CSCS Scaffolding Basic cheat sheet

OSHA scaffold standard for construction is 29 CFR 1926 Subpart L; general industry uses 29 CFR 1910.29 for fall protection and ladders.

A scaffold is any temporary elevated platform and its supporting structure used for supporting workers or materials.

Competent person: capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards and authorized to take prompt corrective action.

Qualified person: by recognized degree, certificate, or professional standing, or by extensive knowledge and experience, can design and evaluate scaffolds.

Scaffolds must be designed by a qualified person and erected, moved, dismantled, and altered under the supervision of a competent person.

Employees are permitted on a scaffold only after it has been inspected by a competent person and determined safe.

Maximum intended load and rated capacity must be posted on all scaffold platforms or clearly displayed.

Scaffold components from different manufacturers shall not be intermixed unless they are compatible and approved by a qualified person.

Light-duty load rating is 25 psf; medium-duty is 50 psf; heavy-duty is 75 psf under common scaffold rating conventions.

Scaffold legs carry axial compression; diagonal braces resist lateral (horizontal) loads and racking.

Design dead load includes platform weight, scaffold structure, and attachments; live load includes workers, tools, and materials.

Each platform span must support its own weight plus at least four times the maximum intended live load (factor-of-safety rule).

Wind load acts horizontally on the scaffold's exposed area; scaffolds must be tied or braced to resist it.

Eccentric loading (materials stacked on one side) produces overturning moment and must be controlled by even loading and ties.

Guardrail loads: top rail must withstand 200 lb applied in any direction; midrail 150 lb.

A scaffold's rated capacity is the maximum intended load; never exceed it, and post it where users can read it.

Frame scaffold components: frames, cross braces, base plates, screw jacks, ledger/guardrail panels, and platform planks.

Tube-and-coupler scaffold uses right-angle couplers for 90-degree joints and swivel couplers for other angles.

Base plates and screw jacks bear on sills or mudsills to distribute load to the ground.

Planks must be scaffold-grade lumber, typically nominal 2x10 or wider, and must not be painted (paint hides defects).

Erection proceeds bottom-up; dismantling proceeds top-down, with ties removed only as the scaffold is lowered.

Never climb cross braces or frame members; use the designated ladder or stair access.

Cross braces must be installed per manufacturer's instructions; they provide lateral stability and plumbness.

Use only scaffold components in good condition; discard bent, cracked, or rusted members.

Platforms must be fully planked between front uprights and guardrail supports, with no gaps greater than 1 inch.

Each platform must be at least 18 inches wide; the space between the platform and the structure should not exceed 14 inches (or 18 inches for outrigger scaffolds).

Maximum plank deflection: 1/60 of the span.

Guardrail systems: toprail at 38–45 inches above the platform, plus a midrail halfway or 21–27 inches.

Fall protection is required for scaffolds over 10 feet above a lower level; guardrails or personal fall arrest systems qualify.

Access: ladders, stairways, or ramps; a ladder must extend at least 3 feet above the platform landing.

Cross braces may not be used as a means of access.

Toeboards at least 3.5 inches high are required when workers or materials below are exposed to falling objects.

Base of scaffold must rest on a firm, level foundation capable of supporting the loaded scaffold without settlement.

Mudsills (typically 2x10 or larger) distribute leg load; base plates and screw jacks bear on them.

Scaffolds must be plumb and level; check with a spirit level during erection.

Ties to the structure resist wind and lateral loads; a common rule is one tie per 30 feet horizontally and every 26 feet vertically, per manufacturer.

Guy wires and outriggers may be used where ties are impractical, but only per a qualified person's design.

Bracing: longitudinal diagonal braces, transverse (cross) braces, and plan bracing provide stability against racking.

A scaffold must not be supported by the structure unless designed for it; ties must resist tension and compression.

Undermined or unstable footing requires shoring or relocation before scaffold use.

Competent person inspects scaffolds before each work shift, after any alteration, and after any event (wind, impact) that could affect integrity.

Inspection items: foundation, plumb/level, ties, bracing, guardrails, planks, access, and load rating.

Scaffolds must not be loaded beyond the rated capacity; never overload with materials.

Green tag / red tag systems communicate inspection status: green = safe to use, red = do not use.

Repair or replace damaged components immediately; do not use bent, cracked, or heavily rusted parts.

Platforms must be kept clear of debris, snow, and ice; slippery surfaces are a hazard.

Alterations must be supervised by a competent person and re-inspected before use.

Scaffold use is prohibited during high winds or storms that could compromise stability.

Leading edge, open sides, and floor openings require guardrails or covers; fall hazards are the leading cause of scaffold fatalities.

Falling object protection: toeboards, screens, or debris nets when workers below are exposed.

Maintain at least 10 feet of clearance from energized power lines unless de-energized and grounded.

Overhead hazards: hard hats required; check for overhead power lines, cranes, and falling materials.

Emergency plan: know evacuation routes, first-aid locations, and rescue procedures for fall-arrest events.

Prompt rescue after a fall: suspension trauma can occur within minutes; have a rescue plan before work begins.

Housekeeping: keep platforms and access clear; store materials evenly to prevent eccentric loading.

Report all incidents, near misses, and unsafe conditions to the competent person immediately.