Inner City Scaffolding, accredited member of the Scaffolding Association
It’s no secret that a crucial part of locating the right scaffolding contractor is looking at the accreditations they hold. Each individual accreditation has specific credentials the scaffolding contractor needs to meet in order to gain said accreditation. Inner City Scaffolding are committed to providing innovation within the industry, thus continuing to expand our growing list of accreditations. This article in particular looks at the Scaffolding Association.
What is a Scaffolding Association?
In general terms, a scaffolding association is an organisation dedicated to promoting and advancing the scaffolding industry in a positive manner. It can serve as a platform for industry professionals to come together, share knowledge, and work towards common goals. Most, if not all, associations have a set of standards and guidelines that members are expected to follow, ensuring the highest level of professionalism and safety is maintained within the industry.
Who is the Scaffolding Association?
The Scaffolding Association is the UK’s largest trade body for the scaffolding and access sector, representing over 570 businesses. It was started in 2011 by Robert Candy with the intent of creating an open and inclusive organisation, providing unbiased support to businesses. You can read their mission statement here:
https://scaffolding-association.org/mission-statement/
What do the memberships mean?
There are different types of memberships available with the Scaffolding Association. Memberships demonstrate that a company operates to an industry-recognised standard and has the resources to undertake contracts safely. Here are the different types of memberships:
Associate Membership
This membership is for those operating within the scaffolding and access industry who would benefit from specialist information and support. There is no assessment process for this membership, but have the following requirements:
- A completed membership form
- Signed commitment to the Scaffolding Association Code of Conduct
Assessed Membership
This membership is recognising companies that hold a current SSIP (Safety Schemes in Procurement) certificate. There are more requirements for this level of membership such as:
- A completed membership form
- Two trade references
- Current SSIP Scheme certificate
- Signed commitment to the Scaffolding Association Code of Conduct
- Certificate of Incorporation (where applicable)
Audited Membership
This membership is an annual two-stage scaffolding-specific audit- desktop and onsite- in line with PAS91. The desktop audit involves a remote review of documentation including policies and procedures, training records and incident reporting system against a Scaffolding Specific Procurement Standard to establish compliance. The onsite audit involves verification of the documentation implementation onsite against the Scaffolding Specific Procurement Standard.
Conclusion
Memberships and accreditations in the scaffolding industry are essential to showcase the contractor’s commitment to safety and improving industry standards. By being a member of the Scaffolding Association, Inner City Scaffolding are committed to its mission statement of striving to continuously improve competence and minimise risk across the industry in various ways.
