No. 105
Temporary bracing for masonry walls
Potential hazard:
An unbraced or poorly braced masonry wall can topple over. This can result in serious injury or even loss of
life, as well as extensive damage to property and equipment.
How to control the hazard:
Injuries caused by falling masonry walls can be prevented by
implementing the engineering controls and safe work
procedures listed below.
During construction, temporary bracing must be installed to
adequately support the wall until permanent structural members
are in place.
Requirements that must be met for temporary structures or
during unfinished construction include:
1. Temporary structure to be supported
Employers must ensure that unfinished structures, including masonry walls and temporary structures, are
adequately braced or supported to withstand any load or force that will or is likely to be imposed on them,
including wind and wind gusts.
2. Design and construction of temporary support system
Employers must ensure that temporary support systems are designed, constructed, used and maintained to
withstand all loads likely to be imposed on the structure, including those generated by wind pressures. When
temporary support systems are used on unfinished structures (as mentioned above), employers must ensure
that the support systems are not removed until the temporary structures have been permanently stabilized.
3. Employer to provide design drawings
If requested by a safety and health officer, employers must provide the safety and health officer with a copy of
the drawings and any supplementary information required for the design of the temporary support system.
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Temporary bracing for masonry walls
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4. Approval by professional engineer
Employers must ensure the design of the temporary
support system is approved by a professional
engineer, and that the drawings and any
supplementary information:
a) show the dimensions and specifications,
including the type and grade, of all components
of the support system;
b) show the loads for which the support system is
designed;
c) bear the seal and signature of the professional
engineer; and
d) be kept at the project site during the
construction, erection, use, maintenance and
dismantling of the support system.
5. Employer to construct according to design
Employers must construct, use, erect, maintain, and dismantle a temporary support system according to the
approved design described above.
Reference to legal requirements under workplace safety and health legislation:

Temporary Structures: Manitoba Regulation 217/2006 – Part 30
Additional workplace safety and health information available at: safemanitoba.com
Revised: November 2014
Last Reviewed/Revised: May 2009