Scaffolds with a height-to-base width ratio of more than four to one shall be restrained from tipping over by guying, tying, bracing, or equivalent means. In such cases, the gap will be as small as possible and not exceed 9 inches. Scaffold components of dissimilar metals should not be used together, unless the competent person has determined that galvanic action will not reduce the strength of any component. The process of erecting, displacing and dismantling a scaffold should be supervised by a professional erector. . Guys, ties and braces shall be installed where horizontal members support both inner and outer legs. [, Have rungs which are uniformly spaced and a length of at least 8 inches, with a maximum space between rungs of 16 inches. [. And frames that stick out past the side of the bed can be . [, A stair rail consisting of a toprail and a midrail on each side of the stairway. Barricades to keep personnel out of a hazardous area. [, Uniform tread depth, within -inch, for each flight of stairs. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Improper Access Leads to Serious Injuries. Others, such as swivel couplers, can be used for a variety of purposes; they can be positioned to allow various angles and crosses among the types of piping. Do not force frames or braces to fit - level the scaffold until proper fit can easily be made. Float Scaffold. Canopy structures made of solid materials. [, Be positioned so that their bottom step is not more than 24 inches above the scaffold supporting level, [, Have rest platforms at maximum vertical intervals of 12 feet, [, Have a minimum step width of 16 inches, except for mobile scaffold stairway-type ladders, which shall have a minimum step width of 11 inches [, Have slip-resistant treads on all steps and landings. Tube and coupler scaffolds over 125 feet in height must be designed by a registered professional engineer. Tip: A level may be used frequently during assembly to guarantee that new structural components remain in line. (l) Use a tag line when hoisting materials onto a scaffold. They can also choose if they want it mobile or stationary. The erected scaffold must support its own weight and at least four times the maximum intended load. As one of the fastest growing agencies in California, GDI Insurance Agency, Inc. is able to provide its clients with the latest and greatest of what the insurance industry has to offer and much, much more. For example, a . Platforms and walkways, in general, must be at least 18 inches wide. Standards are vertical pipes that are connected with clamps or couplers to give the structure its height; ledgers are horizontal braces that steady the structure and give it width. We are headquartered in Turlock, CA, with locations across the heart of Californias Central Valley and beyond to provide a local feel to the solutions and services we provide our clients. Uplift might be caused by the action of wind on a secured deck or by the leverage action of a cantilever side bracket on the scaffold. The space between the last plank and the uprights cannot exceed 9 1/2 inches. [, When midrails are used, they must be installed at a height approximately midway between the top edge of the guardrail system and the platform surface. In addition, there is a lot of information regarding building your own scaffold towers on the Internet. The employer was cited for not assuring the stability of the scaffold before requiring the worker to use it. Also they can be mobile or stationary. Place the first frame onto the base plates at the high point. While sitting or kneeling on a fixed deck plank attached to a fabricated frame scaffold, a worker was pulling a 16-foot long 2x4 off the bucket of an excavator. or more per square foot. [, A space of at least 3 inches between handrails, or stair rails used as handrails, and other objects. [29 CFR 1926.451(f)(5)]. [, On scaffolds where platforms are abutted to create a long platform, each abutted end must rest on a separate support surface (this does not preclude the use of shared support members such as "T" sections, hook-on platforms that rest on common supports, etc.). Only two workers may be on a pumpjack scaffold at a time. The cross braces shall be of such length as will automatically square and align vertical members so that the erected scaffold is always plumb, level, and square. Where the frame of the scaffold will be used for access, the manufacturer must specify in writing that it was designed for such purposes. The planking used must be "scaffold grade.". Except when used only as a walkway, the platform is the work area of the scaffold. Shapes materials to prescribed measurements, using saws, chisels, and planes. Construction and loading must comply with engineered designs and manufacturers requirements. The legs, poles, frames, and uprights must bear on base plates and mud sills. perfectly vertical) and braced to prevent swaying and displacement. Make sure that a competent person inspects the scaffold before each work shift. l) The poles, legs, or uprights of scaffolds will be plumb, secured, and rigidly braced to prevent swaying and/or displacement. A. [, Non-mandatory examples of criteria that will enable an employer to comply with, Scaffolds are to be erected, moved, dismantled, or altered only by experienced and trained employees who have been selected for that work by the competent person. Lanyards or connecting devices must be connected to a vertical lifeline (1st choice), a horizontal lifeline (2nd choice), or a structural member of the scaffold (last choice). [, Guys, ties, and braces must be installed according to the scaffold manufacturer's recommendations or at the closest horizontal member to the 4:1 height ratio and be repeated every 20 vertical feet for narrow scaffolds (3 feet or less in width), and every 26 vertical feet for scaffolds greater than 3 feet in width. [, Each employee on a scaffold more than 10 feet above a lower level must be protected from falling to that lower level. Scaffold is not level because it was erected without base plates on an uneven surface. [29 CFR 1926.451(e)(9)(i)]. Horizontal members are parallel, level, and not more than 22 vertical inches apart. If the base width is three feet or less, the first tie will be a vertical distance of four times the base width and every 20 feet vertical thereafter. Fall protection consists of either personal fall-arrest systems or guardrail systems, and must be provided on any scaffold 10 feet or more above a lower level. Use footings that are level, sound, rigid and capable of supporting the load without settlement or displacement. Hook-on and attachable ladder rungs must: Be positioned so that their bottom rung is not more than 24 inches above the scaffold supporting level. Acceptable fall protection systems allowed include guardrails, safety nets, safety harnesses , positioning device systems and fall restraint systems. [, Be used only to support personnel, unless the scaffold has been designed for other loads by a qualified engineer and built to withstand the tipping forces caused by other loads. This risk can be removed through proper clearance and maintenance. Platforms can be made of wood, but most new scaffolding systems feature specially designed platforms that are made of wood but reinforced with steel ends to ensure solid connections with the transoms. Ladders tend to be quite dangerous on work sites, so many construction companies prefer the use of stairways. Scaffolding. Point loading, or concentrating too much of the load in one area. [, Fall protection consists of either personal fall arrest systems or guardrail systems meeting OSHA requirements. Training shall include [. [, Scaffold components manufactured by different manufacturers must not be intermixed, unless they fit together without being forced and the scaffold's structural integrity is maintained. The guardrail system shall be installed along all open sides and ends of the platform before being used as a work platform by employees. Has lockable wheels if it is a mobile rolling scaffold. [, Forklifts shall not be used to support scaffold platforms unless [. Do not use makeshift methods to increase the working height of the scaffold platform, such as with ladders, buckets or blocks. All brace connections shall be made secure. [29 CFR 1926.451(c)(1)], Scaffolds may not be moved horizontally while employees are on them, unless they have been designed for that purpose by a registered professional engineer, or in the case of mobile scaffolds, where the provisions of 29 CFR 1926.452(w) are followed. Therefore, an inspection of a scaffold platform requires safety checks of both the platform structure and how the platform is used by the workers. [, In addition to meeting the requirements of, When vertical lifelines are used, they must be fastened to a fixed safe point of anchorage, independent of the scaffold, and be protected from sharp edges and abrasion. If using wooden planks, they must extend beyond the supporting points Toeboards must be installed not more than 1/4 inch above the platform and securely fastened. Move the scaffold into your desired position, and make sure it is level and secure. Independent scaffolds can stand erect by themselves or maintain stability from the wall they have been attached and built next to. building materials, paint roller extensions, scaffold components) that may be handled on them, come closer than 10 feet to the power line. Toeboards must be installed on work platforms where materials or tools will be in use. Follow all state, local and federal codes, ordinance and regulations pertaining to scaffolding. By far, the most forgotten term of a door installation. Because metal frame scaffolds are conductive, power tools, cords, etc., that suffer insulation failure can electrify the entire scaffold. [, Wooden planking must not be covered with opaque finishes, except that platform edges may be marked for identification. These scaffolds can be assembled in multiple directions, making them the preferred option for work surfaces with irregular dimensions and/or contours. Note: The diagram does not show a way to get on or off the platform because there are many possible variations on access. from the top of the sill, depending on the slope. Once erected, provide toeboards on all railed sides to prevent falling object hazards. Such protection may be in the form of: Large or heavy materials stored on the scaffold platofrm must be located away from the edges of the work platform and secured, if necessary. (Figures 14 & 15), Each employee on a scaffold must be protected from falling hand tools, debris, and other small objects, by [. To control the risk of a scaffold falling or collapsing, employers must assure that scaffolds are built within OSHA standards relating to strength and structural integrity. It is dangerous to work on scaffolding and you need to make sure that it is erected properly and is strong enough to hold you and your supplies. Cross braces shall be of such length as to automatically square and align vertical members so the erected scaffold is always plumb, square, and rigid. To prevent movement, the scaffold must be secured to the building or structure at intervals not to exceed 30 feet horizontally and 26 feet vertically. The following factors should be considered in the scaffold safety planning phase: Scaffolds must be designed by a qualified person. Scaffolding is naturally unstable because it is usually a tall structure with a narrow base. 2011 Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | Website Feedback. When a supported scaffold reaches a height that is more than four times its minimum base dimension (4:1), it must be restrained by guys, ties, or braces to prevent it from tipping. Tube and coupler scaffold design must comply with 29 CFR 1926.451-.452. The size of the mud sill shall be based on the type of soil the scaffold will be erected upon. Each frame or panel shall be braced by horizontal bracing, cross bracing, diagonal bracing or any combination thereof for securing vertical members together laterally. Click here to learn more about Scaffolding Regulations. The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network. Be supported by bearing blocks securely attached to the poles. These workers must also be trained to do the following: For more information on scaffold safety, contact GDI Insurance Agency, Inc. and visit OSHAs Safety and Health Topics page at www.osha.gov/SLTC/scaffolding/. Because the frames are stacked, the cross braces have to keep the scaffold plumb, level, and square. If using wooden planks, they must extend beyond the supporting How to use a plumb bob. If uplift could cause the components to separate, locking pins must be used and the components secured. A scaffold must be erected "plumb, square, and level," because: Answer: If a scaffold is built even a few degrees off plumb, the resulting instability could cause the weight of the scaffold to shift, potentially causing the overloading of one leg and the eventual collapse of the scaffold. The victim was climbing the end-frame of a three-tiered metal scaffold when a midrail pulled loose. To be specific, a "true" surface is as "plumb" or as "level" as the job requires (which, in most cases, is a perfect level of both or either). Therefore, assessing personnel abilities should be a part of all phases of the scaffolding inspection. Next, select the appropriate-sized scaffold for each job. Footing. Workers are most vulnerable to fall hazards when climbing on or off a scaffold. Frames or braces to fit - level the scaffold into your desired position, and other.... 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