Professional Documents
Culture Documents
1.0 PURPOSE
2.0 DEFINITIONS
2.2 Post (12.3a) is the vertical tube which acts as a column to transmit the total
weight of the scaffold structure and its load down to its base. (Other names
include standard, vertical, leg).
2.3 Base Plate (12.2) is a steel pad attached to the bottom of the post in order to
distribute the load. The post is centered on the base plate. Adjustable screw
jacks are often attached to base plates.
2.4 Runner (12.3a) is a horizontal tube which runs parallel to the length of the
scaffold, the longitudinal direction. (Other names include ledger, ribbon).
2.5 Bearer (12.3a) is a horizontal tube which runs perpendicular to the length of
the scaffold, (the width or transverse direction). (Other names include
transom).
2.6 Right Angle Coupler (12.2) is the rigid load bearing fitting used to attach
tubes at a 90 degree angle to each other, such as horizontal tubes to vertical
tubes. (Other names include 90 degree coupler, double coupler, right angle
clamp).
2.7 Swivel Coupler (12.2) is the non load bearing fitting used for attachment of
two tubes to each other at other than a right angle, such as a diagonal tube
to a vertical tube.
2.9 Longitudinal Diagonal Brace (12.3a) is the diagonal bracing which runs
parallel to the length of the scaffold. (Other common names include face,
façade. Or sway bracing).
2.10 Lift (12.3a) means a unit of height of a completed scaffold. For example,
one lift high means one level high, two lifts high means two levels high, etc.
A scaffold lift or level is most commonly six feet six inches (two meters) in
height.
2.11 Bay (12.4a) means a horizontal unit of scaffold, the distance between two
sets of posts. (Other common names include Section).
2.14 Sleeve Coupler (12.2) is an external fitting used for joining scaffold tubes
end to end.
2.15 Spigot (12.2) is an internal fitting used to join scaffold tubes end to end.
2.18 Toe board (12.3a) is a protective barrier board placed around the edge of
the platform as part of a falling object protection system. Toeboards must be
a minimum of 3 ½ inches in height.
2.19 Red Scaff-Tag (12.6) “DO NOT USE SCAFFOLD” is hung from all ladders
and access ways to a scaffold by the “competent person” (Scaffold Erector),
indicating that the scaffold is incomplete, being erected, dismantled, or
modified, and not to be used.
2.20 Green Scaff-Tag (12.6) is hung from all ladders and access ways to a
scaffold by the “competent person” (Scaffold Erector) indicating that the
scaffold erection has been completed, inspected, and meets satisfactory
safety standards, and the scaffold is ready to be used. Scaffolds shall be
inspected a minimum of once every seven days. All Tags automatically
expire to Red at the completion of seven days, and remain “Red Tagged”
until the scaffold is re-inspected regardless of whether the scaffold was used
or not.
in the facility or area are safe for the scaffolding work to begin. Personnel
who can be the PIC are the Platform Operator, Municipal Projects
Supervisor, etc.
2.22 Person Performing the Work (PPW) is the Contractor Supervisor who
directly supervises the scaffolding work on the job site. He is a “certified
scaffold erector”, experienced with or trained in scaffold erection,
dismantling, use, and knowledgeable about the hazards of scaffolding. He is
authorized and capable of taking prompt corrective measures.
The size of the team is determined by each individual job. However, each
team must have a Certified Scaffold Erector.
• Inspection
The Certified Scaffold Fixer shall support the Certified Scaffold Erector in all
scaffold applications, and, under the supervision of the Scaffold Erector, be
able to carryout basic scaffolding handling, erection and dismantling
procedures, such as:
The Scaffolder’s Hand shall act as a support for the Trained and Trainee
Scaffolders.
2.27 PFAS means personal fall arrest system consisting of a full body harness, a
sound anchorage point, and a connecting system between the anchorage
point and harness such as a shock absorbing lanyard, self retracting lifeline,
or some combination of vertical lifeline, horizontal lifeline or other pre-
manufactured combination.
2.29 Live Load means the weight that will be placed on the scaffold not including
the scaffold components. Examples include of live load include workers,
tools, materials, wind, hoists, etc. Live load capacity for scaffold platforms is
usually expressed in terms of 25 pounds per square foot (approx 120
kg/m^2, 1200 N/m^2) or 50 PSF.
2.30 Special Scaffold A scaffold that meets any of the following conditions and
for which a structural engineering review of the scaffold plan is required:
higher than 50 feet (15 meters), or cantilevered by more than 6.5 feet (2
meters), or over 30 sq. meters (320 sq. ft.) total platform area and supported
by or hung from an existing structure or building (e.g., roof, pipe rack,
offshore platform), or supporting loads greater than 240 kg/sq.m. (50 PSF),
including piping, equipment, masonry, new or existing structures, or loads
other than workers and their materials, or supported by or hung from one or
more outrigger beams, or supported by or hung from wind girders or roofs of
floating roof tanks.
2.31 Node point (12.7) means the intersection of vertical, horizontal, and
diagonal tubes.
3.1 Use
3.1.1 If elevated work can not be carried out safely from portable ladders, a
mechanical lift or work basket, a building or other permanent
structure, or if there is no permanent access to the workplace, or if the
job is such that it is safer to do it from scaffolding, then approved
scaffolding must be provided, erected and secured such that this work
can be performed from an elevated level.
3.2.2 A pre-work safety meeting must be held with all workers such that
they are completely briefed on the scaffolding job and its safety
requirements.
3.2.3 The scaffold users should communicate to the Scaffold Erector the
purpose for which the scaffold is to be used. Normal capacity is 25
PSF or less. If the capacity exceeds this threshold it must be
communicated to the Scaffold Erector in the planning stage as
indicated on the Scaff Tag.
3.3 Responsibilities
3.4.1 No persons other than those involved in the scaffold erection, shall be
allowed on scaffolding during its erection or dismantling.
3.4.8 No scaffold work over the side of offshore locations is to be carried out
during the hours of darkness.
4.0 LOCATION
4.1 Scaffolding shall be erected as near as possible to the structure, piping, plant
process equipment or building involved. Scaffold should be erected to safely
suit the purpose of the work and meet SOP45 requirements.
4.2 Care should be taken to not obstruct access to operating equipment, valves,
or controls when erecting scaffolds.
4.3 Care must be taken when positioning wooden planking, so that it will not be
too close to hot surfaces where ignition of the boards could result. Metal
planks shall be used in these areas.
5.0 ERECTION
5.1 General
5.1.3 Personnel working 6 feet (1.8 meters) or more above grade shall be
protected by either a guardrail system or a personal fall arrest system
if guardrails are not in place. If the facility supervisor suspects that fall
hazards present an unusual level of risk, both a guardrail system and
a personal fall arrest system may be required. An example of this
would be work from an underhung scaffold.
5.2.2 Materials, other than those designed and manufactured for the
purpose of scaffolding, shall not be permitted for use. All tubing and
couplers shall meet the requirements of BS1139, EN74, or US MIL-S-
29108A. Alloy and steel tubes should never be mixed unless
specifically designed to be assembled in that manner.
5.3.1 If the height of scaffolding exceeds three (3) times its minimum base
dimension, it shall be secured per the requirements in Section 5.10
5.4.1 The footing or anchorage for scaffolds shall be sound, rigid, and
capable of carrying the maximum anticipated load without settling or
displacement. Unstable objects such as boxes, loose bricks, concrete
blocks, or scrap lumber shall not be used to support or level scaffolds.
5.5.1 All posts must be plumb and rigidly braced by horizontal and diagonal
bracing. Maximum spacing between posts in the transverse direction
(width) is 8 feet (2.4 meters) and in length 10 feet (3 meters). Note:
the span on the bearer is limited to 4 feet (1.2 meters) by section 5.6.
5.6.1 Bearers (Transoms) shall be long enough to fully seat into their
support couplers.
5.6.2 Bearer spans shall not be longer than 4 feet (1.2 meters) without
additional midspan support. Support can be accomplished be
attachment of a diagonal brace from the midspan of the bearer down
to the nearest node point.
5.6.3 Metal or wooden planking may be used for the elevated work area.
However, both ends of the planking must be tied down or clamped to
the bearer.
5.7.1 Runners shall be installed using right angle couplers along the length
of the scaffold located on both the inside and outside rows of posts at
level heights, and coupled to each post. Runners shall be installed on
the inner side of the post instead of the outer side whenever possible.
5.7.3 The lowest runner shall not be installed more than 30 inches (0.75
meters) from the bottom, unless it creates a hazard. Where they are
above 30 inches (0.75 meters) as in some offshore applications,
adequate bracing shall be provided, to prevent lateral movement.
5.8 Bracing, Diagonal and Cross Bracing (12.3a, 12.4a, 12.5a and 12.9)
5.8.4 Transverse diagonal bracing shall be installed across the width of the
scaffold. An alternating direction or “zig-zag” pattern all the way to the
top of the scaffold. The transverse diagonal bracing must be repeated
along the length of the scaffold every third set of posts. On large area
scaffolds where the scaffold is several bays wide, a new line of
transverse bracing shall be started every sixth post in width, in both
directions.
5.8.5 Plan bracing should be installed all rolling scaffolds, at the base and
every three levels in height.
5.9 Board Planking, Overlays and Working Platforms (12.8, 12.12a and 12.12b)
5.9.1 All scaffold boarding and wooden planks shall be “selected scaffold
grade as recognized by lumber industry standards” and have at least
a minimum size 1.5 inches x 9 inches.
5.9.2 All scaffold metal and wooden planking shall be inspected before use,
during erection, and as part of the workshift inspection.
5.9.4 All metal or wooden planking shall be tied in place at both ends, using
a tie down bar or other secure means.
5.9.5 Where wooden planking is lapped, each board shall lap its end
supports (bearers) by a minimum of 12 inches (0.3 meter), and be
secured from movement.
5.9.6 To prevent tripping where the ends of scaffold planks abut each other
to form a flush floor, the abutted ends should be butted closely
together and shall be secured to separate bearers. At corners,
boarding should preferably be butted and not overlapped to minimize
tripping hazards.
5.9.9 The maximum span on wood planks shall be 4 feet (1.2 meters).
Intermediate bearers shall be used to limit the span of wood planks.
5.10.2 Tie-ins should be constructed from scaffold tubes creating box ties
with load bearing right angle couplers or girder couplers (beam
clamps) whenever possible. If wire tie-ins are used, number 9 gauge
wire or double wrapped number 12 gauge wire should be used.
5.11.1 Open sides and ends of all working levels shall be guarded by top
rails, midrails, and toeboards. The top rail shall not be less than 42
inches (1.07 meters) nor more than 45 inches (1.14 meters above the
platform.
5.11.2 A mid rail shall be not less than 20 inches (0.5 meters) or more than
24 inches (0.6 meters) above the platform. The mid rail shall not be
used as a support for boards to aid working.
Open sides and ends of all working levels shall have toeboards to prevent
objects laying on the platform from falling over the sides or ends. A half
coupler may be used to secure the toeboards.
5.12.2 End toeboards should be installed across the whole width of the
scaffolding platform.
5.12.3 Toeboards should be at a minimum of 3.5 inches (9 cm.) high with the
clearance between the toeboard and the platform to be a maximum of
5.13.2 When used, portable Ladders must be set-up at a safe angle and
secured to the scaffold to prevent slippage. The distance from the
base of the ladder to the scaffold should be a quarter of the working
height (75 degrees), or four units up to each unit out from the base.
5.13.5 Ladders should always be erected so they are the correct way up, i.e.
extending ladders, so that the extending section is on top.
5.13.6 Ladders must be of the correct length for the job and shall not be
lashed or spliced together, or placed on boxes or other loose packing
to gain extra height.
5.13.7 Ladders shall be inspected prior to each use and as part of the work
shift inspection. Workers should report faulty ladders to their
supervisor without delay. Damaged or defective ladders shall not be
used and should be marked "DO NOT USE.” If repairs cannot be
made to a damaged ladder, the ladder must be removed from service
immediately.
5.13.8 A person climbing a ladder shall face the ladder and use both hands
for climbing. The carrying of tools and materials shall minimized when
traveling up and down ladders. The preferred method is the use of a
hand line for the raising or lowering tools/materials.
5.13.13 Drop bars shall be installed at the point of ladder access whenever
possible.
5.15 Alterations
At the discretion of the Scaffold Erector the combination of both, system and
conventional tube and clamp may be used.
6.0 INSPECTIONS
6.3 All boarding and wooden planking shall be inspected to ensure the following:
6.4 Tubes and couplers shall be inspected and removed from service for the
following:
a) Tubes that are bent more than 1/2 inch (1.3 cm) out of plumb over the
length of the member. Bent tubes are not to be straightened.
b) Tubes that have a visible defect, such as dents, cracks or been subjected
to excessive heat. Cracks on tubes shall not be welded.
c) Couplers that do not tighten securely, have stripped threads, or are loose
when applied to tubes.
d) Couplers that are distorted, loose, or have worn pins. Corrosion, both
internal and external on scaffolding tubing is the foremost danger in this
environment.
e) Couplers shall not be soaked in oil based products. Threads may be
lubricated, but all other areas of the couplers shall be free from
contaminants.
7.2 Once a scaffold erection has been completed, inspected and meets a
satisfactory standard, the Scaffold Erector who supervised the erection,
should ensure "GREEN" Scaff-tags (indicating Erection and Inspection
Record information) must be attached to all ladders and access ways to that
scaffold.
7.4 During erection or dismantling where personnel can walk close to and past
scaffolds and staging, hazard warning tape or signs should be used to
barricade off the area.
8.0 DISMANTLING
Scaffolding shall be removed upon completion of the scope of work. If the work is
incomplete or suspended, access to the work areas should be prevented by
attaching "RED" Scaff-tags to all ladders and access ways to that scaffold. If a
project is placed on hold: the scaffolding can be left in good working order, green
tagged and inspected in line with the company’s procedures. If the scaffolding is to
be isolated then the ladders should be removed and the structure red tagged.
8.1 Do not remove any ties until the scaffold is dismantled to their particular
level.
8.2 Do not remove any of the bracing’s, bearers, and guardrails other than
progressively as the work proceeds.
8.4 Do not leave a scaffold component partially attached to the rest of the
scaffold structure.
8.6 All materials should be lowered to the ground immediately upon being
disassembled.
9.1 Ensure the suspended scaffolding anchors are secured to the tank roof, “I”
beam of the offshore platform or fixed structure.
9.3 Ensure personnel on the suspended scaffolding wear a full body safety
harness having a “D-ring” on the back, secured by a lanyard to a lifeline,
drop line or fixed anchor. The lanyard should not be attached to the railing of
the suspended scaffolding.
9.4 If personnel on the suspended scaffolding are working over water, each
person should wear a work vest.
10.1 All underhung scaffolds shall be hung from structures capable of supporting
at least 4 times the load imposed on them by the scaffold.
10.2 Suspension points of hanger tubes shall be securely fixed to prevent their
being dislodged by all potential forces acting upon them.
10.3 Horizontal tubes shall be affixed to the underneath of existing steel I beams
by the use of a pair of girder couplers (beam clamps) designed for such
purpose. A girder coupler shall be attached on both flanges of the beam two
beam clamps per connection) everywhere a horizontal intersects a beam.
Horizontal tubes shall continue across and be attached to at least two
structural steel I beams.
10.4 Hanger tubes shall be coupled to the horizontal tube that is placed across
the bottom of the supporting beam. Hanger tubes shall be attached using
load bearing right angle couplers.
10.5 Check (safety) couplers shall be installed above the load bearing coupler
which connects the hanger tube to the support horizontal. Bearers shall be
installed on top of runners as customary and additional check couplers shall
be placed under the runners.
Check (safety) couplers shall also be installed directly beneath all trapeze
tubes.
10.6 Whenever possible vertical hanger tubes should of one length. Where joints
are necessary, the tubes should be parallel spliced using a minimum of four
couplers.
10.8 Runners (ledgers) and bearers (transoms) shall be coupled to hanger tubes
using right-angle couplers.
10.9 Hanger tube spacing shall comply with the same tube and coupler post
spacing requirements for supported scaffolds.
10.10 Bearers or intermediate bearers shall be spaced no more than 1.2 meters on
center under scaffold planks, consistent with supported scaffolds.
10.11 Drop-forged girder couplers shall be used for the support of hanging
scaffolds.
10.13 Diagonal plan bracing shall be installed in each end bay and every fourth bay
along the length.
10.14 An additional (third) guardrail shall be installed above the normal guardrail on
all underhung scaffold on offshore facilities. The vertical spacing to the third
11.1 Do not work from a scaffold if it has not been inspected that workshift and
tagged as “Approved, Ready to Use”. In addition, do a visual inspection for
the obvious requirements such as ladder access, full planking, guardrails,
plumbness, rigidity, etc.
11.2 Do not use a scaffold if it does not have a proper ladder or other equivalent
safe means of access. Do not climb the scaffold itself.
11.3 Do not use a scaffold if the working platform is not planked all the way
across. Do not use a scaffold if only one or two planks are placed where
there should be more.
11.4 Do not use a scaffold if the planks are not scaffold grade. If the planks are
man made, make sure they are in good condition.
11.5 Do not use a scaffold if the planks are bowing more than 1/60 of their span.
11.7 Do not use a scaffold taller than 3 times its minimum base unless it is tied,
guyed, or braced to prevent tipping ( 5.3.1).
11.8 Do not climb the scaffold other than by the safe means of access provided.
Never climb guardrails.
11.9 Do not work if you feel weak, sick or dizzy. Never use drugs or alcohol on a
scaffold.
11.11 Do not carry materials as you climb. Keep both hands on the ladder side
rails.
11.14 Do not allow tools, material or debris to accumulate on the platforms and
cause a hazard.
11.15 Do not alter the scaffold. Scaffold alterations may only be performed by a
trained crew under the supervision of a Scaffold Erector.
11.16 Do not use heat producing equipment such as welding or burning equipment
without taking precautions to protect the scaffold members or boards.
11.17 Do not work if you notice any components which are damaged.
11.19 Do not use scaffold as material hoist towers or for mounting derricks unless
the scaffold is designed for such use.
11.20 Do not bridge between towers with planks or stages unless the scaffold
assembly has been designed for this use by a qualified person.
11.22 Do not overload the platform by more than its intended uniform loading.
11.23 Do not overload the scaffold by point loading a plank above its capacity.
11.24 Do not ride scaffolds constructed on fork lifts, truck trailers, or other moving
vehicles.
11.25 Do not use the scaffold unless the proper falling object protection for the
users and workers below has been provided.
11.26 Do not use rolling towers unless the wheels are locked.
11.27 Do not ride rolling towers while they are being moved.
12.0 REFERENCES
12.1 Drawings
12.2 Diagrams of scaffold components
12.3 Two Level Tube & Coupler scaffold
12.4 Multiple Section Independent Scaffold
12.5 Typical underhung Tube & coupler scaffolds
12.6 Scaffold Tags
12.7 Node point
12.8 Plank detail
12.1 Drawings
4’-0” [1.2m]
7’-0” [2.1m]
TOE BOARD
GUARDRAIL
SLEEVE
COUPLER ADD EXTRA BEARERS
IN BETWEEN POSTS AS
REQ’D. 4’-0” [1.2m] MAX.
1’-9” SPACING BETWEEN
[0.5m] BEARERS
PUTLOG
1’-9”
COUPLER
[0.5m]
FULLY PLANKED
PLATFORM SCAFFOLD
MAX. 1” GAP LADDER
SWIVEL CLAMP
6’-6”
AT DIAGONALS
[2.0m]
EXTENSION OF
BEARER OR
SEPARATE POST
RIGHT ANGLE
CLAMP AT
BEARERS &
RUNNERS
6’-6”
[2.0m] POST
1’-9”
[0.5m]
ADD EXTRA
1’-9” BEARERS IN
[0.5m] BETWEEN
POSTS AS
BEARERS WIDER
REQ’D.
THAN 4’-0” ON
SPAN MUST BE 4’-0”[1.2m] MAX.
SUPPORTED IN SPACING
6’-6” THE MIDDLE (SEE BETWEEN
[2.0m] DETAILS OPTION BEARERS
1 & OPTION 2)
EXTENSION OF
BEARER OR
SWIVEL CLAMP SEPARATE POST
AT DIAGONALS
RIGHT ANGLE SCAFFOLD
6’-6” CLAMP AT
[2.0m] LADDER
BEARERS &
RUNNERS
WOODEN PAD
SOLID FOUNDATION
STEEL BASE PLATE
FULLY PLANKED
PLATFORM
MAX 1” GAP
GUARDRAIL
TOE BOARD
POST
SLEEVE COUPLER
(STAGGERED)
BEARER SCAFFOLD
4’-0” SPAN LADDER
MAX.
EXTENSION OF
BEARER OR
SEPARATE POST
NODE
POSITIVE TIES POINT
LADDER REST
SEE FIG. 12.13
PLATFORM EVERY
RUNNER 10’-0”
35’-0” MAX.
SPACING MAX.
LONGITUDINAL
TRANSVERSE
DIAGONAL BRACING
DIAG. BRACING
(ZIG-ZAG)
(ZIG-ZAG)
FULLY PLANKED
PLATFORM
MAX 1” GAP
GUARDRAIL
TOE BOARD
POST
BEARER
4’-0” SPAN
MAX.
LADDER NOT
SLEEVE SHOWN FOR
COUPLER CLARITY
(STAGGERED)
RUNNER 10’-0”
SPACING MAX.
LONGITUDINAL
DIAGONAL BRACING
(ZIG-ZAG)
TRANSVERSE
DIAGONAL BRACING
(ZIG-ZAG)
DIAGONAL
POST
BEARER
RUNNER
DIAGONAL
LONGITUDINAL DIAGONAL
BRACING (ZIG-ZAG)
EVERY 4th SET OF POST
TRANSVERSE DIAGONAL
BRACING (ZIG-ZAG)
EVERY 3rd SET OF POST
Note: The above limits are from OSHA based on a light duty scaffold 4 feet wide by 10 feet
long, or a medium duty scaffold 4 feet wide by seven feet, or a heavy duty using 2.5 inch OD
bearer tubing. For other sizes a leg load calculation must be done by a qualified person.