Scaffolding: what do the regulations say?

Scaffolding can be used for temporary work at height. However, the use of such equipment must comply with a number of rules to ensure the health and safety of workers. Tennaxia reviews the applicable regulations in this article!

What is scaffolding?

Scaffolding is work equipment used to carry out work at height. This equipment includes legs, decks, ladders and guardrails, providing safe workstations at height(Article 1, Decree of December 21, 2004). Scaffolding is temporary equipment and must be assembled and dismantled after use.

Scaffolding is collective protective equipment (CPE) and meets the requirements of the French Labor Code, which stipulates that CPE must be used to secure workstations at height(Article R4323-62 C.Trav.).

📃 Documentation: 👉 For more information on working at height regulations, please see our article dedicated to preventing the risk of falling from heights.

What are the different types of scaffolding?

There are many different types of scaffolding, depending on the work to be carried out, its duration, the load to be supported, frequency of use, size, environmental and material constraints, etc.

🔎 Focus : Using scaffolding that complies with standard NF 096 - Équipements de chantier ensures regulatory compliance.

Fixed scaffolding

Fixed scaffolding, also known as foot scaffolding, is the most common type of scaffolding. It is divided into two main categories:

• metal frame scaffolding for façade work;
• modular scaffolding for the industrial sector.

This type of scaffolding is suitable for large-scale, long-term projects. It requires prior assembly, and must comply with standards for strength, stability, safety and materials: NF EN 12810-1, NF EN 12810-2, NF EN 12811-1, NF EN 12811-2, NF EN 12811-3.

📃 Documentation: Feel free to consult the recommendation R 408 relating to the assembly, use and dismantling of foot scaffolding.

Rolling scaffolding

Rolling scaffolding is generally prefabricated, and is best suited to short-term work. They must also comply with standards for strength, stability, safety and materials: NF EN 1004-1 and NF EN 1004-2 or NF P93-520.

📃 Documentation: Feel free to consult the recommendation R 457 on the assembly, dismantling and use of rolling scaffolding.

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What are the regulatory requirements for using scaffolding?

To ensure the health and safety of workers, scaffolding must comply with occupational health and safety regulations.

Materials

The materials and components making up the scaffolding must be strong and resistant enough for the work to be carried out(Article R4323-72 C.Trav.). They must also be compatible with each other and with the conditions of use for which they have been designed and tested.

⚠️ Caution : The permissible load of the scaffolding must be clearly marked on each on each of its decks (Article R4323-76 C.Trav.).

Stability

The stability of the scaffolding must be ensured, and all parts of the scaffolding must be installed in such a way as to prevent their displacement in relation to the whole(Article R4323-73 C.Trav.).

In the case of fixed scaffolding, its stability must be able to withstand the loads and stresses to which it is subjected during work, and resist atmospheric stresses, particularly wind.

This stability is achieved by checking the levels of its base and by securing it every 4 or 8 meters, depending on the size of the scaffolding, the work involved, etc.(Article R4323-74 C.Trav.).

⚠️ Warning : If the scaffolding cannot be tied down , it must be protected against the risk of slipping and tipping over by another means of equivalent effectiveness.

In addition, the load-bearing surface against which the scaffolding is anchored must be of sufficient strength to prevent subsidence.

In the case of rolling scaffolding, its stability must be ensured so that no accidental shifting or tipping occurs during assembly, dismantling and use(Article R4323-75 C.Trav.).

To ensure this stability, be sure to apply the castors' brakes, deploy the metal stabilizers at each corner and check the levels at the base of the scaffold.

⚠️ Caution : No worker should remain on a rolling scaffold while it is being moved.

Collective protection equipment

To protect workers against falls from height, scaffolding must be fitted with guardrails, or equivalent protection, on its external sides(Article R4323-77 C.Trav.).

🔎 Focus : Guardrails must (Article R4323-59 C.Trav.) :

● be securely fastened, rigid, of adequate strength, and height of between 1 m and 1.10 m;

● have a stop plinth of 10 to 15 cm;

● have a handrail;

● have an intermediate rail at mid-height.

Floors and means of access

The material, dimensions, layout and shape of scaffolding decks must enable workers to circulate safely and must support the loads to which they are subjected(Article R4323-78 C.Trav.).

⚠️ Attention : There must be no gap of more than 20 centimetres between the edge of the floors and the structure, façade or equipment. against which the scaffolding is set up. When it is impossible to avoid such a gap, safety nets, EPC or PPE must be used (Article R4323-58 to R4323-61 C.Trav.). These provisions also apply when the structure (facade) or guardrail does not project above one of the floors at a height of between 1 m and 1.10 m.

In addition, the means of access between the various scaffolding decks must be safe and sufficient in number(Article R4323-79 C.Trav.). These are generally fixed ladders fitted with a trapdoor.

How do you erect, modify and dismantle scaffolding?

The installation of a scaffolding necessues several workers and represents a risk for them.

To prevent the risk of falling from a height, strict rules apply to all operations involving the erection, dismantling or modification of scaffolding.

Firstly, the installation of scaffolding must be supervised by a competent person, and the personnel assigned to this task must have received specific training in these operations(Article R4323-69 C.Trav.). As a minimum, workers must have been trained in :

• understanding a scaffolding assembly, dismantling or conversion plan;
• the safety rules to be followed during these operations;
• measures to prevent the risk of people or objects falling;
• safety and evacuation measures in the event of adverse weather conditions;
• conditions for permissible structural forces;
• the other risks that these operations may entail.

This training must be renewed as often as necessary to take account of changes in scaffolding(Article R. 4323-3 C.Trav.).

📃 Documentation: the recommendation R 408 defines in detail the competence reference framework for the assembly, use and operation of free-standing scaffolding.

Secondly, the person in charge and the scaffolding assembly team must have at their disposal the manufacturer's instructions or the assembly and dismantling plan. The scaffolding must be installed in accordance with the calculation note provided in the manual(Article R4323-70 C.Trav.).

Ideally, the erection team should consist of two erectors and two riggers. Leg levels must be checked and adjusted, and the framing (distance between the scaffold and the structure or facade) must be less than or equal to 20 cm.

If the scaffolding installation does not correspond to the instructions in the user manual, a plan for erecting, using and dismantling the scaffolding must be drawn up by a competent person.

Similarly, when the calculation notes in the manual are not available, or cannot be applied to the configuration of the scaffolding to be installed, a strength and stability calculation must be carried out by a competent person.

ℹ Please note : Assembly and disassembly instructions and calculation notes must be kept on site.

Thirdly, workers on the scaffolding assembly team must be equipped with appropriate protection against the risk of falling from a height during all assembly, dismantling and modification operations(Article R4323-71 C.Trav.).

To meet this protection obligation, workers assigned to scaffolding assembly, dismantling and modification operations must be equipped with :

• harness;
• lanyards connected to the scaffolding by two attachment points;
• gloves ;
• safety shoes;
• chinstrap helmet;
• protective eyewear if necessary.

Access to scaffolding zones during installation must be strictly reserved for authorized workers. These areas must be equipped with devices to prevent unauthorized persons from entering(Article R4323-80 C.Trav.).

ℹ Please note : Workers exposed to the risk of falling from a height during scaffolding assembly and dismantling operations benefit from reinforced health monitoring (Article R4624-23 C.Trav.). This includes medical check-ups every four years, and interim check-ups every two years.

What checks should be carried out on scaffolding?

Scaffolding use, assembly, dismantling and modification operations are subject to periodic inspection.

ℹ Please note : the Labour Inspectorate may ask an approved body to check the scaffolding (Article 7, Arrêté du 21 décembre 2004).

To this end, the employer must provide workers with documents relating to the use of scaffolding (instructions, plans, calculation notes, etc.), as well as information on the work to be carried out (operations, tasks, loads to be supported) and on environmental conditions (ground, anchoring, structure, facade, etc.)(Article 2, Decree of December 21, 2004).

Scaffolding must therefore be checked:

• every day to check the state of preservation, degradation and preventive measures (equipment, deformation, mooring, fastening, etc.)(Article 5, Order of December 21, 2004);
• before commissioning or recommissioning (examination of suitability for the work and examination of conformity of assembly and installation)(Article 4, Order of December 21, 2004) ;
• every quarter to check the state of preservation(Article 6, Order of December 21, 2004).

🔎 Focus : you'll find a detailed list of verification operations in Article 3, Order of December 21, 2004.

To remember:

❖ S caffolding is temporary equipment for working at heights ;

❖ The stability, materials, equipment used, flooring and means of access for scaffolding must comply with regulatory standards ;

❖ The erection, dismantling and alteration of scaffolding must be carried out by trained, competent and properly equipped workers ;

❖ S caffolding is subject to periodic inspections.‍