Scaffold Safety

All employees that would need to utilize scaffolding must be trained by a qualified person to recognize the hazards associated with the type of scaffold being used and how to control or minimize those hazards. And only a competent person is responsible for overseeing the erection and dismantling of all Scaffolding as well as performing daily inspections of the scaffold The training must include: fall hazards, falling object hazards, electrical hazards, proper use of the scaffold, and handling of materials.
Scaffold inspection includes:

  • Placement of scaffold relative to energized power lines.
  • Verification that the correct scaffold is being used considering loads, materials, workers, and weather.
  • Scaffold is structurally secure (framing, plank integrity, plank placement, guardrails, etc.)
  • Scaffold has safe access.
  • Scaffold placement from structure.

Additional requirements include:

  • Provision of falling object protection.
  • Hard hats.
  • Use braces, tie-ins and guying as described by the scaffold’s manufacturer at each end.

If you regularly utilize scaffolding or plan to use scaffolding as a part of your job, please visit the following links for detailed requirements:
https://www.oshatrain.org/courses/pdf/QCsupported_scaffold_tips2.pdf

https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/scaffolding/index.html

A scaffold is an elevated, temporary work platform. There are two basic types:
Supported scaffolds consist of one or more platforms supported by rigid, load- bearing members, such as poles, legs, frames, outriggers, etc. Other types of equipment, principally scissor lifts and aerial lifts, can be regarded as other types of supported scaffolds.
Suspended scaffolds are one or more platforms suspended by ropes or other non-rigid, overhead support.

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