Mobile tower scaffolds

If tower scaffolds are incorrectly assembled,
then this can lead to accidents involving serious personal injuries.

Managing the risks

To help you to identify the hazards associated with using tower scaffolds and the appropriate ways of controlling them, use our sample Risk Assessment - Mobile Tower Scaffolds. It covers the generic hazards associated with this type of activity and suggests control measures to reduce risks to an acceptable level. You should ensure your document only addresses “significant” hazards, i.e. any that could, and more importantly are likely to, cause an accident or injury.

Make your instructions clear

Don’t include activities in your document that simply don’t need to be there. Work to the principle that if there is any chance of your staff being unaware of the safe way of doing something, then you will need to make it clear in your document. Finally, always ensure that any control measures you identify and follow are decided upon the principle of “so far as is reasonably practicable”. The list of potential hazards is not exhaustive. However, for your risk assessment to be considered suitable and sufficient in the eyes of the law it must accurately reflect the “significant” hazards found when assembling, moving or dismantling tower scaffolds at your place of work.

Note. This risk assessment only deals with the generic risks associated with tower scaffolds. You should follow the manufacturer’s instructions at all times and such scaffolds should only be erected, dismantled and moved by competent staff.