Scaffold UserCompetent Person Training

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Scaffold User/Competent Person Training

• Great Lakes Safety

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Course Objectives

• Lesson I Upon completion of this training the
  user will be able to inspect a scaffold prior to
  use
• Lesson II Upon completion of this training the
  user will be able to identify equipment used to
  access a scaffold
• Lesson III Upon completion of this training the
  user will know the process required to modify a
  scaffold
• Lesson IV Upon completion of this training the
  user will be able to work safely from a scaffold
• Duration This course consists of four lessons
  that take approximately ten minutes per lesson to
  complete.

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Lesson I

• After completing this lesson the user will be
  able to inspect a scaffold prior to use.

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Lesson IPage 1 of 11

• It is the intent that all personnel work off of a
  complete scaffold
• All (working, walkway and rest landing) scaffold
  decks are required to have handrails, midrails,
  toe boards and gate entry access, unless they are
  tagged otherwise.

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Lesson IPage 2 of 11

• The footing or anchorage for scaffolds will be
  sound, rigid and capable of carrying the maximum
  intended load without settling or displacement.
• Mudsills and base plates will be required on
  non-cemented surfaces. Base plates will be nailed
  to the mudsill.

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Lesson IPage 3 of 11

• A scaffold will have all structural pieces such
  as sway braces, couplers, locking pins, and
  ladders in their proper places and positions.

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Lesson IPage 4 of 11

• A scaffold must have the work platform fully
  planked.
• The use of ¾ plywood to deck around equipment
  when scaffold boards cannot be used is
  appropriate.

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Lesson IPage 5 of 11

• All scaffolds shall be built in accordance with
  the OSHA loading calculations and identified on
  the ready for use tag as Light Duty (25
  lbs/sq.ft), Medium Duty (50 lbs/sq.ft) or Heavy
  Duty (75 lbs/sq.ft).
• Maximum loading is three people and a dead load
  not to exceed 200 pounds or a total distributed
  load not to exceed 800 pounds.

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Lesson IPage 6 of 11

• The maximum loading for a suspended/swing
  scaffold is two people and a dead load not to
  exceed 200 pounds, or a total distributed load
  not to exceed 600 pounds.
• Precautions must be taken to protect the
  integrity of the insulation, paint/coating of
  pipe or structure.
• Prior to erecting or dismantling a cantilever
  (kick out) scaffold, the builder shall have a
  written procedure that addresses the safe
  installation and removal process steps for the
  workers and must be able to provide it upon
  request.

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Lesson IPage 7 of 11

• During use, building or dismantling of a
  scaffold, a tag system will be in place that
  provides the user information on completeness of
  a scaffold and any hazards specified to the
  scaffold that the user may be warned about.
• The tag system includes a holder and a green and
  yellow Ready For Use warning tag.

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Lesson IPage 8 of 11

• The scaffold tag holder is required to be
  attached on all access points within 2 feet of
  the ladder access area stating the status of
  completion and hazards associated with the
  scaffold.
• Users are not to access the scaffold if they see
  only this holder on the scaffold. There is a
  Danger Do Not Use Scaffold message printed on the
  holder. The holder is made of plastic and is
  designed to accept the green and yellow Ready
  For Use insert.

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Lesson I Page 9 of 11

• The Ready For Use tag will be green and yellow.
• Some of the information on the GREEN section of
  the tag indicates company, contact , requestor,
  day built, work order number, load rate,
  location, name of the competent person, etc.
• The YELLOW section is used when caution is
  required. The user must read the yellow caution
  section to determine the precaution to be taken
  before using the scaffold. For example, if fall
  protection is required there will be a check mark
  in the first box labeled safety harness required
  under REASON FOR CAUTION. The remaining check
  boxes indicate various potential hazards
  overhead obstruction, hole in deck, short ladder,
  missing toe board(s), missing handrails and
  others.
• If Other is checked then use the space below to
  explain the hazard. For example, Hot pipe next
  to handrail.

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Lesson IPage 10 of 11

• On the backside of the Ready For Use tag is a
  sign-off location that allows the contractor
  competent person to document their inspection
  after installation.
• Inspection occurs once per shift or after any
  occurrence which could affect a scaffolds
  structural integrity.
• Each employee shall inspect each scaffold prior
  to use. The employee does not sign onto the
  inspection card as a competent person inspector.
  The employee is only inspecting the scaffold for
  their personal use.

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Lesson IPage 11 of 11

• Area Hazards
• No scaffold shall be erected closer than 9 feet
  from the center of the railroad tracks without
  permission from the Rail Operations. If the
  scaffold straddles the track, the first deck must
  provide a clearance of 22 6 form the top of the
  rail.
• When erecting scaffolds within 10 ft. of the edge
  of the electrical distribution right-of-way, a
  safe work permit must be obtained from Electrical
  Distribution.
• Scaffolds shall not be built within 10 ft. of any
  energized non-insulated electrical lines unless
  proper insulating barriers are erected.

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Scaffold Inspection Checklist

• Check scaffold tag for details and potential
  hazards.
• Is scaffold plumb and level?
• Is bracing in place?
• Is scaffold decked properly?
• Are all handrails in place?
• Are toeboards in place?
• Are all materials in good shape?
• Is the ladder secure and bolts tight?
• Is scaffold erected on level and stable ground?
  If not, are mud sills and screw jacks used?

• This is a suggested checklist for prior to use
  inspections of scaffolds.

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Lesson II

• After completing this lesson the user will be
  able to identify ways to access a scaffold.

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Lesson IIPage 1 of 4

• Gates will be designed so they include a toe
  board protection at the bottom and installed at
  each scaffold deck for ease of access.
• Gates shall always open to the inside of the
  scaffold and never to the outside.

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Lesson IIPage 2 of 4

• Straight ladders are standard equipment on all
  stack up scaffolds.
• Three point contact must be maintained while
  ascending or descending this ladder.
• Note Three point contact is referring to
  body contact with the ladder while climbing
  two feet and one hand, or two hands and one
  foot.

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Lesson IIPage 3 of 4

• Stairs are required on scaffolds over 60 and can
  be requested by the owner on elevations lower
  than 60.
• Rest landings are required at 35 foot maximum
  vertical intervals for all scaffolds over 35
  foot.
• Ladder access must alternate to require the
  individual to exit the ladder on the platform
  before accessing the next ladder in their
  ascent/descent for safety reasons.
• Three point contact must be maintained while
  ascending or descending stairs.
• Gates are required at rest landings where
  allowable.

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Lesson IIPage 4 of 4

• Retractable lanyards and davits will be used with
  straight ladders on all system scaffolds over 14
  ft.
• The user will wear a full body fall protection
  harness with the retractable hook attached
  directly to the D Ring, located between the
  shoulder blades.
• There will be a small rope attached to the
  retractable lanyard to pull the cable down to the
  user.
• The retractable lanyard will be maintained by the
  scaffolding contractor.
• It is the users responsibility to report a
  retractable lanyard that has been deployed or is
  not in proper working condition to the scaffold
  contractor for a replacement.

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Lesson III

• After completing this lesson the user will
  understand the process to modify a scaffold.

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Lesson III Page 1 of 1

• Completing this training course will allow you to
  be a competent person that is capable of
  inspecting scaffolds for your personal use,
  identifying hazards and having the authorization
  to take corrective measures to get them repaired.
• Remember a scaffold can only be erected,
  modified, removed or dismantled by a trained
  scaffold builder under the direction of a
  competent scaffold person.

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Lesson IV

• Upon completion of this training the user will be
  able to work safely from a scaffold.

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Lesson IV Page 1 of 6 Potential Hazards

• A competent person must inspect scaffolds and
  evaluate the area
• surrounding scaffolds for potential hazards prior
  to performing work
• from scaffolds.
• Potential hazards may include
• Overhead or nearby electrical lines
• Vehicle traffic
• Objects falling from above
• Falls
• Handling Material on scaffolds
• Do not overload
• Do not use for storage

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Lesson IV Page 2 of 6 Special Requirements

• Modifications to scaffolds are only allowed to be
  completed by a scaffold builder.
• 100 fall restraint is required on incomplete
  scaffolds.
• All scaffolds that have tarps, coverings or
  windscreens installed shall be assessed by a
  competent person knowledgeable of wind loading
  prior to construction to withstand the
  anticipated loads that may be imposed upon the
  scaffold system.
• Prior to construction or dismantling of a
  temporary enclosure using scaffold framework and
  covering material such as tarps or plastic, the
  covered area should be evaluated as per the
  facility permit requirements for entry into the
  area.
• Areas beneath scaffolds must be barricaded if the
  area can be entered by workers.

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Lesson IV Page 3 of 6
Safety Rules (Section J)

• Platforms - Makeshift platforms, such as stacked
  material, chairs, boxes or drums shall not be
  used.
• Rolling platforms shall be utilized according to
  the manufacturers recommendations, not altered
  in any way.
• No one can ride on platform while it is being
  moved.
• 2. Scaffolds - Users of scaffolds must be trained
  in scaffold access by either taking a computer
  course or Scaffold User training at the Great
  Lakes Safety.
• Only trained competent scaffold builder personnel
  shall erect, move, dismantle or modify scaffolds.
• Scaffolds must be inspected prior to use.
• All work levels of a scaffold, if practical, must
  be full planked. Fall protection is required if
  working from an incomplete scaffold.

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Lesson IV Page 4 of 6 Dow Safety Rules (Section
J), cont.

• 2. Scaffolds, cont.
• E. Access/egress shall be by an access ladder or
  equivalent.
• F. Scaffolds should not be used as material hoist
  towers or for mounting derricks without first
  determining the loads and stress involved.
• G. Maximum loading for a standard scaffold
• Three people and a dead load need to exceed 200
  pounds or a total distributed load not to exceed
  800 pounds.
• The maximum loading for a suspended scaffold is
  two people and a dead load not to exceed 200
  pounds, or a total distributed load not to exceed
  600 pounds.

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Lesson IV Page 5 of 6 Dow Safety Rules (Section
J), cont.

• 2. Scaffolds, cont.
• H. All scaffold platforms shall be free of tools,
  trash, etc. before calling in for scaffold
  removal.
• I. Scaffold tubes are not to be used to store
  tools. (knives, wrenches, welding rods, etc.)
• J. All scaffolds shall be equipped with
  handrails, midrails, and toe boards except on
  owner representatives written approval.
• K. A tagging system will be used to identify
  hazards on complete and incomplete scaffolds.
• L. When toeboards are missing the area around the
  scaffold must be barricaded with warning tags
  stating Danger overhead No toeboards on
  scaffold.

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Lesson IV Page 6 of 6 Dow Safety Rules (Section
J), cont.

• 2. Scaffolds, cont.
• M. Rolling tower scaffolds must be free of
  personnel, material and equipment before being
  moved. Caster brakes on rolling tower scaffolds
  must be locked while in use.
• N. Scaffolds shall not be erected closer than 9
  feet from the center of the railroad tracks
  without permission from the Rail Car Handling
  Department. If the scaffold straddles the
  railroad track, the first deck must provide a
  clearance of 22 feet, 6 inches form the top of
  the rail.
• O. Authorization must be obtained from the
  Electrical Distribution Department before
  erecting scaffolds within 10 feet of the edge of
  an electrical distribution right-of-way.

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Revision History
The following information documents at least the
last 3 changes to this document, with all the
changes listed for the last 6 months.