Workshop · WPHSE 2027
Work-at-Height & Scaffolding Excellence: Accident Investigation showing scaffold incidents, injuries and collapses, and how to prevent them
Work-at-height incidents and complex scaffolding failures remain among the leading causes of critical injuries and fatalities across heavy industry, construction, and maritime sectors.
- FormatPractical Workshop (Interactive case studies, risk assessments, and accident investigations)
- TrackOperational Safety, High-Risk Environments, and Technical Compliance
- PresenterIan Fyall, CMIOSH, FIIRSM, CMAPS
- LanguageEnglish
- DateDuring the conference, March 28–31, 2027
About the Workshop
Work-at-height incidents and complex scaffolding failures remain among the leading causes of critical injuries and fatalities across heavy industry, construction, and maritime sectors. Standard compliance checklists and generic safety audits are often insufficient to control dynamic operational risks on-site.
This practical workshop bridges technical engineering standards with frontline operational leadership. Designed for safety directors, project managers, and technical supervisors, the session moves beyond passive compliance to explore rigorous planning, verification, and competent supervision. Participants will examine real-world failure modes, evaluate international scaffolding and access frameworks (such as CISRS, IST and global system scaffolds), and learn how to implement robust assurance workflows that eliminate hazards before work commences.
Every participant will leave with practical tools for auditing high-risk access work and an actionable framework for upgrading work-at-height safety governance within their organization.
Workshop Objectives
- Identify Critical VulnerabilitiesRecognize common root causes of work-at-height and scaffolding failures in complex industrial environments.
- Bridge Standards & ExecutionHarmonize international scaffolding schemes (Tube & Fitting, CupLock, Ringlock, Layher) with local regulatory requirements.
- Implement Robust Inspection ProtocolsMove from reactive fault-finding to systematic pre-use inspection and independent verification.
- Strengthen Competence & SupervisionDefine clear competency standards for scaffolding designers, erectors, inspectors, and users (CMAPS principles).
- Manage Interface RisksAddress multi-contractor coordination, dropped object prevention, and dynamic weather/environmental challenges on-site.
- Deploy Practical ToolsUtilize a structured work-at-height risk assessment and assurance checklist template.
Target Audience
Workshop Contents
HSE Directors and Managers, Project Directors, Construction Managers, Technical Engineers, Scaffolding/Rigging Supervisors, Safety Committee Members, and regulatory compliance professionals responsible for high-risk operations.
- The High-Risk Reality: Analysing major incidents, human factors, and systemic failures in work-at-height operations
- Regulatory Landscape & Accreditation Frameworks: Comparing global scaffolding standards (CISRS OSTS, ECITB, SAIA) and their application in the Middle East
- Engineering Control vs. Administrative Reliance: Designing out risks through proper planning, proprietary system scaffolding (Ringlock/Layher), and temporary works coordination
- The Anatomy of a Scaffold: Load paths, foundations, ties, bracing, and understanding structural integrity
- Competence & Governance: Defining who is "competent" to erect, alter, inspect, and sign off access structures
- Inspection, Handover & Tagging Systems: Best practices for formal statutory inspections and daily user checks
- Dropped Object Prevention & Working Platform Safety: Managing risks during concurrent operations (SIMOPS)
- Auditing & Assurance: Practical site walkthrough simulations, spotting non-compliances, and closing corrective action loops
- Interactive Case Study: Reviewing a complex industrial scaffolding failure and rebuilding the operational assurance model
- Action Planning: Developing a 90-day workplace improvement strategy for height safety
What You Will Gain
Benefits for Learners
- Deepen technical understanding of work-at-height and scaffolding compliance
- Master practical inspection and defect-identification techniques
- Learn how to challenge poor sub-contractor practices with engineering authority
- Gain templates for risk assessment and handover procedures
- Network with regional and international HSE leaders facing similar operational hurdles
Benefits for Employers
- Reduced exposure to catastrophic incidents and costly project downtime
- Enhanced technical competence among site supervisors and safety personnel
- Improved alignment between corporate HSE policy and frontline execution
- Clearer accountability and verification frameworks for high-risk contractors
- Measurable steps toward a proactive, zero-harm safety culture
About the Presenter
Ian Fyall, CMIOSH, FIIRSM, CMAPS
Managing Director
SIMIAN International Group
Ian Fyall is a globally recognized authority in work-at-height safety, scaffolding training, and operational risk management. Holding chartered status with the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (CMIOSH), fellowship with the International Institute of Risk and Safety Management (FIIRSM), and Certified Member status on the Register of Safety and Health Project Designers (CMAPS), Ian has extensive experience leading safety training and institutional auditing across the Middle East, Europe, and international markets. He specializes in setting up world-class vocational training facilities, standardizing scaffolding accreditation frameworks, and helping heavy industries eliminate operational exposure at height.
Interested in attending?
Contact the conference team for the workshop date and how to register.