Scaffold Risk Assessment And Method Statement Template for South Africa
Generate a bespoke document
What is a Scaffold Risk Assessment And Method Statement?
The Scaffold Risk Assessment And Method Statement (RAMS) is a mandatory document required under South African health and safety legislation for any work involving scaffolding operations. It must be prepared before commencing any scaffold work and updated as conditions change. The document ensures compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act No. 85 of 1993 and Construction Regulations 2014, incorporating both risk assessment and detailed work procedures. It includes comprehensive hazard identification, risk evaluation, control measures, step-by-step work methods, emergency procedures, and specific requirements for scaffold inspection and maintenance. This document is essential for protecting worker safety and demonstrating due diligence in managing scaffold-related risks in the South African construction and industrial sectors.
About the Scaffold Risk Assessment And Method Statement
You need a comprehensive Scaffold Risk Assessment And Method Statement (RAMS) to legally operate scaffolding in South Africa. This mandatory document combines risk assessment with detailed work procedures, ensuring you meet your legal obligations while protecting workers from scaffold-related hazards. Under South African law, you must prepare this document before any scaffolding work begins and update it when conditions change.
When do you need this document?
You must prepare a Scaffold Risk Assessment And Method Statement whenever your project involves scaffold erection, use, alteration, or dismantling. This includes temporary scaffolding for building construction, maintenance work on existing structures, industrial plant access, bridge construction, and renovation projects. The document is required regardless of scaffold height or complexity, from simple mobile towers to complex multi-level systems. You also need this when subcontractors perform scaffolding work on your site, as the principal contractor remains liable for ensuring proper documentation.
Key legal considerations
Your RAMS must identify all potential hazards including falls from height, structural collapse, electrical contact, material handling risks, and weather-related dangers. You need to evaluate each risk's likelihood and severity, then implement appropriate control measures following the hierarchy of controls. The document must specify competency requirements for scaffold workers, including certification under SANS 10085:2004 standards. You're required to include emergency procedures, communication protocols, and detailed inspection schedules. Personal protective equipment specifications, safe work procedures, and environmental considerations must be clearly documented. The RAMS must be signed by competent persons and made available to all workers and regulatory authorities upon request.
Legal requirements in South Africa
Under the Occupational Health and Safety Act No. 85 of 1993, you must ensure workplace safety through proper risk assessment and method statements. The Construction Regulations 2014 specifically mandate scaffold RAMS preparation by competent persons with appropriate training and experience. Your scaffold inspector must hold valid certification and conduct inspections according to prescribed frequencies. You must comply with SANS 10085:2004 standards for scaffold design, erection, and inspection. The General Safety Regulations require specific procedures for working at heights and using personal protective equipment. You're legally obligated to provide adequate training, supervision, and information to all workers. The Department of Labour has enforcement powers and can prosecute for non-compliance, making proper documentation essential for legal protection and worker safety.
GOVERNING LAW
Applicable law
This Scaffold Risk Assessment And Method Statement is drafted to comply with South Africa law. Key legislation includes:
Construction Regulations 2014: Specific regulations under the OHS Act dealing with construction work, including detailed requirements for scaffold safety, risk assessments, and method statements.
General Safety Regulations (GSR): Regulations covering general safety requirements including working at heights and the use of personal protective equipment.
SANS 10085:2004: South African National Standard for the design, erection, use and inspection of access scaffolding.
Driven Machinery Regulations: Regulations covering equipment used in scaffold assembly and associated lifting operations.
General Administrative Regulations: Regulations covering incident reporting, record keeping, and general administrative requirements for safety documentation.
Environmental Regulations for Workplaces: Regulations governing environmental conditions affecting scaffold work, including weather considerations and workplace conditions.
Explore 208,390+ legal templates
Explore 208,390+ legal templates
Genie's Security Promise
Genie is the safest place to draft. Here's how we prioritise your privacy and security.
Your data is private:
We do not train on your data; Genie's AI improves independently
All data stored on Genie is private to your organisation
Your documents are protected:
Your documents are protected by ultra-secure 256-bit encryption
We are ISO27001 certified, so your data is secure
Organizational security:
You retain IP ownership of your documents and their information
You have full control over your data and who gets to see it