Topics of Discussion

Awareness
Types of Scaffolding
Scaffolding Basics
Erecting Scaffolds
Inspection of
Scaffolds
Dos and Donts

Photo of Engelmann Gym scaffold (under construction, fall 2005)

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 Anatomy of a Fall

Source: Anatomy of a Fall diagram from Associated

General Contractors of Wisconsin, 6th Annual State Risk
Mgmt. Conference, Madison, 1998

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Scaffolding Accident/Injury Statistics

An estimated 2.3
million construction
workers, or 65% of the
construction industry,
work on scaffolds
frequently.
Protecting these
workers from scaffold-
related accidents
would prevent 4,500
injuries and 50 deaths
per year.

USA (v. 2008) 2004 DOL Statistics 4

Fatalities in Construction (OSHA)

Fall Protection (3 methods):

Fall Prevention (e.g.,
guardrail system)

Work Positioning, secures

you to a location, thus
preventing a fall

Fall Arrest Systems,

consisting of a full body
harness, lanyard, and
anchorage

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 Scaffolding

A registered professional engineer must design and

certify scaffolds:
with wood poles and
over 60 feet in height
frame scaffolds over
125 feet in height
outrigger scaffolds plus
scaffold erections
when intended loads
exceed tube and
coupler scaffold
standard ratings
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 Types of Scaffolds

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 Supported Scaffolds

Ladder Jack
Pump Jack
Frame or
Fabricated
Tube and
Coupler
Mobile
Specialty
Pole

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 Manually Propelled
Mobile Scaffolds

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 Suspended Scaffolds

Two-Point
Single-Point
Adjustable
Catenary
Multi-point
Adjustable
Interior Hung
Needle Beam
Multi-Level
Float (ship)
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 Boatswains Chair

Seat slings must:

Pass through four corner
holes in the seat,
Cross on the underside of
the seat,
Be rigged to prevent
slippage which could
cause the chair to be out-
of-level, and
Be at least 5/8 diameter
fiber, synthetic, or other
first-grade manila rope of
equivalent criteria
(strength, slip resistance,
durability, etc.).

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 Specialty Scaffolds

Specialty Scaffolds are designed for a narrow and very specific

range of applications. Specialty Scaffolds Include:
Plasterers
Decorators', and other large-
area scaffolds;
Bricklayers' square scaffolds;
Horse scaffolds
Outrigger scaffolds
Step, platform, and trestle
ladder scaffolds
Form and carpenter's bracket
scaffolds
Window jack scaffolds;
Crawling boards and chicken
ladders
Roof bracket scaffolds.
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 Outrigger Scaffolds

Outrigger beams must

be:

Secured in place to
prevent movement,
and

Securely braced at
the fulcrum point to
prevent tipping.

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 Tube and Couple
Scaffolds

Klotsche
natatorium HVAC
renovation
(Summer 2004)

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 Tube and Coupler Scaffolds
Light Duty
Not to exceed 25 pounds per
square foot
10 foot longitudinal post spacing
6 foot traverse post space
1 work level
8 additional planked levels
125 feet maximum height
2 work levels
4 additional planked levels
125 feet maximum height
3 work levels
0 additional planked levels
91 feet maximum height
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Medium Duty
Not to exceed 50 pounds per square
foot
8 foot longitudinal post spacing
6 foot traverse post space
1 work level
6 additional planked levels
125 feet maximum height
2 work levels
0 additional planked levels
78 feet maximum height
Heavy Duty
Not to exceed 75 pounds per square
foot
6 6 foot longitudinal post spacing
6 foot traverse post spacing
1 work level
6 additional planked levels
125 feet maximum height
16
 Basics

Training Employers must

train each employee who
works on a scaffold on the
procedures to control or
minimize the hazards.
Inspections Before each
work shift and after any
occurrence that could affect
the structural integrity, a
competent person must
inspect the scaffold and
scaffold components for
visible defects.
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 Basics

Fall protection (e.g.

guardrails) required at a
10 foot height above a
lower level.
[1926.451(g)(1)]

When erecting and

dismantling supported
scaffolds, a competent
person must determine
the feasibility of providing
a safe means of access
and fall protection for
these operations

NOTE: guardrails recommended at

work platform heights greater than
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4 feet 18
 Personal Safety Tips

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 Personal Safety Tips

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 Inspect Prior to Use

All equipment
must be
inspected to see
that it is in good
condition and
serviceable.
Damaged or
deteriorated
equipment must
not be used
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 Erecting Scaffolding

Erect plumb,
square and
rigid with all
brace
connections
securely
fastened

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 Tubular Welded-frame Scaffolds

Be sure scaffold stays plumb and level as erection progresses

For mobile scaffolds, use a horizontal diagonal brace, for
stability, at the base and every 21 feet in height.

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Tubular Welded-Frame Scaffolds

Cross members
must be locked
together with cotter
pins or equivalent
Safway scaffolds
have G locks
which open with
slight pressure and
lock automatically
after guardrail slips
into place

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 Overlap

Each plank on a continuous run scaffold must

extend over its supports by at least 6 and overlap
each other by at least 12

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 Guardrails and Toeboards

Guardrails and toeboards must be put on all open sides

and ends of scaffolds 10 or higher
Screening required when materials are stacked higher than
toeboard

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 Side and End Brackets

Side and end

brackets are
designed to support
people ONLY.
Brackets are not to
be used on rolling
towers
Brackets introduce
overturning and/or
uplift forces.

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 Side and End Brackets

Do not store
materials on side or
end bracket
platforms
Only store materials
on scaffolds which
are for immediate
use
Do not overload
platforms with
materials.

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 Climbing

Do not climb on
cross members
or railings
Access ladders
must be used;
attachable
ladders must
extend 3 feet
above platform

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 Climb Safely

Face the rungs

Use both hands
Do not carry
materials while
you climb
Keep one hand
firmly on frame or
ladder at all times
Rungs and shoes
should be clean to
avoid slipping
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 Mobile Scaffolds

Height not to exceed 4* times

the minimum base dimension
(Example, if base is 6 x 10, the
maximum height is 24)

Planks must extend the full

length of the scaffold

Do not ride on a mobile rolling

tower scaffold while it is being
moved.

Guardrails and toeboards

required on all sides when
over 10 feet
* In California and some other states, height must
not exceed 3 times.
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 Mobile Scaffolds

All tools or other objects which

could fall from the scaffold
must be removed or secured
before moving the scaffold

At each new location, the

scaffold shall be put on firm
ground and kept plumb

Manual force used to move the

scaffold must be applied as
close to the base as possible,
but not more than 5 feet above
the supporting surface.

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Manually Propelled Mobile Scaffolds
The load rating of the
casters will limit the size,
configuration, and load
capacity of the rolling
tower. Casters must be
rated 4 times the
maximum rated load of
the scaffold

Caster and wheel stem

shall be pinned, bolted
or otherwise secured in
scaffold legs or
adjustment screws.
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 Manually Propelled Mobile Scaffolds

Lock all
casters
before
getting on a
rolling tower.
Casters shall
remain
locked while
in use

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 Upright Narrow Scaffold

Per instructions of the

UpRight Narrow Scaffold,
the platform height must
not exceed 3 times the
smaller base dimension
unless scaffold is tied to
the structure

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Upright Narrow Scaffold: read the labels

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 Upright Narrow Scaffold

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 Inspect Job Site

Inspect job site to

determine ground
conditions, strength
of supporting
structure, proximity
to electric lines &
overhead
obstructions

Compensate for
uneven ground by Do not use unstable objects such
using screw jacks & as blocks, loose bricks and
base plates similar objects
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 Ties, Guys, Bracing

Scaffolds must be
secured to the
structure when the
height exceeds 4 times
the minimum base
width
every 30 horizontal feet
every 20 feet or less
(for scaffolds less than
3 feet wide) or 26
vertical feet or less (for
>3 feet wide)
Outriggers, if used,
must be installed on
both sides
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 Clearances

Any work where the

tube could come into
contact with the line
would need to be 6
meters plus the
Danger Zone
distance relative to
the voltage and
nature of insulation in
order that the
scaffold tube cannot
enter the Danger
Zone
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 Clearances

Minimum Clearances From Electrical Lines

Insulated Lines

Less than 300 volts 3 feet

300 volts to 50 kv 10 feet

More than 50 kv 10 feet plus 4 for each

additional kv
Uninsulated Lines

Up to 50 kv 10 feet

More than 50 kv 10 feet plus 4 for each

additional kv
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 Peronsal Protective Equipment

What types of PPE should you use when

working on or near a scaffold?

1.
2.
3.

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Whats Wrong in This Picture?

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Whats Wrong in This Picture?

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 Whats Wrong in This
Picture?

The concrete blocks are

stacked six high, there
are no base plates on
some legs, scaffold legs
are bearing on unstable
objects, and there is
improper/inadequate
bracing.

Photo & Text -- OSHA

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 Whats Wrong in This
Picture?

This is a shore, or lean-to

scaffold, and it is not
permitted to be used per
OSHA or ANSI.
In this photo, workers
have a shore scaffold on
top of another shore
scaffold.
Access is unsafe both
from above and below.
The only thing holding
this scaffold up is the
DUMPSTER!
Photo & Text -- OSHA
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Whats Wrong in This Picture?

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Whats Wrong in This Picture?

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Whats Wrong in This Picture?

The planks are not

cleated or
otherwise secured
against
displacement,
There are no
guardrails, and
There is greater
than a 14-inch gap
between the
building and the
scaffold platform.
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 Where ladders
end, plasterers
clamber onto
bundles of sticks
that stud the
Great Mosque.
These serve as
scaffolding --a
grid of
permanent
perches.
Photograph by Sarah
Leen, National
Geographic, June 2001

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