| S.No. | Checkpoint | IS Requirement | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| A. REGISTER COLUMNS | |||
| A1 | Column 1: Date - Inspection date (DD-MM-YYYY) Acceptance: Dates sequential; Format consistent | Cl.1 - Tracking | OK NC NA HOLD |
| A2 | Column 2: Inspection Type - Daily/Weekly/Post-event Acceptance: Type clearly marked; Frequency per code | Cl.2 - Type | OK NC NA HOLD |
| A3 | Column 3: Inspector Name - Person conducting inspection Acceptance: Name recorded; Authorized inspector | Cl.3 - Responsibility | OK NC NA HOLD |
| A4 | Column 4: Issues Found - Brief description or 'None' Acceptance: Issues documented; Linked to corrective action | Cl.4 - Issue tracking | OK NC NA HOLD |
| A5 | Column 5: Action Taken - Repairs, maintenance, follow-up Acceptance: Action documented; Completion date noted | Cl.5 - Resolution | OK NC NA HOLD |
| A6 | Column 6: Status - Safe/Unsafe/Conditional Acceptance: Clear status statement; Linked to register entry | Cl.6 - Verdict | OK NC NA HOLD |
Scaffolding failure is one of the leading causes of construction fatalities — collapsed scaffold towers, lost tubes, missing toe boards, inadequate ties all contribute. IS 3696 (Safety code for scaffolds and ladders) + BOCW Rules + state factory inspectorate rules mandate periodic inspection of all erected scaffolding.
The Scaffold Inspection Register is the system-of-record for these inspections: every scaffold tower installed, every periodic check, every defect rectified. Without the register, an inspector cannot prove inspections were done; an incident makes the inspector + contractor + PMC personally liable for negligence.
For large projects, scaffolding is a significant ongoing cost — proper register management also reduces scaffold theft + loss tracking.
Per-scaffold entry: - Scaffold ID + location (e.g., 'Scaff-04, Block-B north face, Level 4-7') - Type (single-row tubular, double-row, mast climber, gantry) - Erection date + erection team - Designer (for engineered scaffolds > 6 m height; per IS 3696 Cl. 4) - Maximum permissible load + working live load - Tie-back locations + anchor verification - Toe-board + guardrail confirmation - PPE requirements + provisions
Inspection frequency: - Before first use — full inspection after erection - Weekly — visual + structural inspection - After weather event — high winds, rain, seismic activity - After any modification — addition of working levels, alterations - Pre-dismantle — verify safe sequence
Each inspection records: date, inspector name, items checked, defects found, corrective actions, sign-off.
1. Missing tie-backs — scaffolds > 6 m height must be tied to building per IS 3696. Wind can topple un-tied scaffolds.
2. Bent / damaged tubes — pre-existing damage continues; check on every inspection.
3. Loose couplers — vibration from work / wind loosens couplers; inspect at every cycle.
4. Missing toe boards / guardrails — IS 3696 Cl. 5.3: guardrail ≥ 1.0 m height + toe board ≥ 150 mm. Frequently missing especially on partially-completed scaffolds.
5. Inadequate base plates — scaffolding base plates on soft soil sink; tower destabilizes. Verify base preparation.
6. No fall protection at working level — guardrails removed for material movement; never restored.
7. Damaged planking — scaffold boards cracked / split; replace, don't repair.
8. Overloading — material stacked beyond scaffold's working load. Verify rating + actual loading.
9. Unauthorised modifications — site team adds working level / removes brace without engineer approval. Strict prohibition + documented sign-off.
Companion QA/QC: - Work at Height Checklist (QC-SCF-CHK-004) — per-task safety verification - Load Capacity Test (QC-SCF-TST-001) — for engineered scaffolds - Permit-to-Work register (PMC-side document)
Standards + regulations: - IS 3696 (Parts 1-2) — Safety code for scaffolds and ladders - IS 4014 Parts 1-2 — Code of practice for steel tubular scaffolding - IS 12254:1993 — Industrial safety belts and harnesses - IS 14361:1996 — Safety nets - BOCW Act 1996 + Rules — building construction workers welfare - National Building Code 2016 Part 7 — Construction Practices and Safety - CPWD Specifications 2019 — Section on scaffolding