Inspection and Maintenance of Aluminium Scaffolding – Law and Practice

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You buy a new aluminium mobile scaffold tower, assemble it, and get to work. But scaffolding — like any other technical equipment — cannot simply be put into service and forgotten. Legislation sets obligations for both employers and those responsible for health and safety, and labour inspectorates can demand evidence of compliance at any time.

This article summarises what the law requires, what you need to have documented, and what a practical inspection of a mobile aluminium scaffold tower looks like.

The Legal Framework

The primary piece of legislation is the Act on Health and Safety at Work, supplemented by the Government Regulation on more detailed requirements for safety and health protection at workplaces with a risk of falling from height or into depth.

For scaffolding, the key requirements are:

The Government Regulation on temporary construction structures stipulates that scaffolding may only be used if:

• It has been assembled in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions
• It was inspected before first use and that inspection was documented
• It is regularly inspected by a competent person
• It is inspected after any extraordinary event that could have affected its safety (storm, high wind, impact, relocation)

Important note: regulations on temporary construction structures apply primarily to building scaffolding. For mobile scaffolding used in industry, maintenance, or retail, the applicable framework is the more general health and safety legislation on the safe operation and use of machinery, technical equipment, instruments, and tools — along with the requirements set out in the manufacturer's instructions.

How Often Must Scaffolding Be Inspected?

The law does not specify a fixed interval in days — and this is where companies most often get confused. The obligation is framed as follows: an inspection must take place before first use, and thereafter at intervals specified by the manufacturer in the user manual, but at least once every 12 months.

Manufacturers of aluminium mobile scaffolding (COSMOS, METIGO/ALUBERG) typically recommend in their manuals:

• A visual check by the user before every assembly and use
• A professional inspection by a qualified person at least once a year
• An extraordinary inspection after any fall, impact, or significant wear

The annual interval is the minimum. In construction or industrial operations with intensive daily use, increasing the frequency to every six or three months is advisable.

Who Is Authorised to Carry Out an Inspection?

The law distinguishes two levels:

• Routine pre-use check by the operator This check is carried out by every user before assembling the scaffolding. No special qualification is required — familiarity with the user manual is sufficient. The check covers a visual inspection of components (cracks, deformations, missing joints), functioning of castor brakes, stability after assembly, and condition of the platform deck (grating, toe boards).

• Periodic professional inspection This inspection must be carried out by a competent person — in practice, an employee with appropriate health and safety qualifications or a technician capable of assessing the technical condition of the scaffolding. In smaller companies this role is typically filled by the person responsible for health and safety, with relevant training. In larger operations, or where there is any doubt about the condition of the equipment, it is advisable to bring in an external specialist.

Note: the term "inspection" is used loosely in everyday speech. In the strict technical sense it refers to an inspection rather than an official statutory test of a specified technical device — mobile aluminium scaffolding does not fall into the category of statutory-tested equipment. Nevertheless, the inspection must be documented.

What Must an Inspection Cover?

A professional inspection of a mobile aluminium scaffold tower should cover at minimum:

Components and structure:

• All load-bearing profiles — visual check for cracks, deformation, corrosion
• Quick-release joints and locking mechanisms — functionality, wear
• Platform decking — fixings, surface condition (slip resistance), toe boards
• Internal ladders and steps — rung integrity, attachment points

Safety features:

• Castors and brakes — locking functionality, tread wear
• Outriggers — condition, correct attachment
• Guardrails and toe boards — integrity and completeness

Markings:

• Presence of the manufacturer's label showing standard, load capacity, and maximum height
• Legibility of all safety warnings

Documentation:

• Conformity of the assembly with the manufacturer's instructions (no missing components, no non-standard additions)
• Comparison with the previous inspection — deterioration, repairs carried out

How to Document an Inspection

The law does not prescribe a specific form, but documentation must exist and must be traceable in the event of an inspection. In practice, a checklist or entry in an equipment log is used, containing:

• Date of inspection
• Name and signature of the person carrying out the inspection
• Identification of the scaffolding (manufacturer, type, inventory number)
• Result of the inspection (no defects / defects found — description)
• Action taken (date defects were remedied, or withdrawal from service if applicable)
• Date of next inspection

We recommend keeping a separate logbook or electronic file for each piece of scaffolding — particularly if you have multiple units or if the scaffolding is shared between job sites.

What to Do When Defects Are Found

If an inspection reveals a defect, the scaffolding must not be put back into service until the defect has been rectified. For damaged load-bearing components:

• Deformed or cracked profile = withdraw from service, replace the component
• Faulty castor brake = must not be used on slopes or uneven surfaces
• Missing platform toe board = cannot be used safely with materials on the deck

Replacing individual components is possible — aluminium scaffolding is modular for precisely this reason. Both COSMOS and METIGO supply spare parts, and as their representative we can arrange procurement.

Never attempt to repair load-bearing aluminium profiles yourself by welding or bending. The manufacturer accepts no responsibility for a structure modified in this way, and the certification ceases to apply.

What Does a Labour Inspectorate Look For?

When inspecting a workplace, health and safety inspectors will look at, among other things:

• Whether the scaffolding is assembled in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions
• Whether users have been trained (training attendance records)
• Whether documentation of inspections carried out exists
• Whether the maximum load capacity and permitted height are visibly displayed on the tower

Missing documentation is the most common failing found — the physical condition of the scaffolding may be perfectly fine, but without records it is impossible to demonstrate that a professional inspection has taken place.

Practical Summary for Company Health and Safety

• Before first use of new scaffolding, carry out and document a professional inspection.
• Set a regular inspection schedule (minimum once a year; twice a year for intensive use).
• Every user must be trained and training records must be maintained.
• Retain inspection checklists for the entire service life of the scaffolding.
• After any incident (fall, impact, storm) carry out an extraordinary inspection before next use.

Every ALUBERG and COSMOS scaffold we supply comes with English-language documentation including assembly and operating instructions, on the basis of which an inspection plan can be drawn up. If you have questions about documentation or would like advice on setting up an inspection programme for your operation, get in touch.