Occupational Safety and Health Administration

(OSHA)
USA Department of Labor

CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY REGULATIONS

Subpart L – Scaffolds
29 CFR 1926.450 – 29 CFR 1926.454

INTRODUCTION
An estimated 2.3 million construction workers deal with scaffolding each
year. More than 9.500 workers are injured and 80 are killed in scaffolding –
related accidents.
Both the OSHA General Industry Safety Standards and constructions safety
standards include lengthly requirements for scaffolding.

DEFINITIONS:
Brace: A tie that holds one scaffold member in a fixed position with
respect to another member.
Coupler: A device for locking together the component parts of a tubular
metal scaffold which shall be designed and used to safety
support the maximum intended loads.
Light duty scaffold: A scaffold designed and constructed to carry a
working load not to exceed 25 pounds per square
foot.
Medium duty scaffold: A scaffold designed and constructed to carry a
working load not to exceed 50 pounds per square
foot.
Heavy duty scaffold: A scaffold designed and constructed to carry a
working load not to exceed 75 pounds per square
foot.
Guard-rail: A rail secured to uprights and erected along the exposed sides
and ends of platforms.
Maximum intended load:
The total of all loads including the working load, the weight of
the scaffold, and such other loads as may be reasonably
anticipated.
Toeboard: A barrier secured along the sides and ends of a platform, to
guard against the falling of material.

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TYPES OF SCAFFOLDING

A. Frame Scaffolding
The primary steel scaffolding system. It is primarily for
rectangular jobs where access is not too restricted. Frame
scaffolding is very popular with masons, plasterers, etc; and is also
used extensively as rolling towers for internal work (electricians,
heating, air conditioning, painting, etc.) Frame scaffolding is
relatively simple and fast to erect, provided the surface is level,
and the access is not restricted.

B. Tube and Clamp

To accommodate jobs too difficult for frame scaffolding because
of obstructions, limited access, and the need to scaffold non-
rectangular shapes. In many cases, tube and clamp is used together
with frames.
Tube and clamp is simply a steel version of the old access scaffold
which historically were made from lumber.
Tube and clamp requires much greater expertise to erect, and takes
much longer to erect than frames. Most popular in industrial
applications such as oil refineries.

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C. Modular System Scaffolds

Modular systems, like tube and clamp, are used for applications
where frames cannot be used or where it is not efficient to use
frames (limited access, obstructions, uneven surface, non-
rectangular shapes). The advantage that modular systems have
over tube and clamp is that they do not require the high degree of
expertise that tube and clamp does. With modular systems, the
location of the connections are fixed. As such, once the base is set,
the erector does not have to worry about the location of
connections (as he would with tube and clamp), and his erection
time speeds up significantly.

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D. Rolling Scaffolds

Rolling towers are popular with most trades – painters, electricians,

heating and ventilating men and maintenance people. Because these
trades and specialists must move around in an area.
When the height to minimum base ratio of the scaffold exceeds 4 to 1
stabilizers are required.
Stabilizers may be used with castors or adjustable screws with base
plates.
Cross bracing must be used with the stabilizer legs.
Stabilizer legs rotate 90 degrees to facilitate use for moving through
narrow areas.

Final Inspection of Rolling Towers:

1. Check to see that the platform height does not exceed four (4) times
the smallest base dimension unless the tower is properly guyed or
otherwise stabilized.
2. Check to see that, if adjusting screws have been used, they are not
extended more than 12”.
3. Check to make sure the caster brakes are in good working condition
and are properly applied when the tower is not being moved.

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4. Inspect to make sure horizontal diagonal bracing (plan bracing) has

been placed near the bottom, top, and at 20’ intervals measured from
the rolling surface.
5. Cross bracing has been installed on both sides of every lift.
6. Check the area in which the tower is to be used to ensure there are no
obstructions either in, on, or above the floor which will interfere with
the proper and safe use of the rolling tower.
7. Check for guardrails and toeboards.
8. Check to see that all planking is properly installed.
9. Check that the load on the caster does not exceed the capacity of the
caster.
10. Check that access ladder is correctly installed.

A. General Requirements for All Scaffolds:

1. Scaffolds shall be furnished and erected for persons engaged in work
that cannot be done safely from the ground or from solid
construction.
2. The footing or anchorage for scaffolds shall be sound, rigid and
capable of carrying the maximum intended load without settling or
displacement. Unstable objects such as barrels, boxes, loose brick,
concrete blocks shall not be used to support scaffolds or planks.
3. Scaffolds and their components shall be capable of supporting
without failure at least four times the maximum intended load.
4. Any scaffold damaged or weakened from any cause shall be
immediately repaired and shall not be used until repairs have been
completed.
5. Scaffolds shall not be loaded in excess of the working load for which
they are intended.
6. All load-carrying timber members of scaffold framing shall be a
minimum of 1,500 fiber (stress grade).
7. Nails or bolts used in the construction of scaffolds shall be of
adequate size and in sufficient numbers at each connection to
develop the designed strength of the scaffolds. Nails shall not be
subjected to a straight pull and shall be driven full length.
8. All planking or platforms shall be overlapped (minimum 12 inches)
or secured from movement.
9. An access ladder or equivalent safe access shall be provided.

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10. Scaffold planks shall extend over their end supports not less than 6
inches nor more than 18 inches.
11. Employees shall not work on scaffolds during storms or high winds.
12. Tools, materials, and debris shall not be allowed to accumulate in
quantities to cause hazard.
13. Wire or fiber rope used for scaffold suspension shall be capable of
supporting at least six times the intended load.
14. OSHA has determined a 10 - foot fall protection for scaffolding.
15. Scaffolds cannot be erected, used, closer than 10 feet (3.1m) near
energized power lines. (from 300 v to 50 kv).
16. OSHA requires that scaffolding must always be secure when height
of the scaffold exceeds four (4) times the minimum base width.

B. Tube and Coupler Scaffolds:

1. A light-duty tube and coupler scaffold shall have all posts, bearers,
runners, and bracing of nominal 2-inch O.D. steel tubing. The posts
shall be spaced no more than 6 feet apart by 10 feet along the length
of the scaffold.
2. A medium-duty tube and coupler scaffold shall have all posts,
runners, and bracing of nominal 2-inch O.D. steel tubing. Posts spaced
not more than 6 feet apart by 8 feet along the length of the scaffold.
3. A heavy-duty tube and coupler scaffold shall have all posts, runners,
and bracing of nominal 2-inch O.D. steel tubing, with the posts spaced
not more than 6 feet apart by 6 feet 6 inches along the length of the
scaffold.
4. All tube and coupler scaffolds shall be constructed and erected to
support four times the maximum intended loads.
5. The entire scaffold shall be tied to and securely braced against the
building at intervals not to exceed 30 feet horizontally and 26 feet
vertically.
6. Guardrails not less than 2x4 inches or the equivalent and not less than
36 inches or more than 42 inches high, with a mid-rail and toe
boaeds, shall be installed at all open sides on all scaffolds more than
10 feet above the ground or floor. Toe boards shall be a minimum of 4
inches in height.

C. Tubular welded frame scaffolds:

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1. Metal tubular frame scaffolds, including accessories such as braces,

brackets, trusses, screw legs, ladders, etc., shall be designed and
proved to safely support four times the maximum intended load.
2. Scaffold legs shall be set on adjustable bases or plain bases placed on
mud sills or other foundations adequate to support the maximum
intended load.
3. Guardrails not less than 2x4 inches or the equivalent and not less than
36 inches or more than 42 inches high, with a mid-rail, and toeboards,
shall be installed at all open sides on all scaffolds more than 10 feet
above the ground or floor. Toeboards shall be a minimum of 4 inches
in height.
4. All tubular metal scaffolds shall be constructed and erected to support
four times the maximum intended loads.
5. To prevent movement, the scaffold shall be secured to the building or
structure at intervals not to exceed 30 feet horizontally and 26 feet
vertically.

FOUNDATIONS/SILLS
The strength and stability of a scaffold is as dependent on the
foundation it bears on as the scaffold itself. Many accidents
involving scaffold collapses are due to poor foundations.

Foundations capable of carrying the desired load must be provided.

Base plates must be placed under all legs. They must be securely
fixed if there is potential for lateral movement.

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When soil conditions are poor or frozen, it may be necessary to

excavate the poor soil and replace it with good compacted material.

It is recommended to use a mudsill which is continuous under both

legs of the scaffold. The sill should be such that it extends at least 9”
past the centerline of the leg and be of 2” x 10” lumber.

BRACING
The position and number of braces used on a scaffold not only
restricts the amount of side movement, but also determines the
strength of the scaffold.
The normal interval is every lock spacing with a frame scaffold and
every 6’ – 6” for tube and coupler or system scaffold.

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 Occupational Safety and Health Administration
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TIES
It is essential that every scaffold be adequately tied to the building
structure throughout its entire length and height. If not, collapse of
the scaffold will occur. Ties have dual purpose, they control the
overall stability of the scaffold from forces such as wind loads and
most importantly, brace the legs.

Rules:
General rules for ties are:
1. All ties should be fixed with load bearing couplers.
2. The bottom tie must be placed no higher than four (4) times the
minimum base width and every 26 feet vertically thereafter.
3. The entire scaffold shall be ties to and securely braced against the
building at intervals not to exceed 30 feet horizontally and 26 feet
vertically or as recommended by the manufacturer.
4. Ties should be as close as possible to the junction of the standard and
ledger.
5. At least 50% of ties should be ‘positive’, that is, they do not get their
strength from friction as in the case with the reveal ties.

Common Methods of Tying are:

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A. Through Ties (Positive Type)

A tube is taken through any convenient opening, such as a
window, and coupled to vertical or horizontal tubes.

B. Reveal Ties (Not Positive)

A tube is wedged into an opening in the wall by means of
‘Reveal Pin’. A second tube is then fixed between this tube
and the scaffold to form the tie. The reveal pin normally
consists of a piece of tube with a base plate at one end and a
screw jack at the other.

C. Box Ties (Positive Ties)

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This tie can be used if there are columns close to the scaffold.
Tie tubes run both sides of the column, with cross tubes tied
back and front to both tie tubes.

D. Anchor Bolt (Positive Type)

There are many types of anchors available. They do however,
vary in pull out strength and they leave a hole behind which
has to be repaired. A pull out force of at least 800 lbs, 1200
lbs, and 1600 lbs, is necessary for light, medium and heavy
duty scaffolds respectively.

PLANKING

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1. Wood scaffold planks should be nominal 2” x 10” (actual 1 ½ x 9 ¼”)

and should be “Scaffold Plank Grade”.
2. The maximum span for wood planks should not exceed 8’. A span of
8’ is rated for 25 pounds per square foot maximum. A span of 6’ is
rated for 50 pounds per square foot maximum.
3. Planking should extend a minimum of 6 inches (15 cm) over the
center of each support (unless cleated to prevent the plank from
sliding) and a maximum of 12 inches (30 cm).

4. Gaps between adjacent planks or toeboards should not exceed 1”.

5. Where necessary to place planks at an angle other than horizontal, a
for ramps or elevation changes of the platform for work on variable-
height ceilings, any slope greater than 1:10 should have cleats nailed
12” apart to the tops of the planks.
6. Each scaffold walkway shall be at least 18 inches (45 cm) wide.

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7. The front edge of all platforms shall not be more than 14 inches (35
cm) from the face of the work, unless guardrail systems are erected
along the front edge and/or personnel fall arrest systems are used.

8. Platform shall not deflect more than 1/60 of the span when loaded.

LOADS
Load Capacity
The maximum load capacity of a scaffold is determined by
computing the maximum load being applied to the various
components of the scaffold structure and ensuring these are less than
the manufacturer’s recommendations.
O.S.H.A. requires that a scaffold be designed with a 4 to 1 safety
factor. This safety factor should be included in the maximum load
capacities recommended by the manufacturer.

1. The use of the scaffold is being put to OSHA defines the design load
to be applied to each working level depending on use.
A. Light Duty – 25 pounds per square foot of work platform. This
is for trades such as painting, window cleaning, etc.
B. Medium Duty – 50 pounds per square foot of work platform for
trades such as plastering, etc.
C. Heavy Duty – 75 pounds per square foot of work platform for
trades such as masons, stone setters, etc., where heavy material
loads will be put on the work platform.
These loads must then be appointed to the structure depending
on the area of the platform.

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2. The number or work platforms which will be used simultaneously

above each other. The sum of the loads per working platform must
then be added and applied to the structure.
3. The height of the scaffold. The self-weight of all components of the
scaffold must be added.

Total Load Applied

The total load applied is the sum of the working platform loads plus
the self-weight of the scaffold. (dead load + live load)
Material loads should be evenly distributed on platforms and not
concentrated in one small area.

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