INTRODUCTION
This training information has been prepared by the Safety and Health Consultation
Program at Georgia Tech with the technical collaboration of Mr. Juán C. Rodriguez and
under the sponsorship of OSHA. Its content may be copied and distributed for free,
and the only request made to the user is that Georgia Tech’s Safety and Health
Consultation Program be acknowledged as the source. All information contained in
this training is believed to be correct by the authors, but it is important to point out
that, this is not an official OSHA publication and has not been revised or approved by
OSHA. The user should be aware that the recommendations provided in this training
do not replace any OSHA standard or regulation.
Georgia Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program
Georgia Tech Research Institute
260 14th Street, Fourth Floor
Atlanta, GA 30332-0837
Voice : (404) 407-7431
FAX : (404) 407-8275
Web http//www.oshainfo.gatech.edu
GA Tech Safety and Health
Consultation Program
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
GA Tech Safety and Health
Consultation Program
 A scaffold
GA Tech Safety and Health
Consultation Program
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
GA Tech Safety and Health
Consultation Program
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
GA Tech Safety and Health
Consultation Program
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
GA Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program
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)
GA Tech Safety and Health
Consultation Program
 The base
GA Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program
Leveled and plumb
GA Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program
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
GA Tech Safety and Health
Consultation Program
 Parts of a scaffold
GA Tech Safety and Health
Consultation Program
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
GA Tech Safety and Health
Consultation Program
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
GA Tech Safety and Health
Consultation Program
 Competent person
GA Tech Safety and Health
Consultation Program
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
GA Tech Safety and Health
Consultation Program
 Scaffold’s access
GA Tech Safety and Health
Consultation Program
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
GA Tech Safety and Health
Consultation Program
 Fall protection
GA Tech Safety and Health
Consultation Program
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
GA Tech Safety and Health
Consultation Program
 Overlapping platform planks
GA Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program
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
GA Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program
 Materials stacked on the platform
GA Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program
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
GA Tech Safety and Health
Consultation Program
Scaffold’s inspections
 Who has to perform them?
 Include all component parts/members
 Type of damage/irregularities to look for:
physical and structural
GA Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program
Employee Training

Five main areas to be considered:






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
GA Tech Safety and Health
Consultation Program
Training, cont…





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
GA Tech Safety and Health
Consultation Program