§ SUBPART L SCAFFOLDS

History  Subpart L originally issued in December 1971  Amendments during the first two years: Planking grade Overhead protection Plank spans Guardrails  Complete review of Subpart L initiated in 1977

History  Scaffold injuries and fatalities continue despite Subpart L provisions  Almost 10,000 scaffold related injuries annually.  Over 75 scaffold-related fatalities annually  Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health (ACCSH) consulted on draft revisions

Need for Additional Regulation  BLS statistics: 72% of workers injured on scaffolds attributed accident to planking giving way, slips, or falling objects 70% of workers learn safety requirements on-the- job 25% received no training Only 1/3 of scaffolds equipped with guardrails

Need for Additional Regulation  Scaffold related fatalities accounted for approximately 10% of construction fatalities  OSHA determines revision of scaffold standard is necessary  Estimates changes can save 50 lives and prevent 4500 injuries annually

A long process  OSHA issued the notice of proposed rule making for the updated standard on November 25, 1986  It took 10 years to finalize  Effective: November 29, 1996

Purpose of new standard  More performance based, allows flexibility  Simplifies language, eliminates redundancies  Increased options for use of fall protection

Major issues resolved  Trigger height for fall protection 10 feet  38 inch guardrail height when primary FP  36 inch when guardrails required and fall arrest used (e.g.: suspended scaffolds)  Competent Person determines Fall Protection feasibility for erectors and dismantlers  Crossbracing for guardrail per.451 (g)(4)(xv)

Scaffold Competent Person  Preamble - page Knowledge of structural integrity Maintenance of scaffolds Effects of potential hazards Knowledge of standard

Subpart L - Scaffolds ( ) Scaffolds above 10 ft. - Fall protection Scaffold access Scaffold working levels - Planked & decked Body belt worn and lanyard attached to boom Training for employees using scaffolds

Organization of Standard  Scope, application and definitions applicable to this subpart  General requirements  Additional requirements applicable to specific types of scaffolds  Aerial lifts  Training  Appendix A - Scaffold Specifications  Appendix B -(Reserved) Criteria for Determining the Feasibility of Providing Safe Access and Fall Protection for Scaffold Erectors and Dismantlers  Appendix C - List of National Consensus Standards  Appendix D - List of Training Topics for Scaffold Erectors and Dismantlers  Appendix E - Drawings and Illustrations

§ Scope, Application  Covers all scaffolds used in workplaces.  Does not apply to crane or derrick suspended personnel platforms, which are covered by § (g).  Aerial lifts are covered §

§ General Requirements For All Scaffolds  (a) Capacity  support own weight and 4 X the maximum intended load.  suspension rope & hardware, 6 X the maximum intended load.  stall load of scaffold hoist not to exceed 3 times its rated load.  designed by a qualified person and built and loaded to design.

§ General Requirements For All Scaffolds (con’t)  (b) Scaffold platform construction  Platforms fully planked or decked no more than 1” gaps maximum openings of 9½” scaffold platforms and walkways 18” wide ladder jack, top plate bracket, roof bracket, and pump jack scaffold at least 12” wide guardrails and/or personal fall arrest systems for platforms and runways not 18” wide

Point Loading

Falling Object Protection

 (b) Scaffold platform construction (con’t)  Front edge of all platforms No more than 14” from the face of the work 3” from the face for outrigger scaffolds 18” from the face for plastering and lathing operations  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 § General Requirements For All Scaffolds (con’t)

 (b) Scaffold platform construction (con’t)  Each abutted end of plank shall rest on a separate support surface.  Overlap platforms not less than 12” only over supports, unless restrained to prevent movement. § General Requirements For All Scaffolds (con’t)

§ General Requirements For All Scaffolds (con’t)  (b) Scaffold Platform Construction (con’t) No paint on wood platforms, except edges that may be marked for identification Fully planked between front upright and guardrail support No mixed scaffold components used unless compatible and integrity maintained No modification of mixed scaffold components unless a competent person approves No components of dissimilar metals unless approved by competent person

§ General Requirements Higher than 4:1 ratio restrained from tipping by guys, ties, or equivalent. Guys, ties, installed per recommendations or at the closest horizontal member to the 4:1 height Bear on adequate foundations Plumbed and braced (c) Criteria for supported scaffolds

Two of the most common scaffold violations: No guardrails Safe access not provided

This scaffold leg was placed on a loose rock This is a closer look at the base of the same scaffold This scaffold leg lacks a base plate and was placed on a hardened bag of mortar

§ General Requirements (con’t)  (e) Access  Must have safe access  No access by cross braces  Bottom rung not more than 24” high  Rest platforms at 35’ intervals  Sets access requirements for erectors and dismantlers ( September 2, 1997)  Can use some end frames for access

Leveling device is snug. Sills are fully bearing on the ground. Base plate centered and secured. Top rail Mid-rail Toe board a.14” except for plastering then max. of 18” b.Max. 4 X base (CA 3 X Base) When over Tie off, Brace c.24” Max. Locking Devices Ladder c. David G. Allie a b.

§ General Requirements (con’t)  Never overload  No shore or lean-to scaffolds  Inspected by competent person  Immediately removed or repaired, braced if found substandard  No horizontal movement with employees unless approved  Maintain clearance near powerlines (f) Use

§ General Requirements (con’t)  Erected, moved, dismantled or altered only under supervision of competent person  No work on snow, ice covered platforms  Tag lines on swinging loads  Protect suspension ropes from heat, acid  No work during storms or high winds (f) Use (con’t)

§ General Requirements (con’t)  Support devices, 4 X the imposed load.  Outrigger beams; metal or equal, and restrained  Stabilize outrigger beams  Direct connections evaluated by competent person (d) Criteria for All Suspension Scaffolds  Counterweights not flowable material  4 wraps of rope on hoist at lowest point  No repaired wire rope

§ General Requirements (con’t)  Ropes inspected by competent person each shift  No gasoline powered equipment or hoists  Gears enclosed  Automatic brake (locking paw) in addition to normal operating brake  Manual hoists have a positive crank force to descend  Tied to prevent swaying  Emergency escape devices not used as suspended platforms (d) Criteria for All Suspension Scaffolds(con’t)

Scaffold Suspension Ropes Can Fail -- But This Photo Shows Another Reason Why A Safety Harness And Separate Lifeline Must Be Used. Workers Sometimes Need To Lean Over The Railings. Guardrails are required at the ends of this scaffold

 (g) Fall protection (PFAS or guardrails) Required at 10 foot PFAS in lieu of guardrails on some scaffolds PFAS & guardrails on suspension scaffolds PFAS required for erectors and dismantlers were feasible after September 2, Toprails after , 38” to 45” high Use crossbracing in lieu of top or midrails in some cases § General Requirements (con’t)

Fatal Accident The lack of guardrails on this scaffold at the ends of the platforms cost one worker his life

§ General Requirements (con’t)  (h) falling object protection  Hardhats required  Protect employees below  Barricades to exclude working below  Toe boards at edges of platforms  Allows panels and screens  Canopies allowed

Section Training Requirements  Five training areas  Nature of electrical, fall, and falling object hazards  Correct procedures for protection of above  Proper use the scaffold  Load capacities of scaffolds  Requirements of Subpart L  Retraining as necessary to restore proficiency

Common Sources of Scaffolding Hazards  Bases Legs on unstable objects (bricks, blocks, scrap lumber) Leg loads not adequately distributed by bases and sills  Bare Pipe area =.03 sq. in.  5” x 5” baseplate = 0.17 sq. ft.  2 x 10 x 18” long = 1.25 sq. ft.

Common Sources of Scaffolding Hazards  Bracing Strength of scaffold depends on frequency of bracing  maintains support vertically to maximize load- bearing capacity  limits movement in system  must be properly and consistently installed  each frame must be braced to at least one other frame

Common Sources of Scaffolding Hazards  Scaffold Loads Point Loads vs. Distributed Ultimate load (Point of Failure) Allowable = Ultimate / Safety factor of 4 Actual Work load can be calculated

Common Sources of Scaffolding Hazards  Working Load Allowable Load = Area of scaffold x rating  example ((5’x7’) x 50lbs/sq.ft. Calculate actual loads (workers + tools + bricks, etc.) Divide by 4 for each leg of the scaffold Add weight of frames to ground = total leg load Compare to Allowable above

Aerial Lifts

 Lift controls tested daily  Only authorized persons to operate  Never tie off to object outside the basket  Harness and lanyard required  Feet kept firmly on the floor of the basket  No planks or ladders used for work position  Never exceed basket weight limits  Lift trucks not to be moved w/ basket elevated  Upper and Lower controls  Lower controls for emergency

Serious injuries often result from workers not not having the right tools or equipment needed to do the work safely

An aerial lift can be used to work safely at elevations But not when used like this!

Questions?