Scaffold
Improving Training, Working Conditions,
and Transformation
in the European Scaffolding Sector
Recommendations
Clients:
EFBWW, European Federation of Building and Woodworkers
Brussels 2024
Published in Bulgarian, Danish, German, English, Spanish, French, Italian, Latvian, Dutch, Polish, Romanian
Design, layout
The SCAFFOLD project (Grant Agreement number 101051741) is co-funded by the European Union and is granted under the Social Prerogative and Specific Competencies Lines (SOCPL) funding.
The project aims to better understand developments and changes in the scaffolding sector and relevant framework conditions, with a focus on working conditions, vocational education and training, occupational safety and health, technological developments, and the status of social dialogue in the sector.
To this end, the project has included the elaboration of six country reports and an overall research report, based on the country reports. Against the lessons learnt from the research work, Policy Recommendations have been drafted, discussed in dedicated workshops, and revised. They are aimed at providing the basis for action of the EFBWW and its national member federations.
Scaffold
Improving Training, Working Conditions,
and Transformation in the European
Scaffolding Sector
Report
Clients:
EFBWW, European Federation of Building and Woodworkers
Brussels 2024
Design, layout
From a dangerous job, scaffolding has been transformed in the post-war era to become a recognised occupation in most European countries, with substantial training requirements, especially focussed on occupational safety and health.
This book, the result of SCAFFOLD, a research project coordinated by the European Federation of Building and Woodworkers and funded by the European Commission, traces this development and details employment and working conditions and vocational education and training programmes for scaffolding in six countries: Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands and Poland. It shows how scaffolding has become an often highly complex labour process and sector, impacted by technological innovations, including hoists, lifts, and more recently digitalisation, with robotisation under consideration. Different scaffolding systems are predominantly used across Europe, though tube and fittings, ‘the mother of all scaffolding’, continues to be deployed, particularly in UK.
The aims of the project have been to contribute to the improvement of scaffolding and the quality of vocational education and training programmes for scaffolders; highlight possible changes in work organisation related to technology implementation; consider how equality can be better achieved, particularly the inclusion of women; and prepare policy recommendations for improved social dialogue.
The findings and recommendations are presented here, alongside illustrations and descriptions of visits and meetings, and accounts from a range of stakeholders, including scaffolders (male and female), unions, training organisations, employers, and experts. We gain a comprehensive picture of this important sector, so essential to the safety of all construction workers.