Scaffolding: Your Key to

Stability
Presented By: Georgia Tech
Occupational Safety and Health
Program
 29 CFR 1926 Subpart L
• 1926.450 Scope and Application
• 1926.451 General Requirements
• 1926.452 Additional Requirements
• 1926.453 Aerial Lifts
• 1926.454 Training Requirements
– Appendices A thru E
 Most Frequently Cited Hazards
• Scaffolds above 10 ft.-Fall Protection
• Scaffold Access
• Scaffold Working Levels-Decked
• Aerial Lift-Harness/Lanyard
• Training in use of scaffolds
 National Statistics
• A significant percentage • There are approximately
of personnel in 4500 employee injuries
construction (65) work each year as a result of
from scaffolds routinely using scaffolds.
• There are approximately • For the period 1980-1985
50 fatalities related to falls from scaffolds
scaffolds each year. accounted for 17% of the
fatalities for falls from
elevations.
 Georgia Statistics
• The total number of fall related fatalities in
2000 was 25.
• The number of fatalities involving scaffolds
were 6.
• Falls from scaffolds represented twenty five
percent of the total fatalities in the state
 Hazards
• Injured workers revealed that 72% of the
accidents were caused by:
– Platform failure
– Support failure
– Slipping
– Being struck by an object
 Requirements for Competent
Person
• A competent person is a person on the
project who has knowledge to identify and
the authority to correct site hazards
– OSHA 10 or 30 hour training card could
support the fact you had training and are
knowledgeable
– The 10 or 30 hour OSHA training card alone
does not necessarily mean you are a competent
person
 Requirements for Competent
Person
• Scaffolds have to be inspected daily by a
competent person
• Scaffolds must be erected, moved,
dismantled or altered under the supervision
of a competent person
• Work by qualified workers selected by the
competent person
 Capacity 29 CFR 1926.451(a)
• Each scaffold and scaffold component must
be capable of supporting four times the
intended weight.
• Direct connections to the roof and
counterweights of suspended scaffolds must
resist four times the tipping moment or 1.5
times tipping moment imposed by scaffold
operating at stall load
 Capacity 29 CFR 1926.451(a)
• Suspension ropes including hardware must
support six times the maximum intended
load
• The stall load of any scaffold hoist shall not
exceed three times its rated load.
• Scaffolds must be designed by a qualified
person and loaded accordingly.
 Platform Construction 29 CFR
1926.451(b)
• All working levels of scaffolds are required
to be fully decked.
– No gaps greater than one inch allowed
• Each scaffold platform shall be at least 48
inches wide.
– Ladder jack, roof bracket and pump jack can be
12 inches wide.
 Platform Construction 29 CFR
1926.451(b)
• The front edge shall not be more than 14
inches from face (if in excess rails
required).
• The end of each platform will extend over
the center line by six inches (unless
hooked).
 Platform Construction
• Requirement for over • Wood platforms shall
hang based on length: not be covered with
– 10 ft or less platform opaque finishes.
not to exceed 12 inches
– More than 10 ft not to • Components
exceed 18 inches (different) shall not be
• For extended mixed unless they fit
platforms overlap over (integrity maintained).
supports by 12 inches
(unless secured)
 Supported Scaffolds, 29 CFR
1926.451(c)
• Scaffolds with a width to height of more
than 4:1 need to be restrained
• Guys, ties, and braces installed in
accordance to manufacturer
• Ties, guys, wires must be used for eccentric
load
 Supported Scaffolds, 29 CFR
1926.451(c)
• Supported poles, legs, and posts need to
bear on base plates and mudsills or other
firm foundation.
• Footing must be rigid and sound.
• No unstable objects for supports or
platform.
• Legs, posts, frames must be plumb and
braced to prevent swaying.
 Scaffold Access, 29 CFR
1926.451(e)
• When scaffold • Stairway type ladders
platforms are 2 feet can be used in
above or below a point 1926.451(e)(3)
of access ladders, stair
– Railing has to be
towers or personnel
provided
hoist must be used.
– Cross braces can not be • Ramps 1926.451(e)(5)
climbed. – Rails over 6 feet
– Ladders set up so not – No slope greater than
to tip scaffold. 20 degrees
 Scaffold Access
• Integral prefabricated • Direct Access shall only
scaffold access be used when scaffold is
not more than 14”
frames:
horizontal and 24” vertical
– Designed and away.
constructed as ladder
• Safe means of access shall
rungs
be provided during
– Rung length of 8 erecting or dismantling as
inches determined by competent
– Uniform space person.
 Scaffold Use 1926.451(f)
• Scaffolds shall not be • Must not work on
excessively loaded
slippery platforms,
• Inspection by competent
person before each shift debris or during high
• Damaged scaffold winds.
immediately repaired or • Standing on objects to
replaced.
• Maintain adequate distance
increase height
from power lines (3 ft for prohibited.
less than 300 V and 10 ft • Ladder may be used
for greater than 300)
on wide area scaffold.
 Scaffold Use
• Scaffolds must be inspected before use each
shift by competent person.
• All damaged components must be repaired
or replaced immediately.
 Fall Protection, 29 CFR
1926.451(g)
• Required on all • Rail system design:
scaffolds greater than – Top rail installed between
10 feet. 38 and 45 inches
– mid rail between top and
• Boatswains chair,float working surface
scaffold or similar • Finished components
require fall arrest. must with stand:
• Suspension scaffold – A force 200 pounds for top
requires rails and fall rail
arrest system – 150 pounds for mid rail
(independent life line).
 Fall Protection
• Guardrails must be free of
sharp edges.
• Ends of rails must be
constructed so it does
overhang the terminal posts
• Steel or plastic bands are
not acceptable as railing
• Cross brace may be used as
a mid rail if it meets the
height requirement (cross
between 20-30 inches)
• Falling object
requirements are:
– Employees on scaffold(in
addition to hard hats) must
be protected by toe boards,
debris nets or canopy
– Area below must be
protected by barricades,
canopies, toe boards on
scaffolds over 10 feet
• Toe boards- withstand 50
pounds of force and be 3.5
inches wide.
 Additional Scaffolds-Supported,
29 CFR 1926.452
• Tube and coupler: • Fabricated Frame:
– The existing platform – The existing platform
shall not be moved shall remain until the
until bearers are set frames are set/braced
– X bracing installation – Frames and panels
– Couplers have to made shall be braced (joined
of structural steel with stack pin
– Scaffolding over 125 – Scaffolding over 125
ft. have to be designed ft. have to be designed
by registered engineer by registered engineer
 Additional Scaffold-Supported
• Horse scaffolds:
– Limited to two tiers (10 ft.)
– Horses arranged directly
over each other
– Legs nailed down and tiers
braced
• Crawling boards:
– Extend from peak to eaves
and secured to roof by ridge
hooks or equivalent
• Pump jack scaffolds:
– Bracket must have two
positive grips
– Poles secured at the top and
bottom
– Work bench is not a
platform
– Continuous length poles
joined at seam parallel to
bracket
– Mending plates must be
installed at 2X4 splices for
strength
 Additional Scaffolds-Supported
• Ladder jack scaffolds:
– Not to exceed 20 feet
– Ladder meet requirement of
part X
– No bridging of platform
– Ladders must be provided
with device to prevent
slipping
– Constructed to bear on side
rails and rungs or rungs (if
rungs at length of 10 inches)
• Window jack scaffold:
– Attached to window
opening and not used to
place planks between
scaffolds
• Step, trestle, and ladder
scaffolds:
– Platform not placed higher
than second highest rung
and ladder secured
– Ladders designed to part X
 Additional Requirements-
Suspended
• Swing Stages:
– Platform limited to 36”
– Platform must be securely
fastened to hangars
– Platforms shall be of the
ladder, plank, or beam type
– Two point scaffolds shall
not be bridged together
unless bridged and hoist is
appropriately sized
• Multi level scaffolds:
– Equipped with
independent support
lines (equal to number
of suspension points)
and not attached to the
same point as
suspension ropes
– Supports for platform
attached to stirrup only
Additional Requirements-Mobile
• Requirements for mobile
scaffolds:
– Adequately plumbed,
braced, level and squared
– Must have means to lock
wheels/casters
– Force to move scaffold no
higher than 5 feet above
support surface
– Power system must be
designed for scaffold
• Stabilized to prevent tip
• Platform must not extend
base support without
outriggers
• Caster stems-pinned
• Riding not allowed unless:
– surface floor level and free
of debris and 2:1 BXH ratio
– Outriggers on both sides
– No one allowed on
extended platform
 Additional Requirement-Stilts
• Only to be used on large area scaffold
• Surfaces must be flat and free of pits
• No obstructions
• Stilts have to be maintained
• Guardrails must be raised by an amount
equal to stilts
 Requirements for Aerial Lifts
29 CFR 1926.453
• Meet the design criteria of
ANSI
• Aerial ladders must be
secured in lower traveling
position by a locking
device before it is moved.
• Ext./Art. Platforms:
• Boom must be adequately
stowed before move
• Insulated portion must not
be altered
– A body belt or harness and
lanyard must be used
– Employees must stand on
floor of basket
– Never exceed load capacity
– Lift truck shall not be
moved with men in basket
unless adequately designed
(upper controls-personnel
carriers)
– Brakes set for outrigger use
(wheels chock)
 Aerial Lifts
• Extensible and articulating platforms:
– Lift controls must be tested each day
– Authorized employees only
– No belting off to adjacent structure
• All pneumatic and hydraulic components
comply with ANSI A92.2-1969 and non
critical parts must have burst factor 2:1.
 Training-General
29 CFR 1926.454
• Employees must receive training from
qualified person that includes:
– Nature of electrical, fall, and falling items
– Use of scaffold/handling
– Maximum intended load and load carrying
capabilities of scaffold
– Methods for dealing with electrical hazards
and fall protection system
– Requirements of sub L
 Training-Setup or Dismantling
• Employees must be trained in:
– Nature of scaffold hazards
– Procedures for setup, dismantling or moving
the system
– Design criteria, maximum intended load
carrying capacities and use of scaffold
– Requirements of subpart L
 Training-Need for Retraining
• When the employer has reason to believe an
employee lacks the skill or understanding needed
for safe work involving scaffolds, retraining shall
be performed until proficiency is regained.
Retraining is required:
– When additional or new hazards exist.
– Changes in the type of scaffold and fall protection
exist.
– Where there are inadequacies in an employee’s work.
 Resources
• www.osha.gov
– 29 CFR 1926.451
– NAHB-OSHA Job Site Safety Handbook
– Construction Industry Digest
• Scaffolding Industry Association
– www.scaffold.org
• American National Standards Institute
– A92 (SIA): Scaffolds and other elevating devices