SCF/Specific/TBT-SCF-041

Mobile Scaffold Tower

Scaffolding › Specific › Mobile Scaffold Tower

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Mobile scaffold towers are lightweight aluminium structures on castors used for short-duration work at height.
They are commonly used on construction sites for tasks such as ceiling work, M&E installation, and painting.
The Work at Height Regulations 2005 require towers to be erected and used by competent persons only.
Towers must be erected following the manufacturer's instruction manual — every model has different rules.
PASMA (Prefabricated Access Suppliers' and Manufacturers' Association) training is the industry standard for tower users.
Falls from mobile scaffold towers account for a significant number of work at height injuries each year in the UK.
The most common causes of tower accidents are overturning, falls during erection, and platform overloading.
Maximum platform height for indoor use is typically 12 metres; outdoor use is limited by wind and stability.
The base dimension to height ratio must not exceed 3.5:1 indoors or 3:1 outdoors without stabilisers.
All towers must have full guardrails, toeboards, and a trapdoor platform at the working height before use.

Prevent fatal falls	Falls from poorly erected or misused towers cause deaths and life-changing injuries on UK construction sites every year.
Legal compliance	The Work at Height Regulations 2005 place duties on employers and workers to ensure towers are safe before use.
Prevent overturning	An overloaded or incorrectly braced tower can collapse without warning, injuring the user and anyone below.
Competency requirement	PASMA or equivalent training ensures workers understand safe erection sequences, inspections, and height limits.

Don't

Ensure all tower erectors and users hold a valid PASMA certificate.
Follow the manufacturer's instruction manual for the specific tower model being used.
Check the ground conditions are firm, level, and capable of supporting the tower.
Lock all four castors before climbing and at all times during use.
Inspect the tower before each use and after any event that could affect stability.
Use the 3T method — through the trapdoor — for safe access to the platform.
Fit full guardrails, mid-rails, and toeboards at the working platform level.
Display a tower inspection tag showing the date, inspector name, and status.
Dismantle the tower in reverse order of erection following the manual sequence.
Report any damaged or missing components immediately and take the tower out of use.

DON'T climb the outside of a tower to access the platform at any time.
DON'T move a tower with anyone on the platform or with loose materials on it.
DON'T use a tower in wind speeds above 17 mph without a specific risk assessment.
DON'T exceed the safe working load stated by the manufacturer for the platform.
DON'T use boxes, stepladders, or other items to gain extra height on the platform.
DON'T erect a tower near overhead power lines without a safe clearance assessment.
DON'T mix components from different manufacturers or tower systems together.
DON'T remove guardrails, braces, or stabilisers to make work easier or quicker.
DON'T leave an unsecured tower unattended where it could be misused or blown over.
DON'T use a tower with bent frames, cracked welds, or missing locking mechanisms.

See also: Working at Height Hierarchy of Control | Alloy Tower Scaffold Erection

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