A scaffold is an elevated, temporary work platform used to support employees and their materials. It is essential that a competent person is onsite at all times to ensure OSHA guidelines are followed during scaffold use. Every person who accesses a scaffold requires scaffold safety training.
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Competent person
Trained erector/dismantler
Trained scaffold worker
Prohibited non-trained person
Trained in scaffold use
Knowledgeable on scaffolds
Capable of using scaffolds properly
Authorized to use a scaffold
A competent person must be present during all phases of scaffold use. This includes erecting, usage, and dismantling of scaffolds.
Without training, employees are unaware of scaffold risks and hazards. About 65% of the construction industry works on scaffolds frequently and scaffold accidents can occur even when trained workers use them. In fact, OSHA says 29,000 scaffold fall injuries occur annually. For that reason alone, proper scaffold use is very necessary. With such a high percentage of the construction industry using scaffolds, proper training and knowledge are vital to safety.
If the employer has reason to believe the employee lacks the understanding or skill needed to work safely within scaffolding, then the worker may require retraining. Proper training and knowledge can help protect a high percentage of workers who frequently use scaffolds.
In addition to proper training and authorization, anyone using a scaffold should follow certain standards set out by OSHA.
Use the proper base plates, mud sills, and adjustable screw jacks on solid ground for a good, sound foundation.
Inspect all equipment and reject damaged parts.
Tie the scaffold to the structure at 4-to-1 vertically and 30 feet horizontally.
Do not exceed a 4-to-1 height minimum vase dimension ratio.
Use scaffold grade plank overlapping plank a minimum of 12 inches and extend plank over the end at least six inches but no more than 12 inches.
Follow the capacities as given by the manufacturers and remember, scaffolds should be capable of supporting, without failure at least four times the maximum intended load.
Brace the scaffold per the manufacturer&#;s code.
Use guardrails, mid rails, and toe boards on all open sides and ends of platforms above 10 inches.
Inspect the scaffold&#;s setup after erection and before each shift. Do not remove any part without permission.
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Provide and use proper ladder access to all work levels.
OSHA requires that fall protection be used on scaffolds at or over ten feet. If you need fall protection, be sure to check out our helpful guide Fall Protection 101.
The HSE (Health and Safety Executive) recommends leaning your ladder at a 75-degree angle so that the base is positioned at one-quarter of the working length of the ladder. This is commonly referred to as the &#;1 in 4&#; rule.
The '1 in 4' rule (also known as the '4 to 1' rule) is a simple piece of guidance that you should always follow when you use a leaning ladder.
If you've ever wondered what angle to aim for when setting a ladder against a vertical wall, here's the rule:
For every 4 feet of height, position the base of the ladder 1 foot away from the wall.
In other words, the distance between the wall and the base of your ladder should be one quarter of the ladder's height (putting the ladder at a 75° angle). This applies whether you're measuring in feet or metres.
This angle improves the ladder's stability and reduces its risk of slipping. The Health & Safety Executive's ladder safety guidelines state that you should always follow the '1 in 4' rule when setting up a ladder.
READ MORE: How to Stop Ladders Slipping
Let's say you're setting up an extension ladder.
If the ladder meets the wall at a point that's exactly 4 metres off the ground, the foot of the ladder should be positioned precisely 1 metre away from the wall.
If the ladder reaches 8 metres off the ground, place the bottom of the ladder 2 metres back from the wall.
Of course, the numbers are unlikely to be quite that neat in real life, so you may have to get your calculator out! Just make sure the distance between the wall and the base of the ladder = the distance between the top of the ladder and the ground divided by 4.
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SEE ALSO: Can step ladders be leaned against a wall?
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