Certified Scaffolder at Lafarge Cement

About the role

• The Certified Scaffolder is responsible for the safe erection, alteration, inspection, and dismantling of scaffolding structures across the cement plant facility. This role ensures that all scaffolding activities comply with relevant standards (including CISRS, BS EN 12811, and Nigerian Factory Act requirements), providing safe working platforms for maintenance, construction, and shutdown activities.
• The Certified Scaffolder plays a critical role in protecting workers at height and maintaining structural integrity of temporary access systems.

Responsibilities

• Erect, modify, and dismantle tube-and-coupler, system, and modular scaffolding structures in line with approved scaffold design drawings and safe systems of work.
• Ensure all scaffolding is constructed to the correct load-bearing specification for the task — light duty, general purpose, or heavy duty.
• Install all necessary safety features including guardrails, toe boards, working platforms, ladders, and debris netting.
• Dismantle scaffolding safely after completion of work, ensuring all components are accounted for, inspected, and stored correctly.
• Conduct formal inspections of all erected scaffolding at regular intervals (before first use, every 7 days, and after any event that may affect stability such as high wind, impact, or modification).
• Apply and maintain scaffold tagging systems (Green/Amber/Red) to communicate scaffold status clearly to all plant personnel.
• Complete scaffold inspection registers and handover documentation accurately and on time.
• Identify and immediately escalate any structural defects, unauthorized modifications, or unsafe conditions.
• Work in strict compliance with Working at Height regulations, permit-to-work systems, and plant HSE requirements at all times.
• Conduct risk assessments and method statements (RAMS) for all scaffolding activities prior to commencement.
• Ensure all personnel working on or around scaffolding use appropriate PPE — harnesses, hard hats, safety boots, and gloves.
• Participate in safety briefings, toolbox talks, and incident investigations as required.
• Report near-misses, unsafe acts, and incidents promptly through the plant safety reporting system.
• Inspect all scaffolding components (tubes, couplers, boards, base plates) prior to use and reject any items that are damaged, corroded, or non-compliant.
• Maintain an accurate inventory of scaffolding materials, ensuring adequate stock levels for planned and shutdown activities.
• Ensure scaffolding equipment is stored correctly, protected from damage, and regularly audited.
• Liaise with Maintenance, HSE, and Production teams to plan and schedule scaffolding activities around plant operations and shutdown programmes.
• Brief scaffold users on safe access, load restrictions, and prohibited modifications before handover.
• Provide progress updates to supervisors and raise any issues that could affect scaffold availability or safety.

Education

• OND / Trade Test or equivalent technical qualification in a relevant Engineering discipline

Experience:

• 4–5 years' post-qualification experience in scaffolding within heavy industry (cement, oil & gas, petrochemical, or construction).
• Demonstrated experience erecting complex scaffolding structures in industrial plant environments, including confined spaces and at significant heights.

Required skills:

• In-depth knowledge of scaffolding types: tube-and-coupler, system scaffolding (Ringlock, Kwikstage), and modular systems.
• Understanding of load calculations, safe working loads, and structural stability principles for scaffolding.
• Knowledge of relevant scaffolding standards: CISRS, BS EN 12811, and Nigerian HSE/Factory Act requirements.
• Familiarity with Working at Height regulations, rescue procedures, and emergency protocols.Knowledge of scaffold tagging and inspection regimes.
• Awareness of plant-specific hazards — dust, extreme heat, confined spaces, and heavy machinery — in a cement manufacturing environment.