Green
Safe for use
The scaffold is complete, inspected and signed. Use it within the load class written on the tag, and do not alter it.
Who may be on it: Anyone trained to work at height, after their own check before use.
Home/Free tools/Scaffold tag colours
Scaffold tag colours
What green, yellow and red tags mean on most Gulf sites, what to check on the tag before you climb, and who may do what. Your site's procedure and the signed tag on the scaffold always rule.
3colours
7checks on the tag
EN · ARlanguages
0cost
The three tags
No tag, or an empty tag holder: treat it as red. Do not climb, and tell your supervisor.
Seven things to check on the tag before you climb
- The colourGreen, or yellow with a restriction you can follow.
- The scaffold number and locationThey match the scaffold in front of you.
- The next inspection dateIt is not in the past. A tag past its date is treated as not inspected.
- The signaturesEvery box the tag needs is signed and dated.
- The load classLight, medium or heavy duty: your people and materials stay within it.
- The restrictionOn a yellow tag: read it, and follow it every time.
- Where the tag isIn its holder at the access point you are using.
Then look at the scaffold. Guardrails and toe boards in place, a full deck with no loose or broken boards, the ladder tied with its gate closed, base plates on sole boards, no missing braces or ties. If anything looks wrong, do not climb: tell your supervisor, even if the tag is green.
Who may do what
| Tag | Use it | Change the scaffold | Change the tag |
|---|---|---|---|
| Green | Trained workers, after their own check | The scaffold crew only | The scaffold supervisor or inspector, after inspection |
| Yellow | Only as the restriction on the tag says | The scaffold crew only | The scaffold supervisor or inspector, after inspection |
| Red | Nobody but the scaffold crew | The scaffold crew, under their supervisor | The scaffold supervisor or inspector, after inspection |
Why tags differ between sites
Colours and wording differ between clients and countries. Saudi Aramco sites use green, yellow and red tags under GI 8.001 and the Construction Safety Manual; check the latest editions.
Some sites use a single holder with a "safe" insert and a "not safe" insert instead of three colours. The idea is the same: no valid tag, no use.
Your site's procedure, the client's rule and the signed tag on the scaffold always rule over this page.
Questions
What does a yellow scaffold tag mean?
The scaffold may be used, but only under the restriction written on the tag, for example with a full-body harness tied off. Read the restriction every time and follow it. A yellow tag is never a way to use an unfinished scaffold.
Can I use a scaffold with no tag?
No. No tag, or an empty tag holder, means the scaffold is not ready for use. Treat it as red and tell your supervisor.
Who can remove or change a scaffold tag?
Only the people your site's procedure names, usually the scaffold supervisor or inspector after an inspection. Never remove, swap or sign a tag yourself.
How often is a scaffold re-inspected?
Often every 7 days, and always after a change, a storm or an incident. Your client's rule sets the interval, and the tag shows the next date.
Tags in your pocket
The free field app runs the checklist for each scaffold type, gives the colour and keeps the tag register with the next due dates.