Professional examinations to avoid a scaffolding accident.

The Work at Height Regulations 2005 require that almost all scaffolding structures should be examined by a suitably qualified professional at appropriate intervals. Failure to do so may well count as negligence on the employer's part should a scaffolding accident occur.

Because the regulations are intended to cover a wide range of situations, the description of an appropriate interval is not given a strict definition. However, the regulations do set out an insistence that no-one should use a scaffold that has not been checked in the past seven days, and that a check should be performed after anything has occurred to a scaffold that may affect its integrity.

The check is to ensure that the scaffold remains a structure on which to work, and which is unlikely to contribute to a work injury. The Regulations state that a report of the check should be given to the employer, and this should contain:

The name and address of the person for whom the inspection was carried out.

• The location of the work equipment inspected.
• A description of the work equipment inspected.
• The date and time of the inspection.
• Details of any matter identified that could give rise to a risk to the health or safety of any person.
• Details of any action taken as a result of any matter identified in paragraph 5.
• Details of any further action considered necessary.
• The name and position of the person making the report.

The Office of Public Sector Information has provided a full copy of the Work at Height Regulations online. Read the Work at Height Regulations 2005.

Claiming compensation after an unchecked scaffolding accident
Anyone who has received a work injury after an unchecked structure has led to a scaffolding accident, or in any industrial accident that was not your fault, you may be eligible to claim for compensation. If you are in this situation, you can contact YouClaim for free, confidential advice as to your chances of a successful claim.

Here at YouClaim, we ensure all information and advice is given in plain English, and that our personal injury solicitors are picked from firms whose work is assured by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.

While this guarantees the quality of our work, our free claim policy and 100% compensation promise guarantee that you will have nothing to pay in your claim, win or lose. Our legal team works on a no win, no fee basis, with the fee in a winning case being charged to the losing side, and we take nothing from any damages awarded to you.

To reach us, call 0800 10 757 95, chat to us online, or complete our call-back form. An industrial accident advisor will be happy to discuss your case, and to help you get your scaffolding accident claim underway.