TechCalcs.com | safety

Related Items

»	Ladder Safety

»	Scaffolding

Scaffolding Safety Information

Scaffolding - Safety Tips

Supported scaffolds consist of one or more platforms supported by outrigger beams, brackets, poles, legs, uprights, posts, frames, or similar rigid support.

Guardrails or personal fall arrest systems for fall prevention/protection are required for workers on platforms 10 feet or higher.

Working platforms/decks must be planked close to the guardrails.

Planks are to be overlapped on a support at least 6 inches, but not more than 12 inches.

Legs, posts, frames, poles, and uprights must be on base plates and mud sills, or a firm foundation; and, be plumb and braced.

Scaffold user training must include:

The hazards of type of scaffold being used.
Maximum intended load and capacity.
Recognizing and reporting defects.
Fall hazards.
Electrical hazards including overhead lines.
Falling object hazards.
Other hazards that may be encountered.

Scaffolding - Fall Protection Requirements

The chart below illustrates the type of fall protection required for specific scaffolds.

*Type of Scaffold*	*Fall Protection Required*
Aerial lifts	Personal fall arrest system
Boatswains’ chair	Personal fall arrest system
Catenary scaffold	Personal fall arrest system
Crawling board (chicken ladder)	Personal fall arrest system, or a guardrail system, or by a 3/4 inch (1.9 cm) diameter grabline or equivalent handhold securely fastened beside each crawling board
Float scaffold	Personal fall arrest system
Ladder jack scaffold	Personal fall arrest system
Needle beam scaffold	Personal fall arrest system
Self-contained scaffold	Both a personal adjustable scaffold arrest system and a guardrail system
Single-point and two-point suspension scaffolds	Both a personal fall arrest system and a guardrail system
Supported scaffold	Personal fall arrest system or guardrail system
All other scaffolds not specified above	Personal fall arrest system or guardrail systems that meet the required criteria

Minimum Size of Members - Tube and coupler scaffolds

The chart below illustrates the minimum member sizes for use in tube and coupler scaffolds.

	Light Duty 25 lbs/ft²	Medium Duty 50 lbs/ft²	Heavy Duty 75 lbs/ft²
Posts, runners, and braces	Nominal 2 in. (1.90 in.) OD steel tube or pipe	Nominal 2 in. (1.90 in.) OD steel tube or pipe	Nominal 2 in. (1.90 in.) OD steel tube or pipe
Bearers	Nominal 2 in. (1.90 in.) OD steel tube or pipe and a maximum post spacing of 4 ft. x 10 ft.*	Nominal 2 in. (1.90 in.) OD steel tube or pipe and a maximum post spacing of 4 ft. x 7 ft. or Nominal 2-1/2 in. (2.375 in.) OD steel tube or pipe and a maximum post spacing of 6 ft. x 8 ft.*	Nominal 2-1/2 in. (2.375 in.) OD steel tube or pipe and a maximum post spacing of 6 ft. x 6 ft.
Maximum runner spacing vertically	6 ft. 6 in.	6 ft. 6 in.	6 ft. 6 in.

*Bearers shall be installed in the direction of the shorter dimension.

Note: Longitudinal diagonal bracing shall be installed at an angle of 45 deg. (± 5 deg.).

Guide to 29 CFR Subpart L - Scaffolds

The following is a guide to the "Safety Standards for Scaffolds Used in the Construction Industry" Standard:

Index	30 CFR Ref.
Access	1926.451(e)
Adjustable scaffolds Supported See self-contained adjustable Suspended See suspension scaffolds
Aerial lifts	1926.453
ANSI standards, aerial lifts	Appendix C
Aerial lift controls	1926.453(b)(2)
Aerial lift electrical testing	1926.453(b)(3)
Aerial lift, hydraulic lines	1926.453(b)(4)
Aerial lift, welding	1926.453(b)(5)
Banding, steel or plastic	1926.451(g)(4)(xiii)
Barricades	1926.451(h)(2)(i)
Base plates	1926.451(c)(2)
Boatswains’ chairs	1926.452(o)(3)-(7)
Braking device	1926.451(d)(16)
Bricklaying	1926.451(g)(1)(vi)
Bricklayers’ square scaffolds	1926.452(e)
Canopies	1926.451(h)(2)(v) and (3)
Capacity, scaffold	1926.451(a)(1) and (d)(1)
Capacity, rope	1926.451(a)(3)
Carpenters’ bracket scaffolds	1926.452(g)
Catenary scaffolds	1926.452(r)
Coatings	1926.451(b)(9)
Competent person
Components Erectors and dismantlers General Inspections Suspension scaffolds	1926.451(b)(10) and (b)(11) 1926.451(g)(2) and 454(b) 1926.451(f)(7) 1926.451(d)(10) and (f)(3) and (g)(4)(xiv) 1926.451(d)(3)(i) and (d)(18)
Training	1926.454(b)
Corrosives	1926.451(f)(11)
Counterweights	1926.451(d)(ii) to (iv)
Crawling boards (chicken ladders)	1926.452(m)
Crossbracing	1926.451(e)(9)(iv) and (g)(4)(xv)
Debris	1926.451(f)(13)
Decks	1926.451(b)(1)
Decorators’ scaffolds	1926.452(d)
Deflection	1926.451(f)(16)
Different components	1926.451(b)(10) and (11)
Dismantlers	1926.451(e)(9) and (g)(2) and Appendix D
Engineer	1926.451(d)(3)(i) and (f)(5) 1926.452(a)(10) and (b)(10) and (c)(5) and (c)(6)
Erectors	1926.451(e)(9) and (g)(2) and Appendix D
Extend over ends	1926.451(b)(5)
Fabricated frame scaffolds	1926.452(c)
False car (elevator)	1926.450(b) and .451(a) to (b) and (d) to (h) and .454, (Ref: FR Vol. 61, No. 170 8/30/96, p. 46028.)
Fall arrest systems	1926.451(g)(1) and (3)
Fall protection	1926.451(g)
Float (ship) scaffolds	1926.452 (safety and health programs)
Footing	1926.451(c)(2)
Form scaffolds	1926.452(g)
Front edge	1926.451(b)(3)
Grab lines	1926.451(g)(1)(iii)
Guardrails	1926.451(g)(4) and (h)(2)(iv)
Guys	1926.451(c)(1)
Horizontal, lifelines	1926.451(g)(3)(ii), (iii), (iv)
Horizontal, lifelines on one	1926.451(g)(3)(iii), or two-point scaffolds (iv)
Horse scaffolds	1926.452(f)
Interior hung scaffolds	1926.452(t) and Appendix A (2)(t)
Inspections	1926.451(d)(10) and (f)(3) and (g)(4)(xiv)
Ladders	1926.451(e)(2) and (f)(15)
Ladders, built-in	1926.451(e)(6)
Ladder jack scaffolds	1926.452(k)
Ladder trucks	1926.453(b)(1)
Large area scaffolds	1926.452(d)
Lifeline	1926.451(g)(3)(i) to (iv)
Load	1926.450(b) and .451(a)
Load carrying members	1926.451(a)(1) and Appendix A (1)(a)
Masons’ multi-point suspension scaffolds	1926.452(q)
Midrails	1926.451(g)(4)(ix) and (xiv)
Mobile scaffolds	1926.452(w) and Appendix A (2)(z)
Moving	1926.451(f)(7)
Mud sills	1926.451(c)(2)
Multi-level suspended scaffolds	1926.452(v)
Multi-point adjustable suspension scaffolds	1926.452(q)
Needle beam scaffolds	1926.452(u)
Qualified person Component construction Design Loading Single-point adjustable suspension, rigging Swaged Two point adjustable suspension, platforms Training	1926.451(a)(6) 1926.451(a)(6) 1926.451(a)(6) 1926.452(o)(2)(i) 1926.451(d)(11) 1926.452(p)(1) 1926.454(a)
Outrigger beams	1926.451(d)(3)(vi), (viii), and (4)(v)
Outrigger scaffolds	1926.452(l)
Overlap	1926.451(b)(7)
Planking	1926.451(b) and Appendix A(1)(b) and (c)
Plasters’ scaffolds	1926.452(d)
Platforms	1926.451(b) and (c)(2)(iv) and (d)(19) and (f)(14)
Platform planking	1926.451(b)(1) to (9)
Platform scaffolds	1926.452(n)
Pole scaffolds	1926.452(a)
Powerlines	1926.451(f)(6)
Pump jack scaffolds	1926.452(j) and Appendix
Ramps	1926.451(e)(5)(i) to (iii)
Repair	1926.451(f)(4)
Repair bracket scaffolds	1926.452(x)
Replacement	1926.451(f)(4)
Ropes Drum hoist Inspection Joined Repaired Suspension Thimbles Tiebacks Spliced eye Swag	1926.451(d)(6) 1926.451(d)(10) 1926.451(d)(8) 1926.451(d)(7) 1926.451(a)(3) and (4) and (f)(10) 1926.451(d)(9) 1926.451(d)(5)(iv) 1926.451(d)(11) 1926.451(d)(11)
Roof bracket scaffolds	1926.452(h)
Roof hooks, irons	1926.451(d)(5)
Roof truss	1926.452(g) and .450(b)
Self-contained adjustable	1926.450(a), FR Vol. 61, No.170, 8/30/96, p46057
Single–point adjustable suspension scaffolds	1926.451(a), (d), (f), (g)(1)(i), (ii), (iv), (g)(3), (4), (h), and .452(o)
Slip resistant finishes	1926.451(b)(9)
Stall load	1926.450(b), .451(a)(2) and (a)(4) and (a)(5)
Step ladder scaffolds	1926.452(n)
Stilts	1926.452(y)
Stonesetters’ multi-point suspension scaffolds	1926.452(q)
Supported scaffolds	1926.450(b), and .451(a),(c),(e),(f),(g), (h), and .454
Suspension scaffolds	1926.451 (a), (d), (e), (f), (g)(1)(i), (ii), (iv), (g)(3), (4), (h), and .452(o)-(q), (s), (t), (v), (x)
Tag lines	1926.451(f)(9)
Tiebacks	1926.451(d)(3)(vii), (ix), (x) and (5)(iii), (iv)
Tie-ins	1926.451(c)(1) and (d)(18)
Tipping	1926.451(c)(1)
Toeboards	1926.451(h)(1), (2)(ii),(iii) & (4)
Tower trucks	1926.453(b)(1)
Training	1926.454
Trestle ladder scaffolds	1926.452(n)
Tube and coupler scaffolds	1926.452(b)
Two-point adjustable suspension scaffolds	1926.451(a), (d), (e), (f), (g)(1)(i), (ii), (iv), (g)(3),(4), (h), and .452(p) & .454
Vertical lifelines	1926.451(g)(3)(i), (iv)
Walkways	1926.451(e)(5)(i) to (iii)
Weather	1926.451(f)(8) and (12)
Welding from suspension scaffolds	1926.451(f)(17)
Wire rope clips	1926.451(d)(12)
Window jack scaffolds	1926.452(l)

Source: OSHA, US Department of Labor. Additional data may be available at OSHA's website.