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How to inspect a mobile access tower

Mobile Scaffold Towers need to be inspected as often as is necessary to ensure safety.

Although the regulations make a distinction between the inspection requirements for towers which are used in construction and those which are not, PASMA recommends the following, regardless of activity as current best practice.

For towers from which it is possible to fall 2m or more, you must:

  • Inspect after assembly, or significant alteration, and before use.
  • Complete a written report before going off duty.
  • Give the report to the person for whom it was completed within 24 hours.
  • Re-inspect and report as often as necessary - but at least 7 days
  • BUT there is no need to re-inspect and report every time it is moved at the same location.
  • Re-inspect and report after any event likely to have affected its strength or stability such as adverse weather conditions.
  • Keep a copy of the inspection report safe at a construction site until the work is completed, then at your office for another 3 months.

A tower from which it is possible to fall a distance of less than 2m has different inspection requirements. It must be inspected after assembly, and before use; after any event likely to have affected its strength or stability and at suitable intervals depending on frequency and conditions of use.

PASMA recommends the use of the PASMA Tower Inspection Record which not only gives a visual indicator of the tower’s inspection status, but also satisfies the requirements of the regulations to record the inspection, and when affixed to the tower satisfies the requirement to give to the person for whom it was completed, and finally on completion by retaining the Tower Inspection Record, satisfies the requirements to retain a copy of the record as detailed in the regulations.

During the practical element of a PASMA Training Course, the tower is assembled by following the manufacturer’s instruction manual. Before the tower can be used, moved or dismantled it must be inspected. All delegates are invited to inspect the tower and record their inspection in the delegate booklet. This is then discussed afterwards in the classroom.

PASMA has produced a pocket card and posters explaining the inspection requirements for towers and how tower inspection records should be completed. These and Tower Inspection Inspection Records (in packs of 50) can be obtained from Boss Training – 0845 680 0495

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