Crackdown on cowboy scaffolders

Scaffolding bosses are vowing to take legal action against cowboy contractors who try to pass themselves off as members of the industry's trade body.

Leaders of the National Access and Scaffolding Confederation will now take a "zero tolerance" approach with firms caught posing as member companies.

Confederation managing director Robin James said: "The high standards of our members are the reassurance main contractors are looking for. We will deal swiftly and directly with any company that threatens our brand. The only place you can check and be sure that the company is a genuine member of the NASC is on our website and in our Yearbook.

“This is not a threat – it’s a promise. If any scaffolding contractor is discovered to be ‘passing off’ as a member of our confederation we will take legal action. Further more any scaffolding contractor who has applied for NASC membership but has not yet been audited and approved but is found to be promoting their company as being part of the NASC will have their membership application thrown out."