Scaffold Safety Training
Pre-planning
The first step in the scaffold erection process is effective pre-
planning. A qualified person should do adequate pre-planning to
make sure a plan has been develop to make sure the scaffold is
erected properly.
Successful pre-planning activities include the following:
•determine the type of scaffold necessary for the job
•determine the maximum load of the scaffold
•assure a good foundation
•avoid electrical hazards
Supervision
Supervise the erection of scaffolding. This should be done by a
person competent by skill, experience and training to ensure safe
installation according to the manufacturer’s specifications and other
requirements
Footing
Support scaffold footings must be level and capable of supporting the
loaded scaffold. The legs, poles, frames, and uprights must bear on
base plates and mud sills.
•Keep the scaffold level, plumb, and square.
•Don’t use bricks, blocks, barrels, or other unstable objects to level a
scaffold.
•Failure to provide suitable footing may lead to failure.
Bad Examples
Power Lines
Working around high voltage (HV) power lines can be extremely
dangerous. As work is being completed, it’s easy to forget the HV
lines are overhead. When working around electrical power lines,
make sure you know the voltage of energized power lines and
ensure everyone is aware of the location of energized power lines.
Maintain, at a minimum, these clearance distances from power lines:
• 3 feet for insulated lines less than 300 volts
• 10 feet for insulated lines more than 300 volts
Heat Sources
Identify heat sources like steam pipes or kilns. Anticipate the
presence of hazards before erecting scaffolds and keep a safe
distance from them.
Fall Protection
Be sure fall protection equipment is available
before beginning erection and use it as
needed. Employers must provide fall
protection for each employee on a scaffold
more than 10 feet (3.1 meters) above a lower
level.
A competent person must determine the
feasibility and safety of providing fall
protection for employees erecting or
dismantling supported scaffolds.
See the chart below for a summary of the
types of fall protection required for specific
scaffolds
Material Handling and Storage
• Have scaffolding material delivered as close to the erection site as
possible to minimize the need for manual handling. Arrange
components in the order of erection
• Materials must not be stored on scaffolds or runways in excess of
supplies needed for immediate operations.
• Ensure hoisting and rigging equipment is available to lift
components to the erection point and eliminate the need to climb
with components.
Condition of Materials
• Remove all slippery material from platforms and other scaffold
components.
• Working on a scaffold coated with snow, ice, or other slippery
material is prohibited.
• Examine all scaffold components prior to erection and do the
following:
• Return and tag “Do Not Use” or destroy defective
components.
• Prohibit or restrict the intermixing of manufactured scaffold
components, unless:
• the components fit together properly, without force
• the use of dissimilar metals will not reduce strength
• the design load capacities are maintained
Cross Bracing
When the crosspoint of crossbracing is used as a toprail, it must be
between 38 inches (0.97 m) and 48 inches (1.3 meters) above the
work platform
Shore or Lean to Scaffold
Shore or lean-to scaffolds are prohibited. They are not properly
designed and are a potential safety hazard for anyone who works on
them.
Storms and High Wind
Working on a scaffold is prohibited during storms or high winds,
unless a competent person has determined that it is safe to be on the
scaffold and workers are protected by personal fall-arrest systems or
wind screens
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNe6EAhd-c4&feature=youtu.be
Planking
• Plank scaffold platforms fully as possible (beginning at the work
surface face) with gaps between planks no more than 1 inch wide
(to account for plank warp and wane).
• The remaining space on bearer member (between the last plank
and guardrail) cannot exceed 9 1⁄2 inches (the space required to
install an additional plank).
• Planks must be properly connected to the supporting member.
• Platform planks overlapped to create a long platform should
overlap at least 12 inches over supports, unless the planks are
nailed together or otherwise restrained so they do not move.
• When platform units are abutted together or overlapped to make
a long platform, ensure each end rests on a separate support or
equivalent support.
Working Platform
• Platforms and walkways should generally be at least 18 inches wide. If work areas are too
narrow for 18-inch platforms or walkways, workers can use narrower platforms, but they should
be protected from fall hazards by guardrails and/or personal fall-arrest systems.
• A platform 10 feet or less in length should generally extend at least 6 inches, but no more than
12 inches, beyond its support, unless the excess length is guarded or can support workers and
material without tipping.
• A platform longer than 10 feet should generally extend no more than 18 inches beyond a support
unless the excess length is guarded or can support workers and material without tipping.
Guardrails on Building Side
Guardrail systems are generally not required on the building side when the platform is less than 14
inches from the building, except for suspended scaffolds where the maximum distance is 12 inches.
In addition, scaffold setbacks will depend upon the needs of the trade.
Mixed or Modified Components
• Scaffold components made by different manufacturers cannot be
mixed unless they fit together easily and do not change the
scaffold’s integrity. Components made by different manufacturers
cannot be modified to intermix unless a competent person
approves.
• Scaffold components made from different metals cannot be used
together unless a competent person approves. If a competent
person determines that mixing components made from different
metals could reduce their strength, the employer should take
corrective action. If a competent person can’t make the
determination, then different metals should not be used.
• Wood platforms cannot be covered with opaque finishes that might
cover defects in wood. Wood platform edges, however, may be
marked for identified chemicals. Preservatives or slip-resistant and
fire-retardant finishes are acceptable as long as the finish does not
cover structural defects or make them hard to spot.
Requirements for Access
• Employers should provide all workers with safe access to scaffolds and scaffold platforms.
Workers should use ladders or stairways to reach scaffold platforms that are more than 2 feet
above or below the access point.
• Do not use crossbraces as a means of access. Note that permanent stairways or portable
ladders should meet the requirements of Subdivision 3/X (stairways and ladders) of the
construction safety and health standards.
• When direct access is used, spacing between scaffold and another surface should be no more
than 14 inches horizontally and 2 feet vertically. Access can be provided by:
• portable ladders
• hook-on ladders
• attachable ladders
• stairway-type ladders
• integral prefabricated scaffold rungs
• direct passage from another scaffold
• structure or personnel hoist
• ramps
• runways
• similar adequate means
Ladders and Rest Platform
• Many accidents happen because employees do not access platforms safely. Crossbraces and
scaffold frames should not be used to access scaffold platforms unless they are equipped with a
built-in ladder specifically designed for that purpose.
• All ladders in use should meet OSHA specifications, designed according to standards and
secured against displacement.
• The bottom steps of ladders should not be more than 2 feet from the supporting level.
• Hook-on and attachable ladders on supported scaffolds more than 35 feet high should have rest
platforms at 35-foot intervals.
• Stairway-type ladders should have rest platforms every 12 feet.
• Integral prefabricated scaffold-access frames should have rest platforms every 35 feet.
• Additional recommendations for the erection of supported scaffolds, suspension scaffolds,
fabricated frame scaffolds, outrigger scaffolds, etc., are also described in this course.
