Project guidance · reviewed 2026-08-11
Scaffold Safety and Compliance Checks in Singapore
Official MOM checkpoints for contractor responsibility, trained scaffold personnel, materials and inspections in Singapore workplaces.
Short answer
Singapore scaffold work is governed by the Workplace Safety and Health (Scaffolds) Regulations 2011. MOM guidance distinguishes work that requires an Approved Scaffold Contractor from excluded scaffold types, while retaining erection, supervision, material and inspection duties.
Check whether an Approved Scaffold Contractor is required
MOM states that an ASC is required to construct, erect, install, reposition, alter, maintain, repair or dismantle workplace scaffolds, except tower scaffolds, trestle scaffolds and scaffolds below the stated uppermost-lift threshold. The exact work and scaffold type must be checked against the current rule.
Do not treat a general business registration, a BCA workhead or a website badge as proof of ASC status. Use MOM’s current approved-contractor list and retain the relevant appointment record.
Confirm people, materials and the work method
MOM’s FAQ says scaffold erection at a workplace must be performed by trained scaffold erectors under the immediate supervision of a trained scaffold supervisor. Proprietary systems may require additional manufacturer-recommended training.
For metal scaffolds, the responsible person must ensure the system has been type-tested by a recognised testing body to an acceptable standard or specification. The project should obtain the relevant reports rather than rely on a blanket marketing statement.
Plan and record inspections
MOM guidance says that, subject to specified exclusions, a scaffold must be inspected by a trained scaffold supervisor after completion and thereafter at intervals not exceeding seven days, or after weather likely to have affected it, whichever is earlier.
The site team must apply the complete regulations and record the result before use. A web page is only an orientation aid and is not a substitute for the law, a risk assessment or competent project advice.
Official sources
Sources observed 11 August 2026.
Check the source again when planning work. If the source and this summary differ, follow the current official source.