To determine the competency of persons who install Temporary Stair Towers, the installation company must ensure that the Operatives hold the necessary skills, knowledge, experience and training certification to undertake the task.

Temporary Stair Towers are typically installed to provide a safe means of access onto a floor or roof structure. The system comprises of a proprietary system tied in to the structure using tube and fitting components to tie them in to the structure. The HSE have clarified that the Work at Height Regulations make it clear “that a scaffold has a set meaning and that just because edge protection uses tube and fitting scaffold components does not make that a scaffold”. On this basis, just because stair towers use tube and fitting scaffold components does not make them a scaffold either.

Whilst the strength and frequency of ties are defined within the MIMs, the detail of how this is achieved needs to be evidenced by a Temporary Works Design.