ACC/General/TBT-ACC-018
Access Platform Design Loading and Inspection
Access & Temporary Structures › General › Access Platform Design Loading and Inspection
Toolbox Talk
Access Platform Design Loading and Inspection
Access platforms provide safe working positions for construction tasks at height or in difficult-to-reach areas. Every platform must be designed for its intended load, properly constructed, and regularly inspected. Overloading, poor design, or missed inspections can lead to platform collapse and serious injuries. This talk covers the requirements for platform design, loading limits, and the inspection regime that keeps them safe.
Key Hazards
Platform collapse from exceeding the designed safe working load capacity
Falls from platforms with incomplete edge protection or missing boards
Structural failure caused by poor foundation conditions beneath the platform
Defects going undetected due to missed or inadequate inspection routines
Control Measures
- Ensure every access platform is designed by a competent person for the intended loads and use.
- Display the safe working load clearly on the platform and do not exceed it under any circumstances.
- Inspect platforms before first use, at least every seven days, and after any event affecting stability.
- Check that edge protection is complete with guardrails, mid-rails, and toe boards on all open sides.
- Verify that platform foundations are adequate, level, and not undermined by water or excavation.
- Ensure boarding is fully decked with no gaps greater than 25mm between boards.
- Record all inspections in the inspection register and retain records for the project duration.
- Do not modify any platform without approval from the designer or a competent temporary works person.
- Provide safe access to the platform using ladders or stairways secured at top and bottom.
Remember
- Every access platform must be designed by a competent person for its intended use and loads
- The safe working load must be clearly displayed and never exceeded under any circumstances
- Platforms must be inspected before first use, every seven days, and after adverse events
- Edge protection must include guardrails, mid-rails, and toe boards on all open sides
- Boarding must be fully decked with no gaps greater than 25mm between individual boards
- All inspections must be recorded in the register and retained for the project duration
Applicable Legislation: Work at Height Regulations 2005 · CDM Regulations 2015 · BS 5975:2019 (Temporary Works) · Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974
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