NASC launch free guidance to aid the appointment and management of scaffolding contractors
In response to a high demand from industry, the NASC (National Access & Scaffolding Confederation) has launched a free specification document intended to provide guidance for all organisations (or individuals) who are responsible for appointing, monitoring or managing scaffolding contractors.
Produced specifically for Clients, Site/Project Managers, Agents, Surveyors, CDM Coordinators, Estimators, Planners and Designers the document provides detailed industry requirements on the current best practice for scaffolding contractors prior to working on site and what expectations are required once work has commenced. This document would also be suitable as a protocol template for all scaffolding works and could be used to accompany any Tender or Pre-Qualification document.
The risk of an accident or injury to either operatives or the general public can be greatly reduced by factually knowing what to demand from your scaffolding contractor at every stage of the process.
Gerry Cooper, NASC President states “Non-regulated scaffolding contractors could get away with anything, if you let them! This guidance arms those responsible for using scaffolders with the facts and allows them to insist on latest best practice”
The 15 pages of criteria are intended to improve the quality of all scaffold structures erected on any site and in accordance with current legislation, guidance and protocol. The content includes…
•Scaffold types
•Regulations, codes of practice and best practice
•Competence
•Scaffolders Safety and PPE
•Scaffolding design
•Minimum scaffold requirements
•Scaffold handover and statutory inspections
•Risk assessments and method statements
•Summary of Scaffolder cards
•Scaffold inspection reporting
The NASC encourage anybody not using a regulated scaffolding contractor to adopt this guidance as soon as possible in an attempt to move all scaffolding companies up to a position of current best practice, legislation and safety standards.
The guidance is provided in an editable Microsoft Word document format allowing the user to add any local variations their particular organisation may have.
The guidance document is available on request from the NASC, via
enquiries@nasc.org.uk
