Scaffold Safety for Construction

1
Scaffold Safety for Construction
2
Scope and application of the regulation

• Regulations on scaffolds in the construction
  industry are in Subpart L of 29 CFR 1926
• The regulation applies to all scaffolds used in
  workplaces that are covered by OSHAs
  construction regulations

1a
3
Scope and application of the regulation

• It also applies to temporary elevated work
  platforms and aerial lifts
• It does not apply to crane or derrick suspended
  personnel platforms

1b
4
Scope and application of the regulation

• General industry activities are not covered by
  the construction industry requirements

1c
5
Terms

• Competent person
• Exposed power lines
• Guardrail system

2a
6
Terms

• Maximum intended load
• Personal fall arrest system
• Qualified

2b
7
Terms

• Rated load
• Supported scaffold
• Suspension scaffold

2c
8
Training requirements

• Training will advise you on how to protect
  yourself from
• electrical hazards
• fall hazards
• falling object hazards

3a
9
Training requirements

• You must know
• the scaffolds load capacities
• how to handle materials on the scaffold
• how to use the scaffold

3b
10
Electrical safety

• Clearance between scaffold equipment and
  powerlines is crucial to worker safety
• Safe distances must be kept between energized
  lines and conductive material

4a
11
Electrical safety

• Clearances must be maintained when scaffolds are
• erected
• used
• dismantled
• altered
• moved

4b
12
Electrical safety

• Before work starts, the utility company or
  electrical system operator can either
• de-energize the lines
• relocate them
• install protective coverings to prevent
  accidental contact with the lines

4c
13
Welding safety

• Be aware of the hazard of welding current arcing
  through the suspension wire rope when welding
  from suspended scaffolds
• Use an insulated thimble to attach each
  suspension wire rope to its hanging support

4d
14
Welding safety

• Insulate any excess suspension wire rope or other
  independent lines
• Insulate the suspension wire rope at least 4 feet
  (1.2 m) above the hoist

4e
15
Welding safety

• If there is a tail line below the hoist, insulate
  it to prevent contact with the platform
• Retain or guide the portion of the tail line that
  hangs free below the scaffold so that it does not
  become grounded

4f
16
Welding safety

• Use insulated protective covers to cover each
  hoist
• In addition to a work lead attachment required by
  the welding process, use a grounding conductor
  between the scaffold and the structure

4g
17
Welding safety

• If the scaffold grounding lead is disconnected at
  any time, the welding machine must be shut off
• Keep active welding rods or uninsulated welding
  leads from contacting the scaffold or its
  suspension system

4h
18
Fall protection

• Each employee on a scaffold more than 10 feet
  above a lower level must be protected from
  falling to that lower level
• The two types of fall protection are the
• Personal Fall Arrest System (PFAS)
• guardrail system

5a
19
Fall protection

• Different types of scaffolds require different
  types of fall protection

5b
20
Fall protection

• PFASs are required for employees on a
• boatswains chair
• caternary scaffold
• float scaffold
• needle beam scaffold
• ladder jack scaffold

5c
21
Fall protection

• Both a PFAS and a guardrail system is required
  for single-point or two-point adjustable
  suspension scaffolds

5d
22
Fall protection

• Crawling boards (chicken ladders) need either a
• PFAS
• guardrail
• 3/4 inch diameter grab line or equivalent
  handhold securely fastened beside the crawling
  board

5e
23
Fall protection

• Self-contained adjustable scaffolds that have the
  platform supported by the frame require a
  guardrail system
• Self-contained adjustable scaffolds with the
  platform supported by ropes require both a PFAS
  and a guardrail system

5f
24
Fall protection

• Guardrail systems must be used to protect
  walkways within a scaffold

5g
25
Fall protection

• When the front edge of the platform is more than
  14 inches away from the face of the structure,
  this edge requires a guardrail or workers must
  use a PFAS

5h
26
Personal fall arrest systems

• The PFAS must meet the requirements in the
  regulation on Fall Protection (29 CFR
  1926.502(d))
• When used on a scaffold, attach the PFAS to a
  vertical or horizontal lifeline or to a
  structural member

6a
27
Personal fall arrest systems

• When vertical lifelines are used, they must be
• anchored to a safe fixed point
• independent of the scaffold
• protected from sharp edges and abrasion

6b
28
Personal fall arrest systems

• Horizontal lifelines must be
• secured to two or more structural members of the
  scaffold
• looped around both suspension and independent
  suspension lines above the hoist and brake

6c
29
Personal fall arrest systems

• Vertical lifelines, independent support lines,
  and suspension ropes
• must not be attached to each other
• cannot use the same anchorage point

6d
30
Guardrail systems

• Appendix A of the regulation gives specifications
  for building guardrail systems
• Guardrail systems must be installed along all
  open sides and ends of platforms

7a
31
Guardrail systems

• Requirements for how high the toprail must be
  above the platform surface, and for the use of
• midrails
• screens
• mesh
• intermediate vertical members
• solid panels as part of a guardrail system

7b
32
Guardrail systems

• The guardrail system must be able to withstand
  force as specified in the regulation

7c
33
Guardrail systems

• Guardrail components must be surfaced so they do
  not cause
• puncture wounds
• lacerations
• snagged clothing

7d
34
Protection from falling objects

• Employees must be protected from
• falling hand tools
• debris
• other small objects

8a
35
Protection from falling objects

• Protection is gained through the installation of
• toeboards
• screens
• guardrail systems
• debris nets
• catch platforms
• canopy structures that contain or deflect the
  falling objects

8b
36
Protection from falling objects

• When the falling objects are too large, heavy, or
  massive to be contained, keep objects away from
  the edge of the surface

8c
37
Protection from falling objects

• Barricade areas to protect the employees working
  below from the hazards of falling
• tools
• materials
• equipment

8d
38
Protection from falling objects

• Install a toeboard along the edge of platforms
  more than 10 feet above lower levels
• Protect the workers below when equipment or
  materials are piled to a height above the toprail
  or toeboard on a scaffolds platform

8e
39
Load capacities

• It is crucial to stay within the scaffolds load
  limits
• Scaffolds must be designed by a qualified person
• Scaffolds must be constructed and loaded in
  accordance with that design

9a
40
Load capacities

• Each scaffold and scaffold component must be able
  to support
• its own weight
• at least 4 times the maximum intended load
  applied or transmitted to it

9b
41
Load capacities

• Its up to the worker to understand and stay
  within the capacities of the equipment

9c
42
Load capacities

• Dont make arbitrary changes to a scaffolds
  structure
• Any modifications can affect the scaffolds
  capacity and stability

9d
43
Load capacities

• Scaffolds and scaffold components must never be
  loaded in excess of their maximum intended loads
  or rated capacities, whichever is less

9e
44
Materials handling on scaffolds

• Any materials taken onto the platform must be
  handled properly
• Do not allow debris to accumulate on platforms

10a
45
Materials handling on scaffolds

• If materials start to pile up above toeboards,
  the scaffold may need additional falling object
  protection
• Secure any liquid or powdery materials to guard
  against spills

10b
46
Materials handling on scaffolds

• Take extra precautions in windy conditions
• During storms or high winds, a competent person
  must determine if it is safe for employees to be
  on the scaffold

10c
47
Materials handling on scaffolds

• Use tag lines or equivalent measures to control
  any swinging loads that are being hoisted onto or
  near scaffolds

10d
48
Inspection requirements

• Inspect scaffolds and scaffold components for
  visible defects before each shift
• Inspect scaffolds after any occurrence that
  could affect a scaffolds structural integrity

11a
49
Inspection requirements

• Early detection of structural defects is
  important look for hairline cracks

11b
50
Inspection requirements

• Ensure that structural defects in platforms are
  not covered from view
• Platforms may not be covered with opaque
  finishes

11c
51
Inspection requirements

• Platforms may be coated with
• wood preservatives
• fire-retardant finishes
• slip-retardant finishes

11d
52
Inspection requirements

• Platform edges can be marked to show
  identification, grading, or similar types of
  marks
• Inspect ropes for defects prior to each
  workshift and after every occurrence that
  could affect a ropes integrity

11e
53
Inspection requirements

• Before a suspension scaffold is used, inspect the
  direct connections (bolts)
• Inspect and retighten wire rope clips at the
  start of each workshift

11f
54
Handling damaged components

• Damaged or weakened scaffolds must be
• immediately repaired or replaced
• braced
• removed from service until repaired

12a
55
Handling damaged components

• On suspension scaffolds, ropes must be replaced
  if any of the following conditions exist

12b
56
Handling damaged components

• Any physical damage that impairs the function and
  strength of the rope
• Kinks that might impair the tracking or wrapping
  of rope around the drum(s) or sheave(s)

12c
57
Handling damaged components

• Six randomly distributed broken wires in one rope
  lay or three broken wires in one strand in one
  rope lay

12d
58
Handling damaged components

• Abrasion, corrosion, scrubbing, flattening or
  peening causing loss of more than one-third of
  the original diameter of the outside wires

12e
59
Handling damaged components

• Heat damage caused by a torch or any damage
  caused by contact with electrical wires
• Evidence that the secondary brake has been
  activated during an overspeed condition and has
  engaged the suspension rope

12f
60
Safe access to scaffold platforms

• When scaffold platforms are more than 2 feet
  above or below a point of access, means of access
  include

13a
61
Safe access to scaffold platforms

• Portable ladders
• Hook-on ladders
• Attachable ladders
• Stair towers

13b
62
Safe access to scaffold platforms

• Stairway-type ladders
• Ramps
• Walkways
• Integral prefabricated scaffold access

13c
63
Safe access to scaffold platforms

• Direct access from another scaffold, structure,
  personnel hoist, or similar surface
• Crossbraces cannot be used as a means of access

13d
64
Hazards of using materials to increase scaffold
height

• Dont use makeshift devices, such as boxes and
  barrels, to increase the working level height
• Ladders must not be used on scaffolds to increase
  the working level height except on large area
  scaffolds

14a
65
Hazards of using materials to increase scaffold
height

• A large area scaffold is erected over
  substantially the entire work area
• a pole scaffold
• tube and coupler scaffold
• systems scaffold
• fabricated frame scaffold

14b
66
Hazards of using materials to increase scaffold
height

• Ladders may be used on large area scaffolds if
  the

14c
67
Hazards of using materials to increase scaffold
height

• Ladder is placed against a structure that is not
  a part of the scaffold
• Scaffold has been secured against the sideways
  thrust exerted by the ladder

14d
68
Hazards of using materials to increase scaffold
height

• Platform units are secured to the scaffold to
  prevent their movement

14e
69
Hazards of using materials to increase scaffold
height

• Ladder legs are on the same platform or other
  means is used to stabilize the ladder against
  unequal platform deflection
• Ladder legs are secured to prevent them from
  slipping or being pushed off the platform

14f
70
Moving a scaffold

• Unless so designed, scaffolds cannot be moved
  horizontally while employees are on them
• Follow the requirements at 1926.452 for mobile
  scaffolds

15a
71
Erecting/dismantling scaffolds

• Employees must be trained and experienced in
  erecting and dismantling scaffolds
• Employees working on supported scaffolds must be
  provided with safe access

16a
72
Erecting/dismantling scaffolds

• A competent person must determine if providing
  safe access is feasible based on site conditions
  and the type of scaffold

16b
73
Erecting/dismantling scaffolds

• For employees who are erecting supported
  scaffolds, hook-on or attachable ladders are to
  be installed as soon as possible

16c
74
Erecting/dismantling scaffolds

• End frames with horizontal members that are
  parallel, level, and not more than 22 inches
  apart vertically may be used as climbing devices
  for access

16d
75
Erecting/dismantling scaffolds

• Cross braces on tubular welded frame scaffolds
  must not be used as a means of access or egress
  during erecting or dismantling work

16e
76
Erecting/dismantling scaffolds

• Employers are required to provide fall protection
  for employees erecting or dismantling supported
  scaffolds

16f
77
Erecting/dismantling scaffolds

• A competent person must determine the feasibility
  and safety of providing fall protection for
  employees

16g
78
Aerial lifts

• 29 CFR 1926.453 addresses both general and
  specific requirements

17a
79
Aerial lifts

• Aerial lifts include the following types of
  vehicle-mounted aerial devices
• Extensible boom platforms
• Aerial ladders
• Articulating boom platforms
• Vertical towers
• A combination of any such devices

17b
80
Aerial lifts

• Aerial equipment
• may be made of metal, wood, fiberglass reinforced
  plastic (FRP), or other material
• may be powered or manually operated
• is considered to be an aerial lift whether or not
  it is capable of rotating about a substantially
  vertical axis

17c
81
Aerial lifts

• A body belt must be worn with a lanyard attached
  to the boom or basket when working from an aerial
  lift
• Body belts that meet the requirements of 29 CFR
  1926.502(e) are acceptable

17d
82
Aerial lifts

• Do not belt off to an adjacent pole, structure,
  or equipment while working from an aerial lift
• All of the training requirements in 29 CFR
  1926.454 apply to the use of aerial lifts

17e
83
Aerial lifts

• Only authorized persons can operate an aerial
  lift
• Lift controls must be tested each day prior to use

17f
84
Aerial lifts

• Climbers must not be worn when working from an
  aerial lift
• Unless so designed, an aerial lift truck must not
  be moved when the boom is elevated in a working
  position with workers in the basket

17g