WEEKLY TOOL BOX SAFETY MEETINGS
SCAFFOLDS
Scaffolding is serious business. When you’re standing on a scaffold thirty or forty feet in the air, your life clearly depends on that scaffold. OSHA’s scaffold regulations apply on all construction sites where scaffolds or aerial lifts are used. They apply to any employee who works on, under, or in close proximity to scaffolds or aerial lifts, or who erects or dismantles scaffolds, so pay attention because these regulations likely apply to you.
Because of the risks involved, OSHA requires that specially trained individuals be responsible for certain aspects of scaffolds. For most construction workers this means that there is at least one person on your jobsite who can answer your questions about how to use scaffolding safely, how to get on and off the scaffolding, and how much weight it can safely hold, including you, your tools, and building materials. A competent person must be present when scaffolding is erected or dismantled. A competent person is “one who is capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards in the surroundings or working conditions which are unsanitary, hazardous, or dangerous to employees, and who has authorization to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate them.” A qualified person will design scaffolding and load it in accordance with that design. This is a person who, by extensive knowledge, training, and experience, has demonstrated the ability to solve or resolve problems related to scaffolding. Certain types of scaffolds, such as outrigger scaffolds, pole scaffolds over 60 feet high, and tube-and-coupler scaffolds over 125 feet high, can only be designed by a registered professional engineer.
Just because there is a trained and knowledgeable person around doesn’t mean that you get to loaf. Take responsibility for your own safety. Inspect the scaffolding before you board it. Look for loose connectors and missing planks and guard-rails. Check the footing and be sure that it is solid and stable. If the scaffold is resting on soil and it rains, a good, solid footing can turn into mud. Each scaffold and component must support its own weight and at least four times the maximum intended load. You may not be able to determine the scaffold’s exact load rating, but you have an idea of how it should look and feel. If it feels shaky or wobbly, tell your supervisor, or the competent or qualified person, and get the problem corrected. If you need to know more about scaffolds, check with your supervisor or consult Subpart L of OSHA’s construction standards starting at 29 CFR 1926.450.
Date______________Company______________________________JobName/No._________________________
Topics Pertaining To Your Project ________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Employee Safety Recommendations ___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Meeting Attended By: Please sign your name and date.
___________________________________________ ___________________________________________
___________________________________________ ___________________________________________
___________________________________________ ___________________________________________
___________________________________________ ___________________________________________
___________________________________________ ___________________________________________
___________________________________________ ___________________________________________
These instructions do not supersede local, state, or federal regulations.
Supervisor’s Signature ______________________________________________________________________
 |
 |
 |