Method Statement for Scaffolding Erection — UK
Free UK scaffolding method statement template aligned with NASC TG20:21, SG4:22 (Preventing falls in scaffolding), CISRS standards and the Work at Height Regulations 2005.
UK (RAMS) example document — Two-Storey Rear Extension — 14 Birchwood Lane, Reading. Client: Mr & Mrs A. Whitfield (Private Client). Site: 14 Birchwood Lane, Reading, RG1 5JT. Scope: Construction of a two-storey rear extension (6.4m × 4.2m) to an existing semi-detached dwelling. Works comprise breaking out of existing rear elevation, trench-fill foundations to 1.0m, traditional cavity blockwork to first floor, pre-stressed concrete lintels, timber roof structure with natural slate finish, plus alterations to existing rear wall to form structural opening with rolled steel joist (RSJ 203×102 UB23). Works programmed over 9 weeks with a peak site team of 6 operatives. Hazards assessed: Manual handling — blocks, lintels, plasterboard, Working at height — independent scaffold & roof structure, Buried services strike during excavation, Collapse of excavation / trench wall, Hand-arm vibration (HAVS) — breaking out, drilling, Silica dust — cutting blocks, brick, concrete, Vehicle/pedestrian segregation — narrow domestic street.
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- Site-specific draft
- Scaffolding hazards baked in
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Built around recognised UK method statement structure — hazards, controls, sequence, PPE and sign-off. Ready for competent-person review.
Scaffolding is the trade most exposed to falls during the work itself — the scaffolder builds the platform that protects everyone else, and is by definition without complete collective protection at every lift. The NASC SG4:22 is the industry's primary standard for preventing scaffolder falls, and any defensible scaffolding MS now references it explicitly. TG20:21 sets the technical design and compliance baseline for tube-and-fitting scaffolds in the UK. A weak MS treats erection as a single step; a strong MS breaks it down lift by lift, with a SG4-compliant safe zone, the lifting equipment and the public protection at each stage.
When is it required?
A written MS and risk assessment are required for any scaffolding work under the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and CDM 2015. For any scaffold not compliant with TG20:21 (e.g. heavy duty, complex geometry, cantilever), a bespoke design by a competent engineer is required and must be referenced in the MS. CISRS card discipline is enforced on every UK commercial site — Labourer for ground crew, Trainee, Scaffolder or Advanced Scaffolder for each stage. The MS must name the cards held by every operative on the gang.
What a good one looks like
A strong scaffolding MS names the design (TG20:21 compliant or bespoke design ref), the duty class (e.g. 'Class 3, 200 kg/m² distributed load'), the foundation (sole boards / base plates / concrete pad), the tie pattern, the loading bay design (if any), the access (stair tower / internal ladder access bay) and the SG4-compliant safe-zone method (typically two-lift advance with personal fall protection on the working lift only when no collective protection is available). It includes a public protection section (fan, debris netting, pedestrian tunnel, banksman during lifts) and a separate dismantling sequence — dismantling is more dangerous than erection and the MS should reflect that.
Scaffolding hazards & controls
The site-specific hazards a scaffolding MS must address, with the controls that take residual risk to an acceptable level.
| Hazard | Persons at risk | Controls | Residual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scaffolder fall during erection / dismantling | Scaffolders | SG4:22 safe-zone method — collective protection installed at each lift before working; personal fall protection (advanced harness + double lanyard) on working lift only when no collective; one-lift dismantling rule | Medium |
| Falling tools & components onto public / other trades | Public, other trades | Tool tethering; brick guards; debris netting; pedestrian fan; exclusion zone during erection / dismantling; banksman during all lifts | Low |
| Scaffold collapse | All on site | TG20:21 compliant or designed scaffold; tie pattern installed at each lift before working; foundation assessed; ground bearing checked; max load class signed off | Low |
| Overload of working lift / loading bay | Anyone on scaffold | Duty class signed; loading bays designed and signed; load notices at every access; no stacking beyond marked limit | Low |
| Manual handling - tubes (10-25 kg), boards (15-20 kg) | Scaffolders, ground crew | Gin wheel + rope or hoist for vertical lift >2 lifts; two-person handling of long tubes; carry distances <10m; rest breaks | Medium |
| Power line contact during erection | Scaffolders | HSG144 distances - 9m from wood-pole LV, 15m from pylons or LV consult with DNO; survey before erection; insulated tubes only where DNO confirms isolation impossible | Low |
| Vehicle strike (kerb-side scaffold) | Public, scaffolders | Pavement licence / TM plan; pedestrian tunnel; reflective panels; lighting for night; banksman during deliveries | Low |
| Wind loading on completed scaffold (uplift, oscillation) | All in collapse zone | Stop work above 17 mph (Beaufort 5) for SG4 work; tied at every lift; debris-netting / sheeting de-rated to TG20 limits; wind-speed device on site | Low |
Step-by-step sequence
- 1
1. Pre-start survey & design
Site survey for ground conditions, overhead lines, public access. Design either TG20:21 compliant or by a competent designer for bespoke. CISRS cards photographed.
- 2
2. Foundation & first lift
Sole boards on stable ground; base plates with screw-jacks for level; first lift built with personal fall protection (advanced harness + double lanyard, SG4 safe zone).
- 3
3. Lift-by-lift erection
Each lift: install standards, ledgers, transoms, then guardrails and toeboards at the working level before working from it. Ties installed per pattern at each lift before next lift built.
- 4
4. Boarding & access
Boards laid with min 50 mm overlap; gaps <25 mm; access via internal ladder access bay or external stair tower.
- 5
5. Public protection
Debris netting / sheeting installed; brick guards on all working lifts; pedestrian fan / tunnel where overhang exists.
- 6
6. Handover
Scafftag inspected and signed by competent scaffolder; handover certificate to PC; scaffold register entry made; max load class displayed.
- 7
7. Inspection regime
Statutory inspection every 7 days (WAHR sched. 7), after alteration and after any event likely to affect stability; recorded in writing.
- 8
8. Dismantling (reverse sequence, one-lift rule)
Dismantle from the top; do not remove a tie above where you are working; do not work below a lift being dismantled; lower components by gin wheel — never throw.
Real example — 18m independent tied scaffold, 4 elevations, retail refurb (Glasgow)
A CISRS-registered scaffold contractor in Glasgow is erecting an 18 m independent tied scaffold around a 4-storey listed retail building for a refurb. TG20:21 compliant (Class 3, 200 kg/m² for the masonry trade above), 4 lifts of 1.5 m gangway plus a brickguarded inside board. The MS names the gang: one Advanced Scaffolder (lead, CISRS Gold), one Scaffolder, one Trainee, two Labourers. The foundation is on the existing pavement: pavement licence agreed with Glasgow City Council, sole boards on the slabs (load checked against utilities under), pedestrian tunnel for full perimeter with reflective panels and night lighting. The tie pattern is to the existing masonry at every 4 m horizontally, every lift vertically — pre-drilled and tested by the lead before any reliance. Erection uses the SG4:22 two-lift advance: guardrails installed at the lift before working from it; personal fall protection (advanced harness + double lanyard) on the working lift only when collective is being installed. Public protection: debris net + brick guards + pedestrian tunnel + banksman during loading. Scaffold handover to the PC includes the scafftag, the TG20:21 compliance certificate and the temporary works register entry. Statutory inspection weekly (Mondays AM). Dismantling sequence in a separate appendix with the one-lift rule explicit. MS is 16 pages, accepted by the PC and the council building-control officer on first review.
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Common mistakes that get a scaffolding MS rejected
- ·Generic 'use harness' instead of the SG4:22 safe-zone method
- ·No bespoke design for a scaffold that doesn't meet TG20:21 (anything heavy-duty, complex or unusual geometry)
- ·Dismantling treated as 'reverse of erection' with no separate hazards section (dismantling kills more scaffolders than erection)
- ·Tie pattern only installed at the end — must be installed at each lift, before the next
- ·No daily pre-use check + 7-day statutory inspection record (WAHR sched. 7 is explicit)
- ·Loading bay built without a separate design and load notice
Frequently asked questions
Is SG4 a legal requirement?
SG4 is industry guidance from NASC, not directly law, but it is the accepted way to comply with the Work at Height Regulations 2005 hierarchy of controls for scaffolders. HSE inspectors will treat a non-SG4 method as non-compliant unless an equivalent safe system is in place.
What's the difference between TG20:21 compliant and a bespoke design?
TG20:21 sets out 'compliant' scaffold configurations for common geometries; if your scaffold fits one of those (and most simple independent scaffolds do), you build to TG20 without a bespoke design. Anything outside — heavy duty, complex shape, cantilever, suspended — requires a bespoke design by a competent designer.
How often must a scaffold be inspected?
Statutory: every 7 days, after alteration, and after any event likely to affect stability (Work at Height Regulations 2005, Schedule 7). The result must be recorded on a scaffold register; the scafftag is the visible cue but is not a substitute for the written record.
Who can sign the scaffold handover?
A competent scaffolder — typically CISRS Scaffolder for TG20:21 compliant scaffolds, Advanced Scaffolder for bespoke designs. The handover is to the principal contractor or end user.
What CISRS cards do scaffolders need?
Labourer (CISRS Labourer card) for ground crew; Trainee (Part 1); Scaffolder (Gold); Advanced Scaffolder (Gold AS). The MS must name the card held by every operative on the gang.
Are mobile towers covered by the scaffolding MS?
Mobile towers are usually treated as a separate scope under PASMA (the Prefabricated Access Suppliers' and Manufacturers' Association). A short standalone MS or a tower-specific section of the main MS is typical.
Related method statements & RAMS
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