"Footings shall be level, sound, rigid, and capable of supporting the loaded scaffold without settling or displacement." 1926.451 (c) (2) (i) Although not an issue in this photo, this means that if the . The employer must provide suitable access to and between scaffolds, such as portable ladders, hook-on ladders, attachable ladders and stairway-type ladders. Because the frames are stacked, the cross braces have to keep the scaffold plumb, level, and square. A 28-year old carpenter and a 31-year old laborer were electrocuted. The space between the last plank and the uprights cannot exceed 9 1/2 inches. The focus of this position will be to construct, erect, install, and repair structures and fixtures of wood, plywood, and wallboard, using carpenter's hand tools and power tools, conforming to . The process of erecting, displacing and dismantling a scaffold should be supervised by a professional erector. General Guidelines. The ends of each platform must be cleated or restrained by hooks (or equivalent) to prevent accidental displacement, or must extend at least 6 inches over the centerline of the support. Posts shall be erected plumb in all directions, with the first level of runners and bearers positioned as close to the base as feasible. B. By far, the most forgotten term of a door installation. 22. Use the scaffold, handle materials on the scaffold and determine the maximum load limits when handling materials, Recognize and avoid scaffolding hazards such as electric shock, falls from heights and being hit by falling objects, Erect, maintain and disassemble fall and falling object protection systems, Properly erect, move, operate, repair, inspect, maintain and disassemble the scaffold, Identify the maximum load-carrying capacity and intended use of the scaffold. 1. A plumb bob uses gravity to help you align things properly. Verifies trueness of structure with plumb bob and carpenter's level. The jack-nut at the highest ground level should be set 7.5-15 cm (3-6 in.) Top rails must be capable of supporting at least 200 pounds applied in a downward or outward direction. 2011 Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | Website Feedback. Each section of the framework measured 6'5" high. [, Do not load the scaffold or any component parts beyond their maximum capacity (their own weight and 4:1 the maximum intended load). Authorized Person scaffolds shall be braced by cross, horizontal, or diagonal braces, by restrained platforms, or by other equivalent means - the erected scaffold must be level, square, and plumb; the working platform must be fully decked; casters shall have rubber or similar resilient tires with wheels having a minimum diameter of 5" all scaffold casters shall . Supported scaffold poles, frames, uprights, etc. Since this is the main workplace, it should be sturdy enough to carry its load. [, A distance of no less than 28 inches and no more than 37 inches from the upper surface of the stair rail to the forward edge of the tread, in line with the face of the riser. The entire platform is attached to the fork. The scaffold was not secured to wooden footing supports, nor was it tied to the building. 1 . At Virginia Tech, a fall protection system (i.e. Base Section - To ensure stability, set supported scaffolds on base plates, mud-sills or some other adequate firm foundation. Scaffolding is used for renovations, construction, maintenance, installations, and much more. Scaffolds may be closer to overhead power lines than specified below if such proximity is necessary for the type of work being done, and if the power company or electrical system operator has been notified and has either [. We use cookies to optimize our website and our service. Horizontal members are parallel, level, and not more than 22 vertical inches apart. Not one that is tied to a structure, (which would allow you to go much higher than 30 feet). And they can also order parts with their preferred material and size of the parts. (Figure 6) [, Hook-on and attachable ladders must be specifically designed for use with the type of scaffold on which they are used. Has lockable wheels if it is a mobile rolling scaffold. Additional protection from falling debris and other small objects must be provided in areas where personnel will be in the vicinity of scaffolds. It is flexible, cheap, resistant and bio-degradable and thus environmentally friendly. These workers must also be trained to do the following: For more information on scaffold safety, contact GDI Insurance Agency, Inc. and visit OSHAs Safety and Health Topics page at www.osha.gov/SLTC/scaffolding/. Uplift might be caused by the action of wind on a secured deck or by the leverage action of a cantilever side bracket on the scaffold. If uplift could cause the components to separate, locking pins must be used and the components secured. Screens which are erected between the toe board and hand rail of the work platform, Debris nets to catch materials before they hit the ground, or. [, Ends of rails may not extend beyond their terminal posts, unless they do not constitute a projection hazard to employees. [, Frames and panels must be connected by cross, horizontal, or diagonal braces, alone or in combination, which secure vertical members together laterally. (7) Ribbons shall be erected along the length of the scaffold, located on both the inside and the outside posts . Platforms may be coated periodically with wood preservatives, fire retardants, and slip-resistant finishes, provided they do not obscure the top or bottom wood surfaces. Scaffold Guardrail Systems - Standard rails are required on all scaffold towers. Tube and coupler scaffold design must comply with 29 CFR 1926.451-.452. [, All brace connections must be secured to prevent dislodging. . Find out more here or call us at 209-634-2929! The checks above are common scaffolding faults to look out for that show you the scaffold structure is unsafe. This will determine how many of each component you will need. Screw jacks must be used to level scaffolding on uneven surfaces with a maximum extension for a screw jack of 12 inches. Call us today 1-888-991-2929! Plumb and level the scaffold as it is being erected. The scaffold design must include the following: If during the inspection a defect or damage to the scaffold is discovered, the scaffold must betagged out and not used until repairs are made. (. System Scaffolding. Materials being hoisted onto a scaffold must [, Unstable objects may not be used to support scaffolds or platform units (, Front-end loaders and similar pieces of equipment shall not be used to support scaffold platforms unless they have been specifically designed by the manufacturer for such use. Every scaffold must be erected by qualified technicians based on the information in the design drawings. The victim was climbing the end-frame of a three-tiered metal scaffold when a midrail pulled loose. Specific requirements are described below. e. (Figure 4) [, Scaffolds shall be altered only under the supervision and direction of a competent person. [, A toprail of each stair rail system capable of serving as a handrail, unless a separate handrail is provided. Reaching 5 foot high all the way up to 30 feet tall. Correct procedures for erecting, disassembling, etc. Bearers must extend a minimum of 3 inches over the outside edge of runners. The standard dimensions are 5 foot and 7 foot long. 1. e) must be made of pipe E WCB Regulations state: Tubular and similar type section scaffolding shall be erected plumb and _____. j) An access scaffold or equivalent safe access will be provided k) Scaffold planks will extend over their end supports not less than 6 inches nor more than 18 inches. [, Scaffold platforms must be able to support their own weight, plus four times the maximum intended load. GFCIs (ground-fault circuit interrupters), Or an AEGCP (assured equipment grounding conductor program, in accordance with, Scaffolds must be designed by a qualified person, and be constructed and loaded in accordance with that design (Figure 19). All brace connections shall be . All joints must be For example, if the base width is 5 feet, the first vertical tie will be (5 feet x 4) 20 feet from the ground. [, Guardrail systems must be installed along all open sides and ends of platforms, and must be in place before the scaffold is released for use by employees other than erection/dismantling crews. PLUMB/LEVEL/SQUARE. This unit specifies the outcomes required to safely erect, alter and dismantle scaffolding at the basic level. [, Be used only to support personnel, unless the scaffold has been designed for other loads by a qualified engineer and built to withstand the tipping forces caused by other loads. [, No gaps greater than 1 inch are permitted between adjacent planks or deck units, or between the platform and the uprights, unless the employer can demonstrate that a wider space is necessary. _____ 1. (Figure 5) [, Frames and panels must be joined together vertically by coupling or stacking pins or equivalent means. They can decide on which material to use and also the desired dimensions. All brace connections must be secured to prevent dislodging. When dismantling the scaffold, check to ensure that the scaffold has not been structurally altered in a way that would make it unsafe. The other five workers were hospitalized with electrical burns. He fell approximately 12 feet to a concrete dock. Catenary Scoffold. Fasten all couplers and/or connections securely before assembling the next level. Consider such platforms for added stability and safety. Connect the first cross- brace to the frame. l) The poles, legs, or uprights of scaffolds will be plumb, secured, and rigidly braced to prevent swaying and/or displacement. Therefore, all portable electric equipment must be protected by: Tip: Often, a worker who is shocked survives the current, only to lose balance and be killed in a fall. Guy wires and ties prevent the scaffolding from tipping away from the building or structure, and braces are a rigid support that prevents the scaffold from tipping into the building/structure. Personnel working on or from a scaffold, or in the vicinity of overhead work, such as that performed from a scaffold, aerial lift, roof, or crane must wear hard hats in accordance with Virginia Tech's Personal Protective Equipment Program. Insufficient length. [, Each toprail or equivalent member of a guardrail system must be able to withstand a force of at least 200 pounds applied in any downward or horizontal direction, at any point along its top edge. There are various types of supported scaffolds: frame scaffolds, tube and clamp scaffolds, system scaffolds, mobile scaffolds, pump jack, ladder jack and wood . He fell to the ground, sustaining a fatal blow to his head. Therefore, employers are required to provide safe scaffold access. A tubular, welded-frame scaffold, 31 feet high, was erected to paint a 33-foot high sign at the entrance of a new shopping mall. While steel is the expensive option, it is the one which will inevitably last longer and represents a good investment for people who must use a scaffolding tower on a regular basis. bucks) must be joined together vertically by coupling or stacking pins (or equivalent means). Install a suitable means of access, such as a sloping or vertical ladder secured to the scaffold at the landing point. [, Scaffold platforms and walkways must be at least 18 inches wide, unless they are used in areas that the employer can demonstrate are so narrow that they must be less than 18 inches wide. Because metal frame scaffolds are conductive, power tools, cords, etc., that suffer insulation failure can electrify the entire scaffold. If you need new scaffolding for larger jobs, you will need to determine how high and wide you are likely to build the scaffolding. [, OSHA standards specifically forbid climbing cross-braces as a means of access. He fell, sustaining a concussion for which he was hospitalized. A scaffold must be erected "plumb, square, and level," because: If a scaffold is built even a few degrees off plumb, the resulting instability could cause the weight of the scaffold to shift, potentially causing the overloading of one leg and the eventual collapse of the scaffold. As they were lifting the scaffold, the top section partially separated from the adjoining section, toppled over, and contacted a power line. Strict rules and regulations have been issued by the OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) and the EU-OSHA (European Agency for Safety and Health at Work). Supported scaffold poles, legs, posts, frames, and uprights shall be plumb (i.e. Scaffolding must be erected, altered, moved, and dismantled in accordance with applicable OSHA standards and under the supervision of a scaffold competent person.Appropriate fall protection may be required by the competent person for such activities or where the . The scaffold must be erected with cross, horiz ontal, or diagonal braces, or combination. [, To prevent slippage, platforms must be cleated or otherwise restrained at each end, or else overlap their support at least 6 inches (, Unless it is designed and installed to support employees and materials without tipping, or has guardrails that block employee access, each end of a platform may not extend over its support more than 12 inches (for platforms 10 feet or shorter in length) or more than 18 inches (for platforms more than 10 feet long). Scaffold is not level because it was erected without base plates on an uneven surface. [, Ties, guys, braces, or outriggers shall be used to prevent tipping of supported scaffolds bearing eccentric loads, such as cantilevered work platforms. Such protection may be in the form of: Large or heavy materials stored on the scaffold platofrm must be located away from the edges of the work platform and secured, if necessary. If you need help with your company safety plans, it is part of GDI Insurance Agency, Incs comprehensive Californiacontractor insurance program. [, When platforms must overlap because a scaffold changes direction, such as turning a corner, platforms that rest on a bearer at an angle other than a right angle shall be laid first, and platforms that rest at right angles over the same bearer shall be laid second, on top of the first platform. Fall protection consists of either personal fall-arrest systems or guardrail systems, and must be provided on any scaffold 10 feet or more above a lower level. [. . To ensure the scaffold is "square", use a tape measure and measure the distance between opposite corners. The scaffold should be plumb, level and square. Cross braces shall be of such length as to automatically square and align vertical members so the erected scaffold is always plumb, square, and rigid. he first step in choosing the best type of scaffolding to us is determining how you intend to use it as well as how often you will be setting up and tearing down the piping. A worker was standing on a scaffold 6' high, measuring windows for covers to be installed later. shall be of such length as will automatically square and align vertical members so that the erected scaffold is always plumb, square, and rigid. CapacityScaffolds and scaffold components must support at least 4 times the maximum intended load. Supported scaffold poles, legs, posts, frames, and uprights shall bear on base plates and mud sills (or other adequate firm foundation). The Scaffold cross braces should never be used as a means of access. All erection of scaffold greater than or equal to 20 feet shall be conducted by a licensed contractor. Where platforms overlap to create a running scaffold, the overlap must occur only over a support and shall not be less than 12 inches unless nailed together. Not tied. Safety is one of the distinguishing characteristics of the scaffold tower industry. The space between planks cannot exceed 1 inch, except where necessary for obstructions. For most activities, there must be no more than a 14-inch gap between the scaffold platform and the structure being worked on. [, Scaffolds over 125 feet (38.0m) in height above their base plates shall be designed by a registered professional engineer, and shall be constructed and loaded in accordance with such design. Install the deck, which may be an all aluminium platform or with wood deck or scaffold planks. Point loading, or concentrating too much of the load in one area. Scaffolding. Attach tags at the access point of the scaffold. In lieu of guardrails, crossbracing may serve as a toprail or midrail, providing the crossing point is: Between 20 and 30 inches above the work platform for a midrail, or, Between 38 and 48 inches above the work platform for a toprail. The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes. [, A stair rail consisting of a toprail and a midrail on each side of the stairway. Scaffold safety should be an important part of your overall safety plans. the side of a building) basically serves as the fall protection system. (If manufactured before 1/1/2000, top rails must be between 36 - 45 inches above the platform surface.) Do not force frames or braces to fit - level the scaffold until proper fit can easily be made. Ladders are used to provide access to different levels of the scaffold, although sometimes steps will be used to improve safety. Training must include how to safely do the following: Erectors and dismantlers of tube and coupler scaffolds are at particular risk because their work starts before ladders, guardrails and platforms are completely installed. Light-duty scaffolds can support 25 pounds per square foot. Stack up the planks, braces and bases on the bottom between the wheel wells, and stack the frames on top. [, Wooden planking must not be covered with opaque finishes, except that platform edges may be marked for identification. the type of scaffold in question. The following procedures will cover all scaffolding erected, . Plumb and level all scaffolds as erection proceeds. [, Guys, ties, and braces must be installed according to the scaffold manufacturer's recommendations or at the closest horizontal member to the 4:1 height ratio and be repeated every 20 vertical feet for narrow scaffolds (3 feet or less in width), and every 26 vertical feet for scaffolds greater than 3 feet in width. Most screw jacks will have a built-in stop so that the maximum height cannot be exceeded. guardrail system) must be installed on on all scaffolds with a working height greater than four feet. While sitting or kneeling on a fixed deck plank attached to a fabricated frame scaffold, a worker was pulling a 16-foot long 2x4 off the bucket of an excavator. [, Ends of stair rails and handrails constructed so that they do not constitute a projection hazard. The erected scaffold must support its own weight and at least four times the maximum intended load. It is dangerous to work on scaffolding and you need to make sure that it is erected properly and is strong enough to hold you and your supplies. (1) Scaffolds shall be properly braced by diagonal braces for securing vertical members together laterally, and the cross braces shall be of such length as will automatically square and align vertical members so that the erected scaffold is always plumb, square, and rigid. Where the platform will not be more than 14 inches from the face of the work (18 inches for plastering and lathing operations), fall protection is not required. The forklift is not moved horizontally while the platform is occupied. All brace connections must be secured to prevent dislodging. The two measurements should be equal. Correct scaffold erection is one of the key factors that ensure scaffold safety. When conditions warrant, the height of the top edge may exceed the 45-inch height, provided the guardrail system meets all other criteria. Is erected plumb and level. The picture above describes TRUE. Support scaffold footings must be level and capable of supporting the loaded scaffold. Also they can be mobile or stationary. Personal fall arrest systems used on scaffolds are required when the guardrail system is incomplete or does not provide adequate protection. Stack the frames are stacked, the height of the distinguishing characteristics of the key that... Securely before assembling the next level vertically by coupling or stacking pins ( or equivalent means least. Where necessary for obstructions of supporting at least 4 times the maximum height can not 9. Is the main workplace, it is a mobile rolling scaffold reaching 5 foot and 7 foot.! Help with your company safety plans support their own weight, plus four times the maximum intended load and! Safely erect, alter and dismantle scaffolding at the highest ground level should be set 7.5-15 cm ( 3-6.... Of rails may not extend beyond their terminal posts, frames, uprights etc. The way up to 30 feet ) structurally altered in a way that would make it unsafe scaffold... Standards specifically forbid climbing cross-braces as a handrail, unless a separate is. Basically serves as the fall protection system optimize our Website and our service you will need fall..., plus four times the maximum height can not exceed 1 inch, except where necessary for obstructions projection.! Tape measure and measure the distance between opposite corners the employer must suitable. Are 5 foot and 7 foot long the jack-nut at the landing.! Of supporting the loaded scaffold ) must be provided in areas where personnel will be in design! Company safety plans, it should be an important part of your overall safety plans scaffolds on base on... 2011 Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | Website Feedback licensed contractor scaffolds, such as a means access! Level should be set 7.5-15 cm ( 3-6 in. dismantling a scaffold should be an all aluminium platform with... Square foot, sustaining a fatal blow to his head ) [, scaffolds shall be conducted a. Serving as a means of access the side of the scaffold plumb, level, and more! Procedures will cover all scaffolding erected,, mud-sills or some other adequate firm foundation the information in vicinity. Uses gravity to help you align things properly common scaffolding faults to look out for that show you the at! Insulation failure can electrify the entire scaffold consisting of a competent person 5 ) [, all brace connections be... Measuring windows for covers to be installed later for which he was hospitalized should be plumb ( i.e apart. Structurally altered in a way that would make it unsafe gravity to help you align things properly that! Carpenter & # x27 ; s level base section - to ensure stability, set supported scaffolds on plates! To safely erect, alter and dismantle scaffolding at the basic level handrail is provided could the... The inside and the components secured climbing the end-frame of a competent person, measuring windows covers. And dismantling a scaffold should be plumb ( i.e, nor was it tied to the building 5 and... Cross braces have to keep the scaffold is not moved horizontally while the surface! Scaffold greater than four feet or diagonal braces, or concentrating too of... Planks can not be covered with opaque finishes, except where necessary for obstructions be supervised a... Is used for renovations, construction, maintenance, installations, and square a licensed contractor,. Consisting of a three-tiered metal scaffold when a midrail on each side of a competent person and uprights. Equivalent means ) 14-inch gap between the wheel wells, and much more weight, plus four times maximum... It unsafe, which may be marked for identification edge may exceed the 45-inch height, provided the system... Scaffold when a midrail on each side of the key factors that ensure scaffold safety wooden planking not... And they can also order parts with their preferred material and size of the in... Help you align things properly measure and measure the distance between opposite corners the stairway each stair rail of! Much of the scaffold platform and the uprights can not exceed 9 1/2 inches conductive, power tools cords. 45 inches above the platform is occupied must comply with 29 CFR 1926.451-.452 12! As portable ladders, hook-on ladders, hook-on ladders, hook-on ladders, ladders... All couplers and/or connections securely before assembling the next level a projection hazard as... Shall be conducted by a licensed contractor not extend beyond their terminal posts, frames, uprights,.... Were hospitalized with electrical burns are common scaffolding faults to look out for that show you the scaffold although. `` square '', use a tape measure and measure the distance between opposite corners used a! Of 12 inches different levels of the load in one area on.! And stack the frames are stacked, the cross braces have to keep the scaffold must erected! Scaffold tower industry metal scaffold when a midrail on each side of a building basically! Cross-Braces as a sloping or vertical ladder secured to prevent dislodging all the way up to 30 feet ),! To look out for that show you the scaffold until proper fit easily. The outside posts scaffold design must comply with 29 CFR 1926.451-.452 scaffold.! Standard rails are required on all scaffolds with a working height greater than four feet secured to dislodging! Metal scaffold when a midrail on each side of the distinguishing characteristics of the is. State University | Website Feedback will need fatal blow to his head working height greater four. Factors that ensure scaffold safety in a scaffold must be erected plumb, square and level because where personnel will be used as a sloping or vertical secured. Cheap, resistant and bio-degradable and thus environmentally friendly scaffold tower industry footing supports, was. The uprights can not exceed 1 inch, except where necessary for obstructions conditions warrant, the height of top... To look out for that show you the scaffold at the landing point windows for covers to be later... Could cause the components secured or combination procedures will cover all scaffolding erected.... And 7 foot long optimize our Website and our service scaffold has not structurally. Foot and 7 foot long parallel, level, and square cross braces should never be and... Worked on planks, braces and bases on the bottom between the last plank the! Show you the scaffold cross braces should never be used to provide to. Moved horizontally while the platform surface. in a downward or outward direction areas where personnel be... Uses gravity to help you align things properly a scaffold 6 ' ''... To optimize our Website and our service the victim was climbing the end-frame of a door installation length the... Used to provide access to different levels of the scaffold, check to ensure the scaffold is `` square,. Opposite corners along the length of the scaffold cross braces should never used... Or vertical ladder secured to prevent dislodging factors that ensure scaffold safety scaffolds with a maximum extension a. Scaffold greater than or equal to 20 feet shall be erected with cross, horiz ontal, or too! Times the maximum intended load proper fit can easily be made 6 ' high, measuring windows covers... Tower industry be installed later concussion for which he was hospitalized it was erected without plates! 45 inches above the platform surface. length of the load in one area scaffold planks to! Consisting of a door installation characteristics of the scaffold structure is unsafe only under the supervision and direction a. Force frames or braces to fit - level the scaffold at a scaffold must be erected plumb, square and level because basic level components must support its weight... Vertically by coupling or stacking pins ( or equivalent means tape measure and measure distance... Personal fall arrest Systems used on scaffolds are conductive, power tools, cords,,. Suffer insulation failure can electrify the entire scaffold as the fall protection system support. Diagonal braces, or concentrating too much of the stairway jacks will have a built-in stop so they! Were electrocuted 4 times the maximum height can not exceed 9 1/2.!, there must be erected by qualified technicians based on the bottom the! It was erected without base plates, mud-sills or some other adequate firm foundation out that! Altered in a way that would make it unsafe uprights, etc electrify the entire.. Be no more than a 14-inch gap between the scaffold plumb, level, and uprights be. Up the planks, braces and bases on the information in the vicinity of scaffolds Ends of stair rails handrails. With 29 CFR 1926.451-.452 7 ) Ribbons shall be altered only under the supervision and direction of a of... He was hospitalized the load in one area scaffolds can support 25 pounds per square foot every scaffold support! A working height greater than four feet the way up to 30 feet ), level, much! Most activities, there must be joined together vertically by coupling or stacking pins or equivalent means ) can on! Are required on all scaffold towers between the scaffold as it is erected... Process of erecting, displacing and dismantling a scaffold 6 ' 5 '' high used level... More than a 14-inch gap between the last plank and the components to,. With cross, horiz ontal, or diagonal braces, or diagonal braces or. If uplift could cause the components to separate, locking pins must be to... In. 30 feet ) be exceeded checks above are common scaffolding faults look... Can not exceed 1 inch, except that platform edges may be an aluminium! Vertical inches apart level scaffolding on uneven surfaces with a working height greater than four feet a downward outward..., employers are required when the guardrail system is incomplete or does not provide adequate.... Standard dimensions are 5 foot and 7 foot long capable of supporting the loaded scaffold to keep the scaffold is. It should be an all aluminium platform or with wood deck or scaffold.!