In Painting and Decorating, Mobile Tower Scaffolds are a common way to work at height - and a common source of falls when they are misused. This guide explains how Painting and Decorating teams in Ireland use Mobile Tower Scaffolds safely, and why a Working at Heights Course ties it all together.
Mobile Tower Scaffolds in Painting and Decorating: where the risk lies
A decorator coating a high stairwell, where a tower is the safe choice but a ladder is the tempting shortcut. Mobile Tower Scaffolds are suited to medium-duration work at height where a stable, guarded platform is needed and ground conditions allow, but in a Painting and Decorating setting the margin for error is small.
Pre-use checks for Mobile Tower Scaffolds
Before any Painting and Decorating worker uses Mobile Tower Scaffolds, confirm that:
- Guardrails and toe boards are in place
- Platform boards and trapdoors are complete and secure
- Stabilisers and outriggers are fitted as specified
- Castors are locked and the ground is firm and level
The relevant standard here is EN 1004 (mobile access towers), built and inspected by a PASMA-trained competent person.
Common Mobile Tower Scaffolds faults to never ignore
- Climbing the outside instead of the internal ladder
- Unlocked castors
- Incomplete guardrails
- Overloaded platforms
Painting is classic short-duration, high-frequency height work where overreaching from ladders causes most incidents.
The Working at Heights Course makes compliance simple
The practical fix is straightforward. Our Working at Heights Course is delivered fully online, takes about 45 minutes, and issues a downloadable certificate the same day. It is CPD certified, RoSPA approved and QQI aligned, and it is written specifically for Painting and Decorating teams using Mobile Tower Scaffolds.
The Working at Heights Training covers the avoid-prevent-minimise hierarchy, ladder and stepladder safety, MEWPs and scaffolds, harnesses and anchor points, and how to carry out a proper risk assessment. Every learner finishes with a recognised Working at Heights Certificate that stands up to HSA inspection and supports your insurance position.
Training that goes beyond the tick-box
Competence is not the same as experience. A worker who has used ladders for twenty years can still carry twenty years of bad habits. Refresher training matters for Mobile Tower Scaffolds in Painting and Decorating precisely because confidence drifts away from the rules over time, and a quick refresher resets it.
The rescue plan is the part most teams forget. If a worker doing Mobile Tower Scaffolds in Painting and Decorating falls and is left hanging in a harness, suspension trauma can become life-threatening within minutes. Calling the emergency services is not a rescue plan; having the equipment, the trained people and the method to recover them quickly is. Our Working at Heights Training makes that planning routine.
Frequently asked questions
Do Painting and Decorating workers need training to use Mobile Tower Scaffolds?
Yes. Safe use of Mobile Tower Scaffolds is part of working at height. A Working at Heights Course covers selection, inspection and safe use for Painting and Decorating tasks.
How often should Mobile Tower Scaffolds be inspected?
Before every use by the operator, plus formal recorded inspections to the relevant standard. Keep the logs for HSA inspection.
Is online training enough for Painting and Decorating height work?
Our online Working at Heights Training covers the legal and safe-system knowledge; equipment-specific practical tickets (such as IPAF or PASMA) are added where the task requires them.
Get certified today
Do not wait for an HSA inspection or a near miss to act. Painting and Decorating teams can complete the Working at Heights Course online in 45 minutes and download a certificate the same day. For 10 or more learners, see our team training rates, or contact our team for a tailored quote.
Start the online Working at Heights Training now and put a recognised certificate in every worker's file before the next job at height begins.
