1. SCAFFOLD SAFETY

2. INTRODUCTION Georgia Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program
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  
Voice : (404)
FAX : (404)
Web http//
GA Tech Safety and Health
Consultation Program

3. SUBPART L SCAFFOLDS

4. GA Tech Safety and Health
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

5. GA Tech Safety and Health
A scaffold
GA Tech Safety and Health
Consultation Program

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. GA Tech Safety and Health
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

10. The base
GA Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program

11. Leveled and plumb
GA Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program

12. GA Tech Safety and Health
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

13. GA Tech Safety and Health
Parts of a scaffold
GA Tech Safety and Health
Consultation Program

14. 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

15. GA Tech Safety and Health
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

16. GA Tech Safety and Health
Competent person
GA Tech Safety and Health
Consultation Program

17. GA Tech Safety and Health
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

18. GA Tech Safety and Health
Consultation Program
Scaffold’s access

19. GA Tech Safety and Health
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

20. GA Tech Safety and Health
Fall protection
GA Tech Safety and Health
Consultation Program

21. GA Tech Safety and Health
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

22. GA Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program
Overlapping platform planks
GA Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program

23. 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

24. GA Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program
Materials stacked on the platform

25. 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

26. 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

27. GA Tech Safety and Health
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

28. GA Tech Safety and Health
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