Scaffolds

OSHA Office of Training & Education 1

 What Is A Scaffold?
An elevated, temporary work platform

Three basic types:

 Supported scaffolds -- platforms
supported by rigid, load bearing
members, such as poles, legs,
frames, & outriggers
 Suspended scaffolds -- platforms
suspended by ropes or other non-
rigid, overhead support
 Aerial Lifts -- such as “cherry
pickers” or “boom trucks”

OSHA Office of Training & Education 2

Tubular Independent Scaffolding

Ｓｏｌｅｐｌａｔｅ Ｂａｓｅｐｌａｔｅ
3
 SCAFFOLD SAFETY SERIES
Timber cover for Ladder should be fixed
Access Hole to narrowest width of
(Preferably hinged tower
to platform)

Plan Brace Plan brace

under deck

Wire lashing

Bottom of ladder
supported by transom
Mobile Tower Scaffold
SCAFFOLD TERMINOLOGY
TYPICAL TUBE AND COUPLER SCAFFOLD
TYPICAL "INDEPENDENT RUN" SCAFFOLD
SCAFFOLD MEASUREMENTS
RAKER
BRACKET SCAFFOLD
 SECTION THROUGH LADDER

MOBILE SCAFFOLD
(EXTERNAL LADDER)
MOBILE SCAFFOLD (INTERNAL LADDER)
UNDERHUNG SCAFFOLD
LOCKING-PIN TYPE OF SYSTEM SCAFFOLD (PROHIBITED)
LIGHT DUTY
^ 1 METER N

Figure II.9.35
ONE MAN AND 20kg MAX. PER SQ. METER
MAX. TOTAL LOAD 120 KG
PER SQ METER (25 PSF)

TWO MEN AND 40kg MAX. PER SQ. METER

MAX. TOTAL LOAD 240 KG
PER SQ METER (50 PSF)
Handbook
Figure
II.9.47
SCAFFOL
D TIES

SCAFFOLD
TIES
SUPPORT SPACING FOR PLANKS (BOARDS) 38mm (1-1/2") THICK
BETWEEN LANDINGS
EXTERNAL LADDER ACCESS
TRANSVERSE (SECTIONAL) "ZIG-ZAG" BRACING TUBE AND COUPLER SCAFFOLD
(SECTIONAL) "ZIG-ZAG" BRACING TUBE AND COUPLER SCAFFOLD
TRANSVERSE (SECTIONAL) "X" BRACING TUBE AND COUPLER SCAFFOLD
LONGITUDINAL (FACADE) DIAGONAL BRACING
TUBE AND COUPLER SCAFFOLD
BRACE SPLICE
— TYPICAL BRIDGING FOR 2 BAYS, LIGHT-DUTY SCAFFOLD

TYPICAL BRIDGING FOR 2 BAYS, MEDIUM-DUTY SCAFFOLD

TYPICAL BRIDGING FOR 2 BAYS, HEAVY-DUTY SCAFFOLD

TYPICAL BRIDGING
JOINTS IN ADJACENT POSTS (STANDARDS) NOT IN SAME LIFT HEIGHT

Handbook
 Hazards
Employees working on scaffolds are
exposed to these hazards:

• Falls from elevation – caused

by slipping, unsafe access, and
the lack of fall protection
• Struck by falling tools / debris
• Electrocution – from overhead
power lines
• Scaffold collapse - caused by
instability or overloading
• Bad planking giving way

OSHA Office of Training & Education 53

 Fall Hazards
Falls may occur:
• While climbing on or off
the scaffold
• Working on unguarded
scaffold platforms
• When scaffold
platforms or planks fail

OSHA Office of Training & Education 54

Protecting Workers from Falls
If a worker on a scaffold
can fall more than 10
feet, protect them by:
• Guardrails, and/or
• Personal Fall Arrest
Systems (PFAS)

OSHA Office of Training & Education 55

 Guardrails
Install along open sides & ends
Front edge of platforms not
more than 14 inches from the
work, unless using guardrails
and/or PFAS
• Guard rails are not required
when outrigger scaffolds are
three inches or less from the
front edge
when employees are plastering
and lathing 18 inches or less
from the front edge

OSHA Office of Training & Education 56

 Guardrails

Top rails - 38 to 45 inches tall

Mid rails halfway between top
rail and platform
Toe boards at least 3-1/2
inches high

OSHA Office of Training & Education 57

 Guardrails
•38 inch minimum guardrail
height where guardrail is primary
fall protection.
• 36 inch minimum guardrail
height where fall arrest systems
are primary fall protection.
• Protect from falling between the
top rail and surface, by using mid
rails, screens or mesh.
• Protective barriers must be
strong enough to support a
falling employee. Wood, chain
and wire rope may be used for
top rails and mid rails.
OSHA Office of Training & Education 58
Personal Fall Arrest Systems (PFAS)

You must be trained how to properly use PFAS

PFAS include anchorage, lifeline and body harness.

OSHA Office of Training & Education 59

SCAFFOLD SAFETY SERIES
Full Body Harness - Fall Arrest System
 Fall Protection Requirements
 Can use PFAS instead of
guardrails on some
scaffolds
 Use PFAS & guardrails on
suspension scaffolds
 Use PFAS on erectors and
dismantlers where feasible

The ends of this scaffold

are not properly guarded

OSHA Office of Training & Education 61

 Falling Object Protection

Wear hardhats

Barricade area below scaffold
to forbid entry into that area

Use panels or screens if
material is stacked higher than
the toeboard

Build a canopy or erect a net
below the scaffold that will
contain or deflect falling objects

OSHA Office of Training & Education 62

 Overhead Power Lines
The possibility of
electrocution is a
serious consideration
when working near
overhead power lines

Check the clearance

distances listed in the
standard

Insulated lines: less than 300 volts - 3 feet

300 volts to 50 KV - 10 feet
More than 50 KV - 10 feet plus 4 inches for each 1
KV over 50 KV
OSHA Office of Training & Education 63
 Overhead Power Lines
Scaffolds may be closer to
power lines than specified
where the clearance is
necessary to perform work,
but only after the utility
company, or electrical
system operator, is notified
of the need to work closer
and they de energized or
relocate the lines, or installed
protective coverings to
prevent contact with the lines

OSHA Office of Training & Education 64

Essential Elements of Safe
Scaffold Construction
• Use appropriate
scaffold construction
methods

• Proper scaffold access

• Properly use a
competent person

OSHA Office of Training & Education 65

Scaffold Platform Construction
Platforms must:
• be fully planked or
decked with no
more than 1 inch
gaps
• be able to support
its weight & 4 times
maximum load
• be at least 18
inches wide

This is not a properly

constructed scaffold

OSHA Office of Training & Education 66

 Planks
• Always plank out the full width of the scaffold.
(the minimum plank width is 18 inches)
• Checking of Scaffold Boards (A board should
not be used if:
1. Either end is split sufficient to cause a
weakness.
2. It is damaged by fracture or saw cut, is
splintered, has been nailed, or concrete or
plaster is sticking to it.
Planks
3- It has had oil,
corrosive liquid or
acid split on it.
4- It has any part
painted (which may
cover up a
weakness)
5- It is excessively
warped, or if any
part is decayed.
 Scaffold Platform Construction
• No large gaps in front
edge of platforms
• Each abutted end of plank
must rest on a separate
support surface
• Overlap platforms at least
12 inches over supports,
unless restrained to
prevent movement
Planks not properly
overlapped

OSHA Office of Training & Education 71

• Platforms 10' and less to
extend at least 6" but not
more than 12" past
support unless designed
and installed and/or
guarded properly

• Platforms greater than 10'

no more than 18" past
support unless designed
and installed and/or
guarded properly

OSHA Office of Training & Education 72

Scaffold Platform Construction
• No paint on wood platforms
• Use scaffold grade wood
• Fully planked between front
upright and guardrail support
•Component pieces used must
match and be of the same type
• Erect on stable and level ground
• Lock wheels and braces

OSHA Office of Training & Education 73

 Scaffold Height

20’ The height of the

scaffold should
not be more than
four times its
minimum base
dimension unless
guys, ties, or
braces are used
5’

OSHA Office of Training & Education 74

 Platform Ends

Each end of a
platform, unless
cleated or otherwise
restrained by hooks,
must extend over its
support by at least 6
inches

No Cleats

OSHA Office of Training & Education 75

• Each platform end 10 feet or less shall not
extend over its support more than 12 inches
unless the platform is designed and installed so
that the cantilevered portion of the platform is
able to support employees and/or materials
without tipping, or has guardrails which block
employee access to the cantilevered end.

• For the platform more than 10 feet in length

shall not extend over its support more than 18
inches, unless the same mentioned above.

OSHA Office of Training & Education 76

 Supported Scaffolds
Platforms supported by legs,
outrigger beams, brackets,
poles, uprights, posts, & frames

Restrain from tipping by guys,

ties, or braces

Scaffold poles, legs, posts,

frames, and uprights must be
on base plates and mud sills or
other firm foundation
This support is not adequate!

OSHA Office of Training & Education 77

‫قواعد السقاالت‬
‫قوة ومتانة السقالة يعتمد على‬ ‫•‬
‫قواعدها‪.‬‬
‫عديد من حوادث إنهيار السقاالت‬ ‫•‬
‫كانت بسبب ضعف قواعدها‪.‬‬
‫يجب تثبيت ألواح تحت أرجل‬ ‫•‬
‫السقاالت‪.‬‬
‫يفضل إستعمال ألواح للوقاية من‬ ‫•‬
‫الوحل ‪ Mudsill‬بحيث تمتد‬
‫مسافة ‪ 9‬بوصة من كل جانب وال‬
‫يقل سمكها عن ‪ 2‬بوصة وعرضها‬
‫عن ‪ 10‬بوصة‬
Scaffold Foundations

• Scaffolds must have

base plates, even
when setting on a
concrete floor.
• Also, the lack of a
base plate could
damage the scaffold
leg.
 Scaffold Support Examples

Base
plate

Mud sills

Good support Inadequate support –

in danger of collapse?
How can one prevent supported
scaffolding from tipping?
Either the manufacturers’ recommendation or the
following placements must be used for guys, ties, and
braces:
• Install guys, ties, or braces at the closest horizontal
member to the 4:1 height and repeat vertically with
the top restraint no further than the 4:1 height from
the top.

• Vertically—every 20 feet or less for scaffolds less

than three feet wide; every 26 feet or less for
scaffolds more than three feet wide.

• Horizontally—at each end; at intervals not to exceed

30 feet from one end.
OSHA Office of Training & Education 86
 Types of Ties
• Through Ties (+ ve)
• Reveal Ties (- ve)
• Box Ties (+ ve)
• Anchor Bolt (+ ve)
‫‪Through Ties (+ ve) -1‬‬
‫• يتم إدخال أنبوب خالل‬
‫أية فتحة فى المبنى‬
‫(نافذة) ويتم ربط أنبوب‬
‫آخر فى وضع أفقى بها‬
‫من الداخل‪.‬‬
‫• يتم بعد ذلك ربط األنبوب‬
‫األول فى مواقع مختلفة‬
‫من السقالة‪.‬‬
‫• يعتبر هذا النوع من‬
‫الربط ”ربط إيجابى“‬
‫)‪2- Reveal Ties (- ve‬‬
‫يتم تثبيت األنبوب بين حواف‬ ‫•‬
‫النافذة داخل فتحة فى الحائط‬
‫على قاعدة (وتد)‬
‫يتم تثبيت أنبوب آخر رأسى‬ ‫•‬
‫وربطه فى هذه األنبوبة كذلك‬
‫ربطه فى السقالة‬
‫تربط األنبوبة الرأسية فى‬ ‫•‬
‫الجهة المعاكسة لمكان ربط‬
‫الوتد‪.‬‬
‫يعتبر هذا النوع من الربط غير‬ ‫•‬
‫إيجابى‬
‫)‪3- Box Ties (+ ve‬‬
‫فى حالة وجود عمود قريب‬ ‫•‬
‫من السقالة يتم الربط به‪.‬‬
‫يتم الربط من جهتى العمود مع‬ ‫•‬
‫ربط أنبوبتين واحدة من األمام‬
‫واألخرى من الخلف‬
‫يتم ربط الماسورة بعد ذلك‬ ‫•‬
‫بالسقالة‬
‫يعتبر هذا الربط من النوع‬ ‫•‬
‫اإليجابى‬
‫)‪4- Anchor Bolt (+ ve‬‬
‫يتم تثبيت مسمار صلب بالحائط‬ ‫•‬
‫يتم ربط قاعدة من الصلب بهذا‬ ‫•‬
‫المسمار‬
‫يتم لحام ماسورة رأسية‬ ‫•‬
‫بالقاعدة الصلب‬
‫يتم ربط هذه الماسورة بالسقالة‬ ‫•‬
‫يعتبر هذا النوع من الربط من‬ ‫•‬
‫النوع اإليجابى‬
‫قوة الجذب يجب أال تقل عن‬ ‫•‬
‫‪ 800‬رطل ‪ 1200 ،‬رطل ‪،‬‬
‫‪ 1600‬رطل (ألنواع السقاالت‬
‫الثالث)‬
 Proper Scaffold Access
Provide access when scaffold
platforms are more than 2 feet
above or below a point of access

Permitted types of access:

• Ladders, such as portable, hook-
on, attachable, stairway type, and
built-ins
• Stair towers
• Ramps and walkways

May use building stairs and come

out window

OSHA Office of Training & Education 92

 Scaffold Access
• No access by
crossbraces
• When using ladders,
bottom rung no
more than 24 inches
high
• Can use some end
frames
• Can access from
Do not access
another scaffold, End Frame by crossbraces
structure or hoist

OSHA Office of Training & Education 93

 Suspension Scaffolds
Platforms suspended by ropes or wires. Rope must be capable
of supporting 6 times the load
Train employees to recognize hazards
Secure/tie to prevent swaying
Support devices must rest on surfaces that can
support four times the load
Competent person:
 evaluate connections to ensure the
supporting surfaces can support load
 inspect ropes for defects before shift

PFAS must have anchors independent of the

scaffold support system

OSHA Office of Training & Education 94

OSHA Office of Training & Education 95
 Moving Scaffolds
Employees can’t be on a moving
scaffold unless:
• Surface is level
• Height to base ratio is 2 to 1
• Outriggers are installed on
both sides of scaffolds

Employees can’t be on scaffold

part beyond the wheels

Competent person must be on

site to supervise

OSHA Office of Training & Education 96

 Fatal Fact – Moving a Lift
Employee was operating an
aerial lift, with an extendable
boom rotating work platform

The boom was fully extended

and the machine apparently ran
over some bricks, causing the
boom to flex or spring, throwing
the employee from the basket

The employee fell 37 feet to a

concrete surface

OSHA Office of Training & Education 98

Don’t use Shore or Lean-to Scaffolds

Shore scaffold Lean-to scaffold

supported scaffold supported scaffold
which is placed which is kept erect
against a building by tilting it toward
or structure and and resting it
held in place with against a building
props or structure

OSHA Office of Training & Education 99

 Using Scaffolds

•Don’t work on snow or

ice covered platforms or
during storms or high
winds
•Use tag lines on
swinging loads
•Protect suspension
ropes from heat & acid
A covered scaffold has special
wind load considerations

OSHA Office of Training & Education 100

Fatal Fact – Ice & No Guardrails
Laborer was working on the
third level of a tubular
welded frame scaffold which
was covered with ice and
snow

The scaffold was not fully

decked, there was no
guardrail and no access
ladder

The worker slipped and fell

head first 20 feet to the
pavement below OSHA Office of Training & Education 101
 Overhand Bricklaying
from Supported Scaffolds

A guardrail or personal fall arrest system is

required on all sides except the side where the
work is being done

OSHA Office of Training & Education 102

 Competent Person

Person capable of identifying and

promptly correcting hazards

Determines if it’s safe to work on

a scaffold during storms or high
winds

Trains workers to recognize

hazards

Selects qualified workers to

conduct work

OSHA Office of Training & Education 103

 Scaffold Inspection
Competent person
inspects scaffolds for
visible defects before
each shift and after
any alterations

Defective parts must

be immediately
repaired
Deformed bearer

OSHA Office of Training & Education 104

 Scaffold Erection
Scaffolds can only be
erected, moved,
dismantled or altered
under the
supervision of a
competent person

Competent person
selects & directs
these workers and
determines the
feasibility of fall
protection

OSHA Office of Training & Education 105

 Training Requirements
Train employees on scaffold
hazards and procedures to
control the hazards

The training must include:

• Nature of electrical, fall, and
falling object hazards
• How to deal with electrical
hazards and fall protection
systems
• Proper use of the scaffold
• Scaffold load capacities

Retrain as necessary

OSHA Office of Training & Education 106

 Training Erectors

Train employees involved in

erecting, disassembling,
moving, operating, repairing,
maintaining, or inspecting a
scaffold to recognize its
hazards and the correct
procedures to use

OSHA Office of Training & Education 107

Scaffold Labeling
 Avoid the Main Hazards of
Scaffolds
•Falls from elevation •Getting struck by falling
•Bad planking tools or debris
•Scaffold collapse •Electrocution

OSHA Office of Training & Education 109

 Summary
Remember to:
•Use appropriate scaffold construction
methods
 Erect, move, or alter scaffold properly
 Protect from falling objects or tools
•Ensure stable access
•Use a competent person
 Train on scaffold construction and the hazards
involved with scaffolds
 Inspect scaffold before each shift and after
alterations
 Determine fall protection requirements
OSHA Office of Training & Education 110