With so many regulations, Health & Safety Executive (HSE) prosecutions and so many cowboy scaffolding sub contractors out there, it’s easy to make a costly mistake when choosing a scaffold firm.

Armed with this three part "inside info" you’ll be in the know and confident that you’re choosing a dependable scaffolder, potentially saving you thousands of pounds in lost production, HSE fines and contra-charges from other subbies waiting for your scaffolders to suitably adapt the scaffold.

The foundation of a safe place of work is required by law. Obviously, working at height can be a risk and unsafe, so it’s worth giving a brief background to Working at Height before considering this report. The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) is committed to reducing falls from heights. Latest figures show that 46 people died from a fall from height at work in 2005/06. This is the lowest number on record, but falls from height remain the most typical kind of accident causing fatal injuries. The number of people who have suffered major injury as a result of a fall has also reduced, from 3799 in 2004/05 to 3351 in 2005/06. Guidance is available to help workers and employers avoid falls from height in their workplace. More info can be found in at the HSE's website .

What does it matter to you if the scaffold’s safe? The Health & Safety at Work Act makes it very clear that the duty holder has responsibilities for employees, subcontractors, visitors or any person(s) using the premises – so, basically, everyone! In simple laymen’s terms, this means – if the scaffold structure is to be used in a non-domestic place – you have a duty to ensure the scaffold structure is installed, maintained, inspected and dismantled in a safe way.

So, here are the 11 things you should know

1. Make sure your proposed scaffold company is a member of the National Access & Scaffolding Confederation (NASC) -

NASC is the national representative employer’s organisation for the access and scaffolding Industry and membership now accounts for a heavy share of the UK's total Industry workload. NASC operates a strict policy of full compliance to all legislation and has its own code of conduct. This separates the confederation membership from the rest of the industry. Through the NASC annual membership audit the confederation ensures that NASC members uphold best practice as professionals. This means that the NASC will not look for shortcuts on safety, which potentially put lives at risk.

Check if your proposed scaffolding contractor is a member of the NASC by searching here on the NASC's website.

"Through the NASC annual membership audit

the confederation ensures that NASC members

uphold best practice as professionals"

Members are subject to an annual external 3rd Party Audit to establish that safety and service standards are continually maintained and being improved on.

2. Get 9, ring 3! A guide to references – The best way of checking on a company is to ask those who have used them. Any proper company can give you minimum 9 previous projects, from which you should pick at least 3 and ask the following

".. if they’re confident in their previous

work they should have no problems.."

Were they safe?

Did they install the scaffold on-time?

Did the people using the scaffolding say if felt safe and suitable?

Were the scaffolders’ on-site friendl and co-operative?

Were there hidden "extras" (such as extra hire, ladders etc)?

Was the scaffold equipment in good order?

Did they do any damage to the building?

And finally, THE most crucial question of them all…

…would you recommend them and use them again?

Getting references will make the cowboys run a mile! It may sound a bit cheeky to ask the scaffolder to give you a list of 9 previous jobs, but if they’re confident in their previous work they should have no problems with this. If they’re reluctant, then something is wrong. Be careful!

3. Insurances; its Law – It is a mandatory requirement that every firm carries Employer’s Liability (EL) insurance and (whilst not mandatory) it would be a bad move to allow a scaffold contractor on your site without any Public Liability (PL). PL & EL insurances are the absolute minimum. These insurances can be verified by the production of Insurances Certificate(s); check the company’s name is correct and that they are in date – (the "to" and "from" dates should be shown, and an expiry date will always be shown).

"Be aware, there is an

under-hand way of obtaining

these insurance certificates…"

**Be aware, there is an under-hand way of obtaining these insurance certificate by taking annual insurance, spreading the costs over a 12-month period, getting the certificates and then cancelling the payment plan before the 1st instalment – & hey presto, you have the certificate … but are not insured. It’s easy to check the validity of insurances by getting the Certificate, then ringing the Insurance Broker (details are normally on the certificate) or the Insurer direct.

If this all sounds a bit of a pain; stick with it. In the case of an accident, it’s going to be a lot easier dealing with a reputable insurer rather than trying to sue an individual. And a company being coy about their insurance details should have you smelling a rat.

And, while we’re talking insurance

Make sure you get proof of the scaffolding firms’ vehicle insurance as you don’t want your new car driven over by a 10ton scaffolding truck and find that you have to claim off your own insurance.

For more need to know information in the industrial scaffoldng world visit http://www.alltask.co.uk/scaffolding