A scaffold should be designed by a qualified scaffold designer or structural engineer. For complex or high-risk scaffolding systems, a registered professional engineer must design the scaffold to ensure structural stability, safety, and compliance with regulations. For more standard or modular scaffolding systems, the scaffolding contractor may follow manufacturer guidelines, but the employer or principal contractor holds final responsibility for ensuring the scaffold design is safe and appropriate for the site. Ultimately, the scaffold design must be carried out by someone with the necessary expertise and qualifications to guarantee worker safety and regulatory compliance.
Responsibilities in Scaffold Design
- Qualified scaffold designer or engineer: Designs complex, custom, or high-load scaffolding systems.
- Scaffolding contractor: May design standard or modular scaffolds using manufacturer specifications.
- Employer/principal contractor: Ensures scaffold safety, compliance, and appropriateness for the work site.
- Site manager or competent person: Oversees scaffold installation and inspects before use.
This division ensures scaffolds are structurally safe and meet federal or local safety standards such as OSHA regulations in the USA or HSE in the UK.
