SCF/General/TBT-SCF-017

Scaffold Adjacent to Public Areas

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Scaffolds adjacent to public areas must protect passers-by from falling materials, protruding components, and collapse.
Fans, brick guards, and debris netting are required to catch falling objects where the public passes below.
Scaffold lighting must illuminate the pavement and any pedestrian diversion adequately after dark.
Hoarding at ground level separates the public from the scaffold base and prevents unauthorised access.
Pedestrian diversions around scaffolding must be accessible, signed, and suitable for wheelchair users.
Scaffold ties to the building facade must not protrude over the public footway where they could injure pedestrians.
Local authority licences are required for scaffolds erected on or over the public highway.
Public protection measures must be maintained throughout the scaffold life, not just at erection.
Scaffold erection and dismantling near the public requires additional banksmen and temporary closures.
Overhanging scaffold components reduce headroom — a minimum of 2.1 metres clearance must be maintained.

Public safety	Materials falling from scaffolds onto pedestrians cause serious and fatal injuries — protection is non-negotiable.
Legal liability	Failure to protect the public from scaffolding hazards exposes the contractor to prosecution and civil claims.
Access rights	Pedestrians, wheelchair users, and the visually impaired have a legal right to safe passage past construction works.

Don't

Install fans, brick guards, and debris netting where the public passes below the scaffold
Obtain a licence from the local authority for scaffolds on or over the public highway
Erect hoarding at ground level to separate pedestrians from the scaffold base area
Provide accessible pedestrian diversions with signage and dropped kerbs for wheelchair access
Maintain a minimum 2.1 metres headroom clearance above any public walkway below the scaffold
Light the pedestrian route and scaffold hoarding adequately during hours of darkness
Inspect public protection measures daily and repair any damage or displacement promptly
Use banksmen and temporary footway closures during scaffold erection and dismantling
Ensure scaffold ties do not protrude over the public footway at head height
Brief scaffold users that the public is directly below and dropped objects are unacceptable

DON'T erect scaffolding over the public highway without a local authority licence
DON'T allow materials to be stored on scaffold platforms above public walkways unsecured
DON'T reduce headroom below 2.1 metres where the public walks beneath the scaffold
DON'T leave gaps in debris netting, fans, or brick guards above public areas
DON'T obstruct the pedestrian footway without providing an accessible signed diversion
DON'T throw materials from the scaffold where the public could be struck below
DON'T leave scaffold components protruding over the public footway at any height
DON'T erect or dismantle scaffolds during peak pedestrian hours without traffic management
DON'T leave hoarding or pedestrian diversions in poor condition with trip hazards
DON'T forget that scaffold protection is needed 24/7 — not just during working hours

See also: Scaffold Safety Awareness | Temporary Hoardings and Fencing

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