ISSUES:
- Lack of regular inspections that are essential to catching issues before they lead to significant problems are often ignored or not performed. Inspections must be conducted before work starts, after shifts, and following any event that could impact the scaffold’s integrity.
- Lack of providing crucial safety measures for ensuring stability and preventable scaffolding failures.
SOURCES OF HAZARDS:
- Employees ignore inspection SOP, regulations, documentation, and signage.
- Employees do not recognize defective scaffolding.
- Employees do not recognize the fall hazard and do not have proper access.
- Employees have not been properly trained.
REGULATIONS:
FALL PROTECTION ON SCAFFOLDING
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 which could affect a scaffold’s structural integrity.
1926.451(f)(4) Any part of a scaffold damaged or weakened such 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.
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 § 1926.452(w) are followed.
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 where 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. Check the 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: The scaffold must be erected within a safe distance from power lines.
- Remember to use smaller scaffolding bucks or screw jacks, NOT dunnage. Use proper cribbing and surface requirements as a base foundation.
- Foundation: Ensure the base plates are placed on an appropriate surface and the sills are the correct size and properly installed.
- Defect Identification: Look for cracks, wear, and any other visible defects in planks, boards, and other components.
- Load Capacity: Verify the scaffold can support the intended weight.
- Safe Access: Ensure ladders and stairways are properly positioned and secure.
- Decking and Platforms: Provide decking and planks that have adequate performance rating. Ensure gaps do not exist.
- Provide proper access to all decks, egress areas and platforms.
- Weather: Inspections are crucial after adverse weather conditions.
- Documentation: Inspection reports should be kept for record-keeping.
- Training: ALL EMPLOYEES NEED TO BE TRAINED.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT SCAFFOLDING INSPECTIONS:
HERE ARE 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. As early as possible, install hook-on or attachable ladders.
- Do ensure that workers do not climb diagonal braces to reach the scaffold platform. Provide fall protection for workers erecting, dismantling, or accessing the scaffold.
- Do secure scaffolds to the structure during erection, dismantling, and during use.
- Do determine the maximum load limits when handling materials on the scaffold.
- Do recognize and avoid scaffolding hazards such as electric shock, falls from heights, and being hit by falling objects.
- Do erect, maintain, and disassemble fall and falling object protection systems for erecting, disassembling, and use of the scaffolding.
- Do tag scaffolding. One common tagging system uses the following tags:
- Red Tag indicates unsafe, do not use.
- Green Tag indicates ready to use.
HERE ARE IMPORTANT DON’TS TO KEEP IN MIND ABOUT SCAFFOLDING INSPECTIONS:
- Don’t ignore inspection requirements and documentation of the daily inspection. Review or complete the daily inspection form.
- Don’t ignore ensuring that everybody has been trained on the use of the specific scaffolding. If you suspect another employee needs training, report to your supervisor or SRMS.
- Don’t forget to do your own self-check of scaffolding and all fall protection equipment and don’t forget to remind others to do the same.
- Don’t use unsuitable, damaged, or faulty scaffolding or PFAS (harnesses, lanyards, tie-off (anchor points), broken or bent guardrails, etc.
- Don’t use any scaffolding with a working surface less than 18 inches wide.
- Don’t ignore changes made to scaffolding throughout the work day. STOP WORK if unsafe conditions develop.
- Don’t forget to tag or read the tag on the scaffolding.
