At the end of 2021, the idea arose to tackle the goal of standardising scaffolding inspections, as defined in the UEG articles of association of 2008 (see Articles of European Scaffolding Contractors, art.2). 

As with the two previous projects, the representatives of the member countries presented the qualifications practised in their countries of origin. There had been a proposal to base the guidelines exclusively on the CISRS training scheme, but the members decided to create an original document. 

The result was a set of guidelines modelled on the two previous guidelines (‘Joint Guidelines for the supply/provision and use of working and protective scaffolds’ and ‘Practical Guidelines for Risk Assessment’) which are purely recommendatory in nature. While the first part of the guideline focuses on the requirements arising from Directive 2009/104/EC and the implementation of the directive in the individual countries, the second part presents a recommendation for a training concept. 

In addition to Directive 2009/104/EC, national regulations, laws and rules of the individual member states, from which various qualification models emerge or can be derived, served as a guide for the content, e.g. in Germany the training and examination regulations for skilled workers, foremen, assembly supervisors and master craftsmen, as well as the technical rules of the Federal Guild for the Scaffolding Trade; in the UK, the CISRS qualification system; in the Netherlands, the national guideline for scaffolding ‘richtlijn steigers’; in Sweden Provisions of the Swedish Work Environment Authority on Scaffolding, together with General Recommendations on the implementation of the Provisions; in PL the guidelines of the Polish Chamber of Commerce for scaffolding and formwork (PIGRiD), in CH the programmes of Polybau; in FI Government Decree on the Safe Use and Inspection of Work Equipment (403/2008), Common regulation – Government Decree on the Safety of Construction Work (205/2009), Valid on construction work and sites; … 

We would like to thank the member associations, BUNDESINNUNG für das GERÜSTBAUer Handwerk, General Contractors of Finland, National Access & Scaffolding Confederation (NASC), Polska Izba Gospodarcza Rusztowań i Deskowań (PIGRiD), Stillasentreprenørenes Forening (SEF), Swiss Scaffolding Contractors Association (SGUV), Ställningsföretagen (STIB), Vereniging van Steiger-, Hoogwerken Betonbekisting bedrijven (VSB), the Luxembourg representative (asbl Fédération des métiers de la sécurité des travaux en hauteur, FSTH) for providing materials and for granting permission to use these materials as inspiration. 

A special thanks goes to the participants delegated by the member associations for their involvement in the convened working group, and in particular to Werner Majer, who played a leading role in the implementation of the project.