scaffold

When working with scaffolds, several safety measures should be followed to ensure worker safety. Here's a summary of key requirements:

• Load Capacity: Scaffolds must be able to support their own weight and at least four times the maximum intended load [1]. For scaffolds carrying more than 367 kilograms per square meter, ensure they are designed and certified by a professional engineer [2].
• Fall Protection: If a worker is on a scaffold more than 10 feet (3.1 m) above a lower level, they must be protected from falling. This can be achieved through personal fall arrest systems or guardrail systems [3].
• Regular Inspections: Before each work shift, a competent person should inspect the scaffold and its components for visible defects [4]. Scaffolds should also be inspected and tagged by a competent worker before first use and at intervals of no more than 21 calendar days [2].
• Tagging: Scaffolds should be color-coded with tags at each entry point to indicate their safety status: green for safe, yellow for potential hazards, and red for unsafe [2]. A worker must not use a scaffold if it has a red tag, an expired green or yellow tag, or no tag at all [2].
• Platform Requirements: Platforms should be fully planked or decked with minimal space between units [1]. Ensure platforms do not deflect more than 1/60 of the span when loaded [5].
• Ladder Usage: Ladders should not be used on scaffolds to increase the working level height, except on large area scaffolds under specific criteria [5]. Vertical ladders providing access to scaffolds should be securely fastened and extend at least 1 meter above the uppermost working level [6].
• Weather Conditions: Do not work on scaffolds covered with snow, ice, or other slippery materials unless for removal purposes [5]. Working on or from scaffolds is prohibited during storms or high winds unless deemed safe by a competent person with appropriate fall protection measures in place [5].
• Clearance from Power Lines: Scaffolds should not be erected, used, dismantled, or moved such that they or any conductive material might come closer to exposed and energized power lines [4].
• Training: Workers should be provided with information on the maximum working load of the scaffold and any other restrictions necessary for safe use [7].
• Specific Scaffold Types: Certain scaffolds like half-horse, ladder jack, and single-pole scaffolds should only be used as light-duty scaffolds unless designed by a professional engineer [8].

By adhering to these guidelines, employers and workers can significantly reduce the risk of accidents and injuries associated with scaffold use.