Training and Certification for Scaffolding Professionals in the UAE
Construction sites have inherent risks for laborers working at height. When we talk about the construction industry of the UAE, we see that it features mind-blowing infrastructure and rapid urban development projects, including high-rise buildings, offshore rigs, and mega-scale development. The complete skyline of Dubai is upscale and requires only qualified and certified scaffolding professionals for work.
Training and certifications are mandatory all over the scaffolding industry because they maintain the structural integrity of scaffolds while ensuring compliance with safety standards and workplace safety. Today, I am going to unlock the complete details of training and certifications for Scaxa scaffolding in the UAE.
Let’s get started and explore every aspect:
Why is Scaffolding Training Important in High-Risk Work Environments?
Scaffolding professionals must install, change, inspect, and dismantle temporary structures at construction sites. Proper training is required to perform this task, which needs to be done at height and handle complex load-bearing systems. Without proper training and knowledge, risks of fatal falls, structural collapse, and equipment failure increase. Accidents and falls at the workplace also lead to legal liabilities, reputational damage, and project delays. Safety regulation requires a competent person to install, update, inspect, and dismantle a scaffold. Now, if you don’t hire a well-trained person to do this job, you will not comply with safety guidelines. Non-compliance always leads to a complete shutdown of the site, as well as severe penalties and fines. Training of scaffolding professionals is a regulatory requirement, and it is your duty as a developer or contractor to hire only well-trained and certified professionals for the erection, inspection, and dismantling of scaffolds in high-risk environments.
Regulatory Authorities Behind Scaffolding Training in the UAE
When it comes to maintaining health and safety at the occupational level, the UAE government is pretty strict. They have regulatory authorities that make construction firms accountable and fight for the rights of workers at the workplace.
Key regulatory authorities include:
1. Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE)
MOHRE oversees labor standards, sets specific safety policies, and maintains employer compliance in the construction industry. If your company is using scaffolding, you need to ensure that your workers handling the scaffold have proper training and that only certified or licensed professionals manage the inspection, installation, and dismantling of these temporary structures.
2. Abu Dhabi Occupational Safety and Health Center (OSHAD)
OSHAD (now under Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre) makes it the majority for construction sites to arrange proper safety training for workers in high-risk sectors. According to OSHAD-SF (System Framework), professional handling of scaffolding must meet competence standards. In other words, they must have complete training and certification to complete tasks with utmost expertise.
3. Dubai Municipality and Trakhees-EHS
In Dubai and free zones, local authorities such as Dubai Municipality and Trakhees make it pretty clear for firms and companies to hire only certified personnel for the scaffold installation, dismantling, and inspection process.
4. International Accreditation
All over the UAE, the construction industry accepts professionals with international accreditation, such as CITB (Construction Industry Training Board), IPAF, PASMA, and OSHA standards.
3. Types of Scaffolding Training Programs
There are various scaffolding roles, and each requires a specific level of training:
3.1 Beginner-level Scaffolder Training
It is a basic or entry-level training program that is designed to train workers for scaffolding erection and dismantling under supervision. They get information and ideas about the scaffolding system and how to use PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) usage. The purpose of training is to ensure that workers know how to identify and handle hazards in the workplace. They must be fully aware of maintaining a safe working load. Training about fall protection and edge safety is also provided at a basic level.
3.2 Advanced Scaffolder
This kind of training program is designed for experienced workers who lead scaffolding erection and supervise the whole scaffold system. This advanced training covers load calculation and a complete understanding of temporary structure behaviour. Professionals get training in advanced scaffolding systems such as suspended and cantilever scaffolds. They know how to manage everyone in an emergency and perform risk assessments. They get advanced training in ties, anchors and stability aspects of the scaffold.
3.3 Scaffolding Inspector Certification
Scaffold inspectors perform scaffolding inspections. They need to ensure that structures are safe to use before, during, and after a shift. This training program for inspectors includes an inspection checklist and reporting. It explains all the methods that inspectors can use to identify damage, defects, and issues in scaffolds and identify non-compliance factors. They need to get a complete understanding of regulatory codes and do practical exercises daily, weekly, and after weather event inspections.
Who provides Training and Certification for Scaffolding Professionals in the UAE?
When you look for training courses for scaffolding inspection and erection, you will come across many institutes. Many of them are local, while others are internationally recognized. When you have a limited budget, local institutes work well, but international accreditation will offer you an edge in a job interview. Well-recognized training and certification bodies in the UAE are Scaffolding Training Institute STI, Simian International, MARS Training Institute, NADIA Training Institute, Bureau Veritas Middle East, Falck Safety Services UAE, etc.
What are popular Certifications Offered for Scaffolding professionals in the UAE?
Popular certifications offered for scaffolding professionals are as follows:
- Scaffold Erection Level 1, 2, 3 (approved by Dubai Municipality/Trakhees)
- CISRS (Construction Industry Scaffolders Record Scheme – UK Standard)
- OSHA 10/30-Hour for Construction
- IPAF for mobile elevated work platforms (MEWPs)
- NEBOSH certifications for health and safety professionals
The following steps will help you complete your training and get certification as a scaffolding professional in the UAE.
You enrol yourself in well-recognized training courses based on your experience level.
You will attend lectures explaining the theory and then take practical sessions. Normally, the duration of the course is 3 to 10 days. However, advanced-level training may take more time.
Once the study is done, you will take an assessment test that will include written and hands-on evaluation of your understanding.
Once you pass this assessment test, you will acquire your license and get a certification card that is usually valid for 3 to 5 years.
When you are applying for a job, it’s important to have a valid license or certification. It’s always a good idea to upgrade skills by taking new courses.
