Access scaffold erect and dismantle RAMS

HSE 5-STEP · CDM 2015

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Erect, adapt and dismantle an independent tied access scaffold to the front and rear elevations of an occupied two-storey domestic property to allow roof strip and re-cover works by others.

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Erection, adaptation and dismantling of an independent tied access scaffold to the front and rear elevations of 24 Sycamore Avenue, Leeds LS8 2R**, for Redwood Roofing Contractors. The scaffold provides a working platform at eaves level for roof strip and re-cover works carried out by others, and includes edge protection, debris netting and brick guards. Erected and dismantled in accordance with NASC TG20:21 and SG4:22.

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Document details
Contractor	Apex Access Scaffolding Ltd
Author	M. Doyle, Contracts Manager (CISRS Advanced Scaffolder)
Client / Principal Contractor	Redwood Roofing Contractors
Site	24 Sycamore Avenue, 24 Sycamore Avenue, Leeds LS8 2R**
Project reference	AAS-2087
Start / duration	Tue 23 Jun 2026 / 2 days (erect), roof works by others, 1 day (dismantle)

1. Scope of works

2. Sequence of works

Method statement, safe system of work

Operatives report to site, review this RAMS, the design/TG20 compliance sheet and confirm the agreed scaffold configuration and loading class with the roofing contractor.
Carry out a site-specific inspection: ground bearing conditions, overhead power lines, cellars/voids, position of windows, doors and pedestrian routes.
Where the footway is affected, confirm the highways licence is in place and set out signage, barriers and cones to segregate pedestrians and traffic.
Introduce ourselves to the occupants, explain the works, duration, and that windows/doors will be partially obstructed. Confirm the property remains secure.
Unload materials to a designated laydown area, avoiding manual handling injuries and keeping pedestrian routes clear.
Set out and level sole boards and base plates on firm, level ground. Where ground is soft, increase sole board area or use additional support.
Erect the first lift working from a safe system in accordance with SG4:22, using a collective fall-prevention method (advance guardrail) as the working platform is built up.
Fit standards, ledgers and transoms, checking spacings, board bearing and bracing against the TG20 compliance sheet as each lift is built.
Install ties into the structure at the required pattern and test tie load where drilled fixings are used; record test results.
Continue erecting subsequent lifts, fully boarding working platforms, fitting double guardrails, toe boards and brick guards, and maintaining SG4-compliant access as the scaffold rises.
Install debris netting/sheeting only where designed for the additional wind loading; otherwise fit brick guards to retain materials.
Form ladder access bays with tied ladders at the correct angle, landing above the platform, with a self-closing gate or equivalent.
On completion, carry out a full handover inspection, complete the scaffold inspection/handover certificate and fit a Scafftag showing safe working load and status.
Hand over to the roofing contractor; brief them on load class, tie removal prohibition and reporting of any alterations.
During the roof works period, carry out statutory inspections at least every 7 days and after any event likely to affect stability (e.g. high winds), recording each inspection.
On completion of roof works, confirm the scaffold is clear of materials and personnel before dismantling.
Dismantle in reverse order, top-down, never removing ties or guardrails below the working level, lowering components by gin wheel or hand, never throwing materials.
Segregate and load out all tube, fittings and boards. Inspect components for damage and quarantine any defective items.
Remove all signage and barriers, reinstate the footway, clean the area and confirm the property and boundary are left secure.
Sign out and notify the client that the scaffold has been removed.

3. Risk assessment

HSE 5-STEP · MHSWR 1999 REG 3 · HIERARCHY OF CONTROL

Risk assessment: hazards, who may be harmed, controls and residual risk
Hazard	Who / how	Existing controls	L×S	Additional controls	Residual
Fall from height during erection, alteration or dismantling of the scaffold.	Scaffolders. Falls from height can cause serious injury or fatality.	CISRS carded, SG4:22 trained operatives. Independent tied scaffold to TG20:21. Fully boarded platforms with double guardrails and toe boards.	3×5=15	Work to SG4:22 using a collective fall-prevention advance guardrail system so a guardrail is in place before the scaffolder accesses the lift. Where a residual fall risk remains, use a fall-arrest harness clipped to a suitable anchor as a last resort. Never remove guardrails or ties below the working level. Prohibit work in high winds (see weather control).	Medium
Scaffold collapse or instability due to poor foundations, inadequate ties, overloading or unauthorised alteration.	Scaffolders, roof workers, occupants, public. Can cause multiple serious injuries or fatalities.	Erection to a TG20:21 compliance sheet or bespoke design. Sole boards and base plates on firm ground. Tie pattern to design.	2×5=10	Confirm ground bearing before erection; increase sole board area on soft ground. Install and test ties to the required pattern and record results. Fit a Scafftag stating the safe working load and load class; brief the roofing contractor not to overload or remove ties. Statutory inspection before handover, every 7 days, and after high winds. Any alteration only by a competent scaffolder.	Low
Falling materials, tools or components striking people below.	Occupants, public, other operatives. Head injuries, serious injury or fatality.	Toe boards and brick guards to working platforms. Exclusion of the public from the immediate area.	3×4=12	Establish and barrier an exclusion zone beneath erection/dismantling works. Lower all components by hand or gin wheel and rope; never throw materials. Fit brick guards and, where designed for it, debris netting. Store loose materials away from platform edges. Wear head protection. Suspend overhead work if the public cannot be excluded.	Low
Contact with overhead power lines or other live services during erection/handling of tube.	Scaffolders. Electric shock, burns, fatality.	Pre-start survey for overhead lines and services. Awareness of conductive scaffold tube.	2×5=10	Identify overhead lines during the site survey and maintain safe clearance distances to GS6. Where clearance cannot be maintained, arrange isolation with the DNO before works. Keep tube horizontal when carrying near lines. Do not erect scaffold beneath or adjacent to lines without a specific assessment.	Low
Manual handling of scaffold tube, fittings and boards.	Scaffolders. Musculoskeletal injuries to back, shoulders and hands.	Manual handling trained operatives. Team lifting for long tubes.	3×2=6	Use a gin wheel and rope or pass tubes hand-to-hand rather than carrying up ladders. Limit individual loads; team-lift long or heavy components. Adopt good lifting technique, avoid twisting. Rotate tasks to reduce repetitive strain. Wear gloves to protect hands from pinch points and cold tube.	Low
Public and occupants in the vicinity, including obstruction of footway, doors and windows on an occupied domestic site.	Public, occupants, children. Trips, struck-by, or unauthorised access to the scaffold.	Occupied-site awareness. Pedestrian segregation during unloading and erection.	3×3=9	Barrier and sign the working area; where the footway is used, obtain a highways licence and provide a segregated pedestrian route. Maintain safe access to the property's entrance at all times. Fit ladder access gates or remove/board ladders at the end of each shift to deter unauthorised climbing, especially by children. Keep the site tidy and free of trip hazards.	Low
Adverse weather, particularly high winds affecting stability and safe working at height.	Scaffolders, and anyone below from wind-blown materials or sheeting.	Daily assessment of conditions before work. Debris netting only where designed for wind load.	3×3=9	Check the forecast and stop erection/dismantling in wind speeds that make handling components unsafe (typically above 17 m/s / Beaufort 7, or lower for sheeted scaffolds). Do not fit netting or sheeting unless the scaffold is designed for the added loading. Secure loose materials before leaving site. Re-inspect the scaffold after any high-wind event before re-use.	Low

4. Plant & equipment

Scaffold tube, fittings and boards (inspected, to BS EN 39 / BS 2482)
Ladders (Class 1 / EN 131 industrial), tied
Gin wheel and rope
Advance guardrail units (SG4 collective protection)
Fall-arrest harness and lanyard (last resort)
Podger spanners and ratchets
Tie test equipment (tie load tester)
Debris netting / brick guards
Signage, cones and pedestrian barriers

5. Materials / COSHH

No significant COSHH hazards. Where resin/chemical anchors are used for tie fixings, consult the manufacturer's Safety Data Sheet, avoid skin contact, wear nitrile gloves and ensure ventilation. Scaffold components are inspected before use and defective items quarantined. Waste packaging is removed from site for recycling.

6. PPE

Safety helmet with chin strap (EN 397)
Safety footwear with midsole (steel toe and penetration protection)
High-visibility clothing
Gloves (cut and pinch protection)
Full-body fall-arrest harness and lanyard (where a residual fall risk requires it)
Eye protection (when drilling for tie fixings)

7. Competence & training

All operatives hold valid CISRS cards appropriate to their role (Part 1/Part 2 scaffolders under the supervision of an Advanced scaffolder for complex work). All are trained in SG4:22 safe systems of work for scaffolding and in manual handling. M. Doyle (Author) holds a CISRS Advanced card and is the Contracts Manager responsible for the design check and handover.

8. Permits

Scaffold handover/inspection certificate (issued before first use and retained on site).
Highways/footway licence from the local authority where the scaffold affects the public highway.
DNO isolation arrangement where safe clearance to overhead lines cannot be maintained.

9. Access & egress

Access onto the scaffold is via tied ladder access bays at the correct pitch, landing above the platform, fitted with self-closing gates. Ground-level access to the property entrance and emergency egress from the dwelling are maintained throughout. Materials are raised and lowered by gin wheel, not carried up ladders.

10. Welfare

Toilet and hand-washing facilities are used by arrangement with the client/occupier where offered and suitable; otherwise the nearest agreed welfare facility is used. Operatives carry drinking water. Rest breaks are taken away from the working area and pedestrian routes.

11. First aid

A stocked first aid kit is carried in the company vehicle and its location is known to all operatives. At least one operative is a trained first aider. Serious injury: call 999 immediately, do not move a fallen casualty unless in further danger, and follow the site emergency plan. The site address is displayed for the emergency services.

12. Emergency procedures

In the event of a fall or injury at height, a rescue plan is in place: where fall arrest is used, a prompt recovery method (e.g. rescue from a platform or MEWP) is available to avoid suspension trauma. Stop work, make the area safe, administer first aid and call 999. In the event of scaffold damage or suspected instability, evacuate the area, prohibit use, isolate with signage/Scafftag and re-inspect before any further use. Report all incidents to the client and, where reportable, under RIDDOR.

13. Environmental

Materials are delivered and removed to minimise vehicle movements. Damaged components are removed for repair or recycling. Noise from handling tube is minimised during early mornings and on the occupied site. No hazardous waste is expected. Any packaging or offcuts are segregated and removed for recycling; nothing is left on the footway or in gardens.

This document was AI-generated as a drafting aid. It is not a substitute for professional health & safety advice. It must be reviewed, verified and made site-specific by a competent person before use, briefed to all operatives, and updated when site conditions or the method change. The provider accepts no liability for use of this document on site.

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