Issues
- Lack of regular inspections, which are essential to identifying issues before they lead to significant problems, is often ignored or inspections are not performed. Inspections must be conducted before work starts, after shifts, and following any event that could impact the scaffold’s integrity.
- Failure to provide crucial safety measures for ensuring stability can lead to preventable scaffolding failures.
Sources of Hazards
- Employees ignore inspection SOPs, regulations, documentation, and signage.
- Employees do not recognize defective scaffolding.
- Employees do not recognize fall hazards and do not have proper access.
- Employees have not been properly trained.
Regulations
Fall Protection on Scaffolding
29 CFR 1926.451(f)(3)
Scaffolds and scaffold components shall be inspected for visible defects by a Competent Person before each work shift and after any occurrence that could affect a scaffold’s structural integrity.
29 CFR 1926.451(f)(4)
Any part of a scaffold damaged or weakened so that its strength is less than that required by paragraph (a) of this section shall be immediately repaired or replaced, braced to meet those provisions, or removed from service until repaired.
29 CFR 1926.451(f)(5)
Scaffolds shall not be moved horizontally while employees are on them unless they have been designed by a registered professional engineer specifically for such movement or, for mobile scaffolds, where the provisions of 29 CFR 1926.452(w) are followed.
29 CFR 1926.451(g)(2)
Effective September 2, 1997, the employer shall have a Competent Person determine the feasibility and safety of providing fall protection for employees erecting or dismantling supported scaffolds. Employers are required to provide fall protection for employees erecting or dismantling supported scaffolds whenever the installation and use of such protection is feasible and does not create a greater hazard.
Important Inspection Focus Areas
- Stability and Securement: Ensure the scaffold is securely in place, level, and plumb. Inspect the shape and structure of the building to be scaffolded. Verify that ties, anchorages, outriggers, and guy systems meet height-to-base ratio requirements.
- Component Security: Check that all components, braces, platforms, and guardrails are secure.
- Power Lines: Ensure the scaffold is erected a safe distance from power lines.
- Use scaffold base plates with screw jacks or scaffold bucks—not dunnage. Use proper cribbing and appropriate surface requirements for the base foundation.
- Foundation: Ensure base plates are placed on an appropriate surface and that mud sills are the correct size and properly installed.
- Defect Identification: Look for cracks, excessive wear, and other visible defects in planks, boards, and scaffold components.
- Load Capacity: Verify the scaffold can safely support the intended load.
- Safe Access: Ensure ladders and stairways are properly positioned and secured.
- Decking and Platforms: Ensure decking and planks have the appropriate load rating and that no hazardous gaps exist.
- Provide proper access to all decks, egress areas, and platforms.
- Weather: Conduct inspections after adverse weather conditions.
- Documentation: Maintain inspection reports for recordkeeping.
- Training: All employees must be properly trained.
What You Need to Know About Scaffolding Inspections
Important Do’s to Keep in Mind About Scaffolding Inspections
- Do ensure that a Competent Person supervises and directs workers erecting, moving, dismantling, or altering a scaffold.
- Do provide a safe means of access for each worker erecting, dismantling, and using the scaffold. Install hook-on or attachable ladders as early as possible.
- Do ensure workers do not climb diagonal braces to access scaffold platforms. Provide fall protection for workers erecting, dismantling, or accessing scaffolds.
- Do secure scaffolds to the structure during erection, dismantling, and use.
- Do determine the maximum load limits before handling materials on the scaffold.
- Do recognize and avoid scaffolding hazards such as electrical shock, falls from heights, and struck-by hazards from falling objects.
- Do erect, maintain, and disassemble fall protection and falling object protection systems in accordance with scaffold requirements.
- Do tag scaffolding. One common tagging system uses the following:
- Red Tag: Unsafe—Do Not Use.
- Green Tag: Ready for Use.
Important Don’ts to Keep in Mind About Scaffolding Inspections
- Don’t ignore inspection requirements or documentation of daily inspections. Review and complete the daily inspection form.
- Don’t ignore the requirement that everyone be trained on the specific type of scaffolding being used. If you suspect another employee needs training, report it to your supervisor.
- Don’t forget to perform your own self-check of the scaffolding and all fall protection equipment. Remind others to do the same.
- Don’t use unsuitable, damaged, or defective scaffolding or personal fall arrest systems (PFAS), including damaged harnesses, lanyards, anchor points, broken guardrails, or bent guardrails.
- Don’t use scaffolding with a working surface less than 18 inches wide.
- Don’t ignore changes made to scaffolding throughout the workday. Stop work if unsafe conditions develop.
- Don’t forget to tag scaffolding or read the scaffold tag before use.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Scaffolding. U.S. Department of Labor, https://www.osha.gov/scaffolding. Accessed 30 June 2026.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration. 29 CFR 1926 Subpart L—Scaffolds. U.S. Department of Labor, https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1926/subpartL. Accessed 30 June 2026.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration. 29 CFR 1926.451—General Requirements. U.S. Department of Labor, https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1926/1926.451. Accessed 30 June 2026.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration. A Guide to Scaffold Use in the Construction Industry. U.S. Department of Labor, https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/publications/3150.pdf. Accessed 30 June 2026.
