Mobile Scaffolding Safety

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Mobile Scaffolding Safety
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What is a Mobile Scaffold?

• OSHA currently defines a mobile scaffold
• as
• A powered or unpowered,
• portable, caster- or wheel mounted
• supported scaffold.

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What it looks like
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Uses?
A mobile scaffold suitable for use in working at
elevated positions on the outside or inside
structure of buildings
Common uses include

• Painting
• Finishes
• Electrical work
• Drywall work
• Multiple other uses

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Common Dangers Involved

• Falling Off
• Scaffold Tipping Over
• Unsecured Wheels
• Unsecured Surface
• Struck-by accidents from above

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Cases

• After reviewing the OSHA statistics from
  1991-2004
• you find
• 70 cases involving fatalities
• Majority occurring from falls, tipping, or
  struck-by accidents

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Misuse?

• Industry also cites that 29 of scaffold-related
  accidents occur because of improper use of a
  scaffold.
• Ask?
• If the scaffold is not set-up completely and
  correctly how will it perform safely and
  efficiently?

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Best Practices
Some best practices that could have prevented
these accidents would be

• Always use guardrails
• Evaluate all aspects when moving a scaffold
  including ground conditions
• Check that the scaffold is properly pinned,
  locked and secure
• Know your surroundings and watch for hazards
  above such as power lines

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More Safety Proceduresor Best Practices

• Comply with all OSHA regulations
• Inspection by competent person before each work
  shift
• Once again always use fall protection including
  guardrails and/or personal safety lines

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OSHA

• The requirements for mobile scaffolds
• can be found in OSHA Subpart L
• The scaffold must be erected with
• cross, horizontal, or diagonal braces,
• or combination

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1926.452(w), titled "Mobile Scaffolds."

• The scaffold must be plumb, level
• and squared with all brace
• connections securely fastened
• The scaffold casters must have
• positive wheel and swivel locks

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OSHA

• The manual force used to move the
• scaffold must be applied as close
• to the base as possible, but not
• more than 5 feet above the
• supporting surface.

5
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1926.452(w), titled "Mobile Scaffolds."

• Before a scaffold is moved, each employee on the
  scaffold shall be made aware of the move

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OSHA

• Caster and wheel stems shall be
• pinned or otherwise secured in
• scaffold legs or adjustment screws.

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• Try to make safety a culture on your site and
  never afterthought