When hiring professionals to help with your construction project, you want to ensure that you are getting the best team for the job. Whether you are hiring decorators to revamp your home, or hiring moving experts to help you move house, it is very important that the work is conducted to the highest standard possible. The same is also applicable with scaffolding hire and erection services.

scaffolding towers play a key role in the success of a construction project, therefore if the structure is poorly designed, erected or dismantled, it could pose health and safety risks for passers-by, your employees and you. With that said, it is important to work with scaffolding contractors that are qualified, safety conscious and experienced.

Sadly, finding a reputable scaffolding company for hire isn’t the easiest thing to do. There are a lot of companies out there who claim to provide impeccable service and it can be tempting to just go with the first option. However, it will definitely reward you with peace of mind, if you do your research. It is important, you work with scaffolding contractors that can meet your specific needs, so you project can be completed as planned.

What is the best way to begin your search? To help with that, we’ve created a mini guide below.

Are they safety conscious?

With scaffolding structures, safety is vital. It is therefore essential that the scaffolding contractor you use, has a reputation for good health and safety management. You can quickly investigate this by checking with the health and safety executive – they publish all misdemeanours. Please note, some horrible scaffolding hire firms may not have been caught- yet!

So, apart from the checking with the health and safety executive, you should also look out for scaffolding companies who have cover for unavoidable scenarios – that is, they have excellent employer and public liability insurance (accidents can occur even with the best suppliers). In addition, we recommend you check how seriously they take health and safety policies. For example, at JL scaffolding Eastbourne , we are members of the SSIP (Safety Schemes In Procurement) . In order to be a member, as a scaffolding company, you have to adhere to strict health and safety criteria, outlined by the SSIP. If the scaffolding company you hire is an SSIP member, then they are more likely to be reputable.

What are the installation techniques and materials they use?

One of the ways to keep an eye out for the quality of the erection work the scaffolding company you intend to go with does is by requesting information regarding the type of installation

techniques and materials they use. Most reputable scaffolding companies are always open to explaining their processes with you in detail.

 

Are they insured?

Accidents can occur, regardless of how safety conscious a scaffolding company is with their materials and installation. Therefore, even with the best scaffolding company, on-site injuries accidents and property damage can happen.

The scaffolding company you hire should have good insurance, so you will not pay for incidents and accidents out of your pocket. Your scaffolding company should be able to offer compensation if anything goes wrong on your site. Before hiring a scaffolding contractor, please be sure to check out their insurance information.

Look for a local company

We recommend, you always go with a local scaffolding contractor because this would be more cost-effective option for your project, as equipment and scaffolders are not transported over long distances.

Do they offer relevant support?

Whether you are purchasing or renting the scaffolding structure, you’ll want to ensure the scaffolding company you choose can offer the relevant design and a scaffolding support team in the event of an urgent need to access somewhere at height. So, before you sign on the dotted line, be sure to check if an initial quote involves support through the project. If a scaffolding company is unavailable to help you when your need arises it can cause serious delays to your project, or damage to a part of a building could worsen whilst you cannot access it.

Are the scaffolders on their team adequately trained?

Before you hire a scaffolding company, you need to confirm that the scaffolders who will work on your project are trained and competent to work on the type of scaffolding structure you choose. There are a lot of reputable scaffolding companies you can choose from and all of them have one thing in common – they are members of the National Access and Scaffolding Confederation (NASC).

Why is this important? According to a 2010 NASC scaffolding safety report, there was a 30% reduction in falls from height in 2018. This statistic saw a 19% drop when an NASC registered company was used.

The NASC president, Bob Whincap had this to say, “We want to be able to objectively show people that what the NASC is doing does make a difference” – “our safety report is a testament to the fact that NASC companies perform safer.”

Does the scaffolding company have the kind of scaffolding structure you need?

When selecting a scaffolding contractor to work with, it is important to consider the smaller details of your project. Although you might require a traditional scaffold tower, you need to ask yourself – are there other pieces of equipment I will need for my project?

Whether you need a scissors lift so you have more space to work with, or a Ginny lift to access all levels of your building, you need to ensure the scaffolding company you hire can supply what you need. By understanding your own requirements fully, you can immediately tell if a scaffolding company will be the right fit for your construction project.

Is the company experienced for the type of scaffolding erection you need?

This might seem pretty obvious, but we need to reiterate it. The more experienced a company is, the higher the chances of you getting top quality service. scaffolding companies with a lot of experience, have time to adapt and refine their services to meet the needs of their clients. They are going to be more in tune with your scaffolding needs.

Even though a scaffolding company’s website is a great way to check them out, how long they have been in business, is also a good measure. Most reputable scaffolding companies will always mention their years of experience on their homepage. If you cannot find any mention of experience, then we recommend you rethink your choice.

What do their reviews say?

In order to get a feel of how a scaffolding company interacts with their clients, you should check out their reviews. This is a surefire way to tell a business strengths and weaknesses and it would highlight potential red flags.

Do not forget to look at their portfolio, to view samples of work they’ve done. If you have special requirements for your project or your building has unique features, you can tell if the scaffolding company you intend to hire, has the relevant experience, or has worked on jobs similar to yours.