1926.450-1926.454
WHAT IS A SCAFFOLD?
 A scaffold is any temporary elevated platform
(supported or suspended) and its supporting
structure (including points of anchorage), used
for supporting both employees and the
materials to be used
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 A scaffold
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Most Common Accidents While
Working on a Scaffold
Falls due to lack of:

A guardrail system

Personal fall arrest systems

Proper access (from ladders incorrectly used)
Electrocution:

Worker touching energized power lines

Working materials or scaffolding frame touching
energized power lines
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Most Common Accidents …cont
Impacts from objects falling from the scaffold:
 Tools, materials falling from the platform
 Scaffold parts dropped during the process of erecting or
dismantling
Collapse of scaffold:
 High and unstable scaffolds not secured with ties, guys,
and braces
 Small scaffolds are also commonly involved
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Most Important Safety Factors?
 Train the workers
 Begin erecting a scaffold on a firm, solid supporting foundation
 Install / connect all components/parts correctly
 Tie the scaffold with a ratio of 4: 1
 Do not overload with construction materials
 Platform must be fully planked
 Use guardrail systems and personal fall arrest systems
 Inspect the scaffold before starting each working shift
 Provide a safe means of access
 Provide additional protection through toe boards and/or screens so
that tools, materials, debris, or equipment do not fall from a scaffold
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SCAFFOLD’S BASE
 Legs shall bear on base plates or adjustable screw jacks
 Place thick, solid wood planks under the legs or use other
adequate firm foundation, when necessary
 Legs, posts, and frames must be plumb and braced
(straight/ without leaning)
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 The base
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Leveled and plumb
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Parts of a scaffold
 The base/ foundation
 The fabricated end frames (tubular frames)
 The transverse bracing (crossbracing) members (X)
 The platforms made of thick and solid plank units
 Guardrail systems for fall protection
 The access system in place
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 Parts of a scaffold
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Scaffold’s supporting capacity and use

A scaffold shall be erected so that it be capable of
supporting its own weight and at least 4 times the
maximum intended load transmitted to it

Never overload it with construction materials

A competent person must inspect it before the start
of each working shift

Any damaged part or member must be replaced
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Competent Person
• One who is capable of identifying existing and
predictable hazards
• One who identifies conditions which are unsanitary,
hazardous or dangerous to employees
• One who has authorization to take prompt corrective
measures to eliminate them
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 Competent person
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ACCESS TO A SCAFFOLD
 From the moment it is erected to the moment it is dismantled
 Ladders must be compatible with the type of scaffold
 Rule of two feet / space (gap) between rungs
 Rest platforms at certain vertical intervals
 Type of surface
 Cleanliness
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 Scaffold’s access
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FALL PROTECTION

Applies to each employee on a scaffold more than 10 feet above a lower
level

Ascertain who the competent person is

Make use of a vertical lifeline or a horizontal lifeline, if required

The top edge height of toprails and their strength must be in
accordance to specified measurements and loads

The transverse bracing (crossbracing) members (X) may be used as one
of the safety rails

The working platform must be planked as fully as possible –from end
to end-- with thick and solid plank units, except when erecting or
dismantling a scaffold
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 Fall protection
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Protection…
 Platform planks shall overlap at least 12 inches or otherwise be
secured (immobilized)
 Wood platforms shall not be covered with opaque finishes
(paint)
 A portable ladder shall never be placed for use on the platform
 The edges of the platform shall be protected through toe boards
that retain any potential falling object (tools or construction
material)
 A canopy structure shall be erected if employees pass below
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 Overlapping platform planks
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How to stack construction materials on a
scaffold platform

Always proportionately distribute materials where
there is solid support (tube) underneath the
platform planks

Never place material on a platform section which
does not have any support underneath

Platform planks shall not deflect more than 1/60
of the span when loaded
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 Materials stacked on the platform
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Securely tie and brace scaffolds against the
building
 A ratio of four to one (4 : 1) height to base width
shall be used when placing ties vertically
 Every 30 feet at horizontal intervals, placing ties at
each end of the scaffold and at edges
 Gauge 9 wire may be used
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Scaffold’s inspections
 Who has to perform them?
 Include all component parts/members
 Type of damage/irregularities to look for:
physical and structural
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Employee Training

Five main areas to be considered:
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Falls
Access
Materials and objects on a scaffold platform
Risk of electrocution
Collapse of a scaffold
Procedures for correcting irregularities/defects
in the erecting process of a scaffold
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Training, cont…
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Appropriate use of a scaffold
Maximum load-carrying capacity
Subpart L requirements
Training for qualified persons/competent persons
Retraining so that the requisite proficiency is
retained, and the level of competency is
consolidated
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