Who fills in a scaffold tag?
The competent person who inspected the scaffold, as part of the inspection arrangements agreed for the job. Ask your supplier or site manager who that is.
Using the scaffold
Scaffold tags explained.
A scaffold tag is a card at the access point that shows whether the scaffold has been inspected and is safe to use. Tags are useful, but they are not a legal requirement and they do not replace the written inspection report.
The short answer
Do scaffolds have to be tagged?
No. HSE says tag systems are not a legal requirement. What the law does require is inspection of scaffolding from which a person might fall 2 metres or more, and a report by a competent person, on completion and at least weekly after that. Inspection may also be needed after bad weather, and always after any modification.
HSE describes a visible tag system as a useful way to show the people using the scaffold that it has been inspected and is safe to use, alongside the inspection reports.
On site
What a scaffold tag usually shows
Many tag systems use a holder fixed at each access point with an insert that changes with the scaffold’s status. One insert shows the scaffold has been inspected and can be used; another shows it must not be used. Inserts are often green and red, and usually record the date of the last inspection and who carried it out.
Designs vary between suppliers, so ask how the system on your scaffold works and where the tags will be placed.
Tag or report?
How a tag differs from the inspection report
The tag is a quick status sign at the scaffold. The inspection report is the written record the law requires. Under Schedule 7 of the Work at Height Regulations 2005, a report must include:
- the name and address of the person the inspection was carried out for;
- the location and a description of the scaffold;
- the date and time of the inspection;
- anything found that could put someone’s health or safety at risk;
- any action taken, and any further action needed;
- the name and position of the person making the report.
Regulation 12 requires the report to be prepared before the end of the working period in which the inspection is completed, and a copy given to the person it was carried out for within one day of completing the inspection. The employer who receives it must keep it on site until the construction work is complete, then at one of their offices for three months.
Your part
What to do if you are using the scaffold
- Check the tag before anyone goes onto the scaffold.
- If a tag says not to use it, is missing or looks out of date, do not use the scaffold. Contact the person responsible for inspections.
- Do not move, remove or change tags yourself.
- Report damage, missing boards or guard rails, or changes to the scaffold straight away.
Agree at handover who the user or hirer is and who will arrange the weekly inspections. Our inspections and handover guide covers the questions to settle.
Questions
Scaffold tag questions
What if the tag is out of date?
Treat the scaffold as not inspected. Do not use it, and contact whoever is responsible for inspections. The law requires inspection at least every 7 days for scaffolds covered by the regulations.
Is a green tag enough on its own?
No. A tag supplements the written inspection report; it does not replace it. If you are responsible for the scaffold, make sure the reports exist and are kept.
Discuss your project
Tell us what you need access for.
Questions about inspection or handover on your job? Call or send a WhatsApp message and we can talk it through.