What should you check prior to using a mobile access tower?

With the recent changes to the current product standard for mobile access towers now firmly in place for tower scaffolding manufacturers across Europe and the UK, it’s important to know how these key changes affect your scaffold and how to check that your mobile access tower is safe and ready to use before you or your team begin a project.

When should mobile towers be inspected?

These are basic guidelines to be followed under The Work at Height Regulations 2005:

• User or accompanying manger must be competent to build, dismantle and carry out a pre inspection on the tower.
• A full risk assessment should be carried out before any work ensues.
• Tower components must be inspected at suitable intervals throughout the project and an appropriate record kept of this inspection.

When should you not use tower scaffolds?

Employees should be sufficiently trained and be physically/mentally fit to undertake the tasks ahead of them. You should never use a mobile access tower if any of the following situations occur:

• As a support for ladders or other equipment
• In strong winds
• With broken, damaged, or missing parts
• With incompatible components that do not adhere to the BS EN 1004:2020 product standard.

What hazards may have been identified in the mobile tower risk assessment?

At Access Towers we supply a range of aluminium scaffold towers for hire and advise to keep a keen eye out for the following hazards prior to use of any mobile access tower that it is possible to fall 2m or more:

• Check for any modification to the scaffold that deviates from the manufacturer’s specification in the manual.
• Defects to the scaffold tower such as: incorrect assembly, missing parts (i.e guardrails) or damage to the structure in anyway.
• Check the ground is suitable for withstanding the weight of the tower. Ensure ground is not uneven, slippery or sloping.
• Overhead obstructions that could cause injury or block access whilst on the mobile access tower.
• Do you have the necessary PPE? Ensure correct footwear is worn, and fall arrest systems are in place if necessary.
• Any electrical hazards.
• Over-reaching. Ensure area to work on is within safe reaching distance of the scaffold tower.
• Ensure necessary warning signage is in place to deter members of the public from gaining access.
• Poor or dim lighting. Visibility is paramount when carrying out work operations.
• Each mobile access tower unit will have its own loading rating specified by the manufacturer that should be adhered to and not exceed.

Approved IPAF and PASMA, mobile access towers and working at height specialists throughout Surrey and the UK

As approved associates of the governing bodies regarding scaffolding towers and mobile access towers, we offer IPAF and PASMA training for users and managers alike to ensure you and your colleagues are safe on site.

From GRP towers, Advanced Guardrail towers to low level Podium units, we are the UK’s leading scaffold supplier and our team of experts can be contacted on 0208 665 1181 for further details or fill out a form for a free quote today.