Scaffolds — Safe Use and Work Practices

A scaffold is a temporary elevated platform and its supporting structure used to support employees, materials or both. Supported scaffolds stand on rigid supports such as frames, posts or legs. Suspension scaffolds hang from ropes or other nonrigid supports above. Mobile scaffolds add movement hazards. The type matters because its design, access and fall-protection requirements differ.

This course teaches core requirements in OSHA construction Subpart L. General-industry scaffolds must also meet Subpart L through 1910.27(a). The employer still checks the actual task, jurisdiction and other applicable standards. Aerial lifts have separate criteria in 1926.453; crane-suspended personnel platforms and rope descent systems are not interchangeable with the scaffold systems taught here.

A qualified person designs the scaffold, and construction and loading must follow that design. A competent person can identify existing and predictable hazards and has authority to correct them promptly. Knowing the vocabulary or passing this course does not itself confer either role.

Erection, movement, dismantling and alteration require the supervision and direction of a competent person qualified in those activities. Only experienced, trained employees selected by that person perform them. Scaffold users must not remove a brace, tie, plank or rail to make their task easier.

Additional type-specific requirements are in 1926.452. Before work, identify the manufacturer, type, configuration, design, load limits, inspection responsibility and permitted tasks. This course is the knowledge foundation; actual scaffold-specific procedures and skills must be taught and verified separately.