The Differences Between Risk Retention Groups and Traditional Insurance, The shape and structure of the building to be scaffolded. (j) Scaffold planks must extend over their end supports not less than 6 inches nor more than 18 inches. Toeboards being installed along the edge of platforms more than 10 feet above lower levels. In such cases, the gap will be as small as possible and not exceed 9 inches. Tube and coupler scaffold design must comply with 29 CFR 1926.451-.452. This training must be provided by a qualified person who understands the hazards associated with the type of scaffold being used and who knows the procedures to control or minimize those hazards. Except when used only as a walkway, the platform is the work area of the scaffold. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Midrails must be installed at a height approximately midway between the toprail and the platform surface. 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. [, Scaffolds are to be erected, moved, dismantled, or altered only under the supervision of a competent person qualified in such activities. To accomplish this, the scaffold design must incorporate a realistic assessment of maximum intended loads on the scaffold at all stages of erection and loading. 2011 Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | Website Feedback. The entire inside face of double-pole scaffolds used to support loads of 50 lbs. Scaffolding is a temporary structure that provides support for workers, plants, and materials used in building, construction, maintenance, repair, and demolition work. Plumb and level scaffold. Scaffold components cannot be mixed if they are from different manufacturers unless they fit together without force. Unsafe scaffolding has the potential to result in death or serious . Employees must not work on platforms covered with snow, ice or other slippery material. Install the deck, which may be an all aluminium platform or with wood deck or LeeLite planks. Supported scaffold poles, legs, posts, frames, and uprights shall be plumb (i.e. As one of the fastest growing agencies in California, GDI Insurance Agency, Inc. is able to provide its clients with the latest and greatest of what the insurance industry has to offer and much, much more. Shapes materials to prescribed measurements, using saws, chisels, and planes. perfectly vertical) and braced to prevent swaying and displacement. Tube and coupler scaffold design must comply with 29 CFR 1926.451-.452. Footing. A scaffold must be erected "plumb, square, and level," starting with the first bay of the scaffold, because every degree that the scaffold is off level will be magnified as the scaffold is raised in height. [, On scaffolds where platforms are overlapped to create a long platform, the overlap may only occur over supports, and may not be less than 12 inches, unless the platforms are restrained (i.e., nailed together) to prevent movement. Install a suitable means of access, such as a sloping or vertical ladder secured to the scaffold at the landing point. Braces should align the vertical members so that the erected scaffold is always plumb, level, and square. Screw jacks must be used to level scaffolding on uneven surfaces with a maximum extension for a screw jack of 12 inches. There are a great number of different scaffolds and scaffolding towers: they can be generally classified as independent scaffolding. Ties, guys, bracing and/or outriggers may be needed to assure a safe, stable scaffold assembly. 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. Lanyards or connecting devices must be connected to a vertical lifeline (1st choice), a horizontal lifeline (2nd choice), or a structural member of the scaffold (last choice). The momentum of the frame thrust the employee backward off the second level. Due to their strength, these scaffolds are frequently used where heavy loads need to be carried, or where multiple platforms must reach several stories high. (For mobile scaffolds, the maximum height of the screw jack is 12 inches.). 1926.454 Scaffolds are generally rated as light, medium or heavy duty and must be able to support the correlating weight of workers and materials required for each type. Employees involved with set up (or near) the scaffold must wear hard hats. Step 2. Scaffold components of dissimilar metals should not be used together, unless the competent person has determined that galvanic action will not reduce the strength of any component. Scaffolds with height to base ratio greater than 4:1 must be restrained from tipping by guying, tying, bracing or equivalent means. 1. In general, a level is the easiest way to achieve the desired right angles. Critical to scaffolding safety are the use of competent persons for the design, erection/dismantling, and maintenance of scaffolds, and trained workers for their use. Debris nets or canopy structures that contain or deflect falling objects. Wooden platforms (i.e. This will determine how many of each component you will need. The employer was cited for not assuring the stability of the scaffold before requiring the worker to use it. To ensure the scaffold is "square", use a tape measure and measure the distance between opposite corners. [, Fall protection consists of either personal fall arrest systems or guardrail systems meeting OSHA requirements. 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. Supported scaffolds are scaffolds supported from the ground by rigid elements such as outrigger beams, poles, legs, base plates, sills and posts. Scaffolds with a height-to-base width ratio of more than four to one shall be restrained from tipping over by guying, tying, bracing, or equivalent means. 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. Where there is a danger of tools, materials, or equipment falling from a scaffold onto employees below, they must be protected by [. Plumb and level all scaffolds as the erection proceeds. Such retraining is required in at least the following situations [. Always use . Scaffold safety should be an important part of your overall safety plans. Check out our special shipping rates! Is erected plumb and level. Ladders tend to be quite dangerous on work sites, so many construction companies prefer the use of stairways. Or wind screens (when wind screens are used the scaffold must be secured against the anticipated wind forces). Employees who perform work while on a scaffold must be trained by a qualified person to recognize the hazards associated with the type of scaffold being used, and to understand the procedures to control those hazards. Barricades to keep personnel out of a hazardous area. [, Be positioned so that their bottom step is not more than 24 inches above the scaffold supporting level, [, Have rest platforms at maximum vertical intervals of 12 feet, [, Have a minimum step width of 16 inches, except for mobile scaffold stairway-type ladders, which shall have a minimum step width of 11 inches [, Have slip-resistant treads on all steps and landings. NOTE: Except where indicated, the same basic scaffold requirements that appear in this module also apply to manually propelled, pump jack, ladder jack, tube and coupler, and pole scaffolds, as well as the specialty scaffolds described in Supported Scaffolds. Find out more here or call us at 209-634-2929! building materials, paint roller extensions, scaffold components) that may be handled on them, come closer than 10 feet to the power line. Planking on this platform should be six planks wide, instead of only two. Do not force frames or braces to fitlevel the scaffold until proper fit can easily be made. Scaffolds need to be erected plumb, level, squared and braced to . Fall protection requirements for workers using scaffolds, such as guardrail systems or personal fall arrest systems, The type and amount of scaffold equipment needed to access all areas to be worked on, Proper storage and transporting of scaffolding components, materials and equipment, The manner in which workers will access the scaffold (e.g., via ladders, stair rail systems), Proper materials to construct the scaffold. OSHA 1926.454 (c) states: When an employer has reason to believe . Medium-duty scaffolds can support 50 pounds per square foot. All brace connections must be secured to prevent dislodging. Screw jacks must be used to level scaffolding on uneven surfaces with a maximum extension for a screw jack of 12 inches. Distinctive site conditions and any special features of the building structure in relation to the scaffold (e.g., overhead electric power lines or storage tanks); also consider the proximity and condition of surrounding buildings. 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. [, Do not load the scaffold or any component parts beyond their maximum capacity (their own weight and 4:1 the maximum intended load). Also, note that the planks are bowing because the bricks are loaded at one point on the platform instead of being evenly distributed. Avoid propping the scaffolding frames up on the side of the bed. Scaffolds must be plumb, square and adequately braced with proper access. General Information Base/Footing Plumb/Level/Square Securing Platforms/Decking Access Fall Protection General Information . The poles, legs, or uprights of scaffolds must be plumb, and securely and rigidly braced to prevent swaying and displacement. [, Stairways installed between 40 degrees and 60 degrees from the horizontal. He fell 16 feet to the ground, sustaining facial fractures and other injuries. Check the level again and plumb if necessary. (Your Answer) 3. A metal base plate footing makes the scaffold more secure and will go a long way to ensure scaffolding meets the next two regulations. Don't use bricks, blocks, barrels, or other unstable objects to level a scaffold. The scaffold must be plumb, level and squared wi th all brace connections securely fastened. Keep the scaffold level, plumb, and square. Duty level of scaffold is based on the chart below. Where a platform changes direction (ex. [. Erectors and dismantlers face additional access problems due to the incomplete condition of the scaffolding. This poses a risk of electrocution not just to the worker holding the tool, but to everyone who contacts the scaffold. [, Have rest platforms provided at a maximum of 35-foot vertical intervals. In general, a level is the easiest way to achieve the desired right angles. The erected scaffold must support its own weight and at least four times the maximum intended load. Our goal is to achieve long-term relationships focused on bringing value to your risk management and insurance programs. Frames and panels should also be locked together to prevent uplift. Scaffolds and scaffold components must be capable of supporting, without failure, their own weight and at least 4 times their maximum intended load. Even if they are "in the way," braces should not be removed while work is being performed on a scaffold! Where the frame of the scaffold will be used for access, the manufacturer must specify in writing that it was designed for such purposes. Potential accessories include ladders, stairways, platforms, tool bins, and hoists. Be supported by bearing blocks securely attached to the poles. System Scaffolding. [, Ends of rails may not extend beyond their terminal posts, unless they do not constitute a projection hazard to employees. Make sure that a competent person inspects the scaffold before each work shift. Stability and durability are the key components for the scaffold towers to be safe. Scaffolding is naturally unstable because it is usually a tall structure with a narrow base. One exception is when the scaffold platform is within 14 inches of the face of the work. [, When midrails are used, they must be installed at a height approximately midway between the top edge of the guardrail system and the platform surface. [, Non-mandatory examples of criteria that will enable an employer to comply with, Scaffolds are to be erected, moved, dismantled, or altered only by experienced and trained employees who have been selected for that work by the competent person. Each section of the framework measured 6'5" high. No handhold available. Do not mix scaffold components from different manufacturers, unless you can do so while maintaining the scaffolds structural integrity. Damaged or deteriorated equipment must not be used USA (v. 2008) 21 Erecting Scaffolding. Lapped scaffold planks are to be overlapped on a support at least at least 300 millimetres or greater past the edge of the plank underneath. [, Guardrails meeting OSHA requirements on the open sides and ends of each landing. If using wooden planks, they must extend beyond the supporting Cross-bracing is required on both front and back sides of each scaffold buck or frame. the diagonal brace to keep the scaffolding square. All brace connections shall be . When platform units are abutted together to create a long platform, each abutted end must rest on a separate support surface. Posts shall be erected plumb in all directions, with the first level of runners and bearers positioned as close to the base as feasible. Construction and loading must comply with engineered designs and manufacturers requirements. By far, the most forgotten term of a door installation. Secure scaffolds to the structure during erection and dismantling. 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 [. Once erected, provide toeboards on all railed sides to prevent falling object hazards. They may be made of solid material or mesh with openings no greater than 1 inch. bucks) must be joined together vertically by coupling or stacking pins (or equivalent means). Integral (built-in) scaffold access frames must: Stair towers (scaffold stairway/towers) must have (Figure 7): Direct access to or from another surface is permitted only when the scaffold is not more than 14 inches horizontally and not more than 24 inches vertically from the other surface. Employers are required to provide fall protection for employees erecting or dismantling supported scaffolds where it is feasible, and where installing and using it does not create a greater hazard. decking, planks) must not be painted to hide defects. This unit specifies the outcomes required to safely erect, alter and dismantle scaffolding at the basic level. Has lockable wheels if it is a mobile rolling scaffold. 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. 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. Article sourced from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, http://www.OSHA.gov. Bearers must extend a minimum of 3 inches over the outside edge of runners. Ladders are used to provide access to different levels of the scaffold, although sometimes steps will be used to improve safety. An access ladder or equivalent safe access must be provided. 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. Hook-on and attachable ladder rungs must: Be positioned so that their bottom rung is not more than 24 inches above the scaffold supporting level. This topic discusses supported scaffolds. All erection of scaffold greater than or equal to 20 feet shall be conducted by a licensed contractor. and must be provided on any scaffold 10 feet or more above a lower level. The design criteria, maximum intended load capacity, and intended use of the scaffold. [, If a ramp or walkway has a slope of more than 1:8, it must have cleats securely fastened to the planks not more than 14 inches apart, to provide footing. Has a platform that is at least 500mm wide. (. Move the scaffold into your desired position, and make sure it is level and secure. The maximum intended load and the load-carrying capacity of the scaffold. Install guys, ties and braces according to the manufacturers recommendations. 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. [, Walkways located within a scaffold must have guardrail systems installed within 9 inches of and along at least one side of the walkway. And also, there are lots of sites that sell scaffolding spare parts. (If manufactured before 1/1/2000, top rails must be between 36 - 45 inches above the platform surface.) Scaffolding must be erected, altered, moved, and dismantled in accordance with applicable OSHA standards and under the direct supervision of a scaffold competent person. Only trained and authorized persons should be allowed to use a scaffold. 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. 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. Platforms that rest at right angles over the same support shall be laid second (on top of the first platform). (7) Ribbons shall be erected along the length of the scaffold, located on both the inside and the outside posts . Fasten the levelling jack to the sills with either nails or screws. Screw jacks must be used to level scaffolding on uneven surfaces. The hazards of type of scaffold being used. A horizontal diagonal brace is required on the bottom buck of scaffolding at a 45 degree angle. [, Ties, guys, braces, or outriggers shall be used to prevent tipping of supported scaffolds bearing eccentric loads, such as cantilevered work platforms. [, When moving platforms to the next level, the existing platform must be left undisturbed until the new end frames have been set in place and braced. Contact us today 1-209-634-2929 for your comprehensive California contractor insurance quote! [, Uniform tread depth, within -inch, for each flight of stairs. Therefore, assessing personnel abilities should be a part of all phases of the scaffolding inspection. 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( c ) states: when an employer has reason to believe the potential to result death., Ends of rails may not extend beyond their terminal posts, frames, and make sure that a person! Should align the vertical members so that the erected scaffold must be secured to prevent uplift ) Ribbons shall plumb! Risk of electrocution not just to the structure during erection and dismantling greater than 1 inch long way to the., square and adequately braced with proper access plumb and level all scaffolds as the erection proceeds or equivalent access... 1 inch on top of the screw jack of 12 inches. ) based the. And at least the following situations [ more secure and will go a long platform, each abutted end rest... Unstable objects to level scaffolding on uneven surfaces with a maximum extension for a screw jack of 12.... Wear hard hats supported scaffold poles, legs, posts, frames, square! Edge of runners the bricks are loaded at one point on the below! Systems or guardrail systems meeting OSHA requirements or equal to 20 feet shall be erected along length... Protection general Information can be generally classified as independent scaffolding between 40 degrees and 60 from... Or deteriorated equipment must not be used USA ( v. 2008 ) Erecting!