety knots.
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K20: Access and work at height equipment: safe use of industry recognised safe systems of work, use of scaffolding steps, personal safety harness, lanyards and inertia reels.
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K21: The statutory requirements for access: ladder towers, stairways, internal and external ladders.
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K22: The types, uses and purpose of prefabricated components (for example beams, ladders, gates), the rules for their assembly and connection to scaffold structures.
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K23: Methods of attaching spurs and supports to scaffolds.
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K24: The purpose, types, uses of cantilever sections.
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K25: Loadings of cantilever sections. The methods of transferring cantilever section loadings back to the main scaffold structure.
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K26: The spacing of scaffold ties to restrain sheeted and un-sheeted scaffolds from bespoke design drawing.
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K27: The regulations governing the inspection of basic scaffolds: work at height regulations, inspection frequency, report details, date time, position of scaffold inspected, name of the inspector, document storage and retention.
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K28: Awareness of risk assessments, method statements and safe systems of work, and implementing control measures.
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K29: Methods of safely erecting, moving, and dismantling prefabricated aluminium towers.
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K30: Environmental responsibilities: organisational procedures, manufacturers’ information, statutory regulations, and official guidance regarding the disposal of waste and types of practices necessary to support achievement of UK’s sustainability and net zero goals.
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K31: Awareness of issues and common symptoms and warning signs of stress, anxiety and depression, plus where to go for help and the resources available.
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K32: Equity, diversity and inclusion, in the workplace.
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K33: Calculation techniques: component quantities.
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K34: Pre-handover scaffold inspection techniques.
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S1: Follow procedures in line with health and safety regulations, standards, and scaffold guidance (quality).
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S2: Comply with risk assessments, method statements and safe systems of work.
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S3: Inspect and select serviceable scaffold materials, components, and tools before use and escalate defects.
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S4: Follow procedures in line with environmental and sustainability regulations, standards, and guidance. Segregate resources for reuse, recycling and disposal.
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S5: Carry, raise, lower, scaffold materials on a working platform.
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S6: Move and store components tools and equipment.
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S7: Install scaffold cantilevered structural components according to requirements of industry guidance and manufacturer’s instructions.
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S8: Protect others within the working vicinity. For example, the public through signage, barriers.
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S9: Install spurs and supports on cantilever sections.
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S10: Select, space, and install the correct number of ties to restrain un-sheeted scaffolds to industry guidance and manufacturer’s instructions.
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S11: Determine the component requirements for independent scaffolding.
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S12: Organise materials to operate within the industry and manufacturers configurations and tolerances.
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S13: Use lifting equipment safely to haul up scaffold components and equipment to working platform.
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S14: Lay out materials, set out scaffolds to erect and dismantle scaffolds in a safe sequence.
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S15: Inspect scaffolds prior to hand over.
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S16: Use access and work at height equipment in accordance with training, relevant regulations and employer’s and manufacturer’s instructions.
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S17: Erect and dismantle independent with cantilever section to a maximum height of 2m working platform.
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S18: Erect and dismantle independent scaffolds, with features for example, towers, birdcages, chimney stacks, loading bays with or without beams, truss outs with beams, splays, and bridging sections with beams and gantry scaffolds.
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S19: Communicate with others verbally for example, internal and external customers, colleagues, and managers.
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S20: Apply team working principles.
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S21: Interpret information from drawings and specifications.
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S22: Follow equity, diversity and inclusion guidelines.
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B1: Puts health safety and wellbeing first.
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B2: Take ownership of given work within the limits of own competence knowing when to seek advice.
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B3: Team-focused to meet work goals.
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B4: Committed to continued professional development (CPD) to maintain and enhance competence in their own area of practice.
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B5: Considers the environment and sustainability.
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B6: Apply equity, diversity, and inclusion principles in dealing with others.
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