Over the past few years it has become clear that lighting columns and other high structures are deteriorating at an alarming rate, in particular, flange fittings and bridge mountings are at particular risk. This has necessitated inspection, repair and replacement schemes to be hurried into place to ensure that safety criteria are consistently met. However, not all lighting colums are of the same design and therefore require different levels of inspection. This in particular applies to high mast lighting columns, which perhaps, considering their normal construction and location pose a bigger threat to the safety of an increasingly litigious general public.