NCCER Scaffolder flashcards
NCCER Scaffolder · Build recall with a focused review session.
32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.
- Fall Protection Threshold
- Under OSHA 29 CFR 1926.451(g), each employee on a scaffold 10 feet or more above a lower level must be protected by a guardrail system or a personal fall arrest system.
- Competent Person
- A person who is capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards in the surroundings or working conditions and who has authorization to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate them.
- Scaffold Tag System
- Color tags communicate scaffold status: green means safe for use by all workers, yellow means caution or limited use, and red means the scaffold must not be used.
- Power Line Clearance
- Scaffolds and conductive materials must stay at least 10 feet from insulated lines under 50 kV and at least 15 feet from uninsulated lines under 50 kV, plus 0.4 inch per kV above 50 kV.
- Guardrail Height Range
- Top rails on scaffold guardrail systems must be installed between 38 and 45 inches above the platform surface, with a midrail approximately halfway to the platform.
- Toeboard Height
- Toeboards at least 3.5 inches high must be installed along platform edges where tools, materials, or debris could fall and strike workers on lower levels.
- High Wind Inspection
- Scaffolds must be inspected by a competent person after high winds or storms, and work must stop when weather conditions make the platform unstable or exceed manufacturer limits.
- Base Plate
- A steel plate placed under a scaffold frame leg to transfer leg load onto a sill or foundation and to receive the adjustable screw jack or leveling device.
- Cross Brace
- A diagonal member attached between the legs of a scaffold frame on each end of a bay to provide lateral stability and keep the frame square.
- Right Angle Coupler
- A tube-and-coupler scaffold fitting that joins two tubes at a fixed 90-degree angle and cannot be adjusted to any other angle.
- Swivel Coupler
- A tube-and-coupler scaffold fitting with a hinged body that joins two tubes at any angle between 0 and 180 degrees.
- Scaffold Grade Plank Span
- Maximum span between supports for scaffold-grade solid sawn planks is 10 feet for a 2x10, 8 feet for a 2x8, and 6 feet for a 2x6.
- Plank Overlap Rule
- Planks must overlap at least 12 inches over a support and be secured against movement, with each end extending at least 6 inches past the support centerline.
- Four-to-One Safety Factor
- Each scaffold and scaffold component must be capable of supporting, without failure, its own weight and at least four times the maximum intended load applied to it.
- Light Duty Rating
- A light-duty scaffold platform is rated for a maximum intended load of 25 pounds per square foot of platform area, which limits it to light trades and few workers.
- Medium Duty Rating
- A medium-duty scaffold platform is rated for a maximum intended load of 50 pounds per square foot, allowing heavier tools and stored materials than light duty.
- Heavy Duty Rating
- A heavy-duty scaffold platform is rated for a maximum intended load of 75 pounds per square foot and is used for masonry and other material-intensive work.
- Height-to-Base Ratio
- A freestanding scaffold's height must not exceed four times its least base dimension unless it is guyed, tied to the structure, or designed by a qualified person.
- Foundation Bearing Rule
- Base plates must rest on mud sills or other firm, level, continuous footing capable of supporting the fully loaded scaffold without settling, sinking, or displacing.
- Racking Resistance
- Lateral sway, called racking, is resisted by cross braces, diagonal bracing, and ties that connect the scaffold to a structurally sound building or member.
- Erection Sequence
- Scaffold erection progresses from the base upward: sills and base plates, frames, cross braces, leveling and tying, then platforms, guardrails, and access.
- Dismantling Order
- Scaffolds are dismantled in the reverse order of erection, from the top down, with components lowered by rope or hand and never thrown to the ground.
- Minimum Platform Width
- Each scaffold platform and walkway used as a working platform must be at least 18 inches wide, measured between the guardrails or the platform edges.
- Maximum Platform Gap
- Planks must be laid tightly together so that the space between adjacent planks, and between planks and uprights, never exceeds 1 inch.
- Alteration Rule
- Scaffolds may be altered only under the supervision of a competent person, and ties, braces, or guardrails are never removed without providing equivalent protection.
- Barricade Requirement
- The ground area below scaffold erection, dismantling, or overhead work must be barricaded and access restricted to protect workers from falling objects and equipment.
- Pre-Shift Inspection
- A competent person must inspect the scaffold, its components, and its foundations before each work shift, after any alteration, and after storms or high winds.
- Scaffold Access Threshold
- When a platform is more than 24 inches above or below a point of access, a ladder, stair tower, ramp, or personnel hoist must be provided; cross braces never serve as access.
- Ladder Extension Rule
- Portable ladders used for scaffold access must extend at least 3 feet above the upper landing surface and be secured to prevent displacement during use.
- Fall Arrest Anchorage
- Personal fall arrest anchorage must support at least 5,000 pounds per employee attached, or be designed with a safety factor of at least 2 by a qualified person.
- Lanyard Attachment Point
- Fall arrest lanyards attach to a scaffold structural member or a vertical lifeline, not to a guardrail or standoff bracket, unless the manufacturer specifically permits it.
- Scaffold Retraining Trigger
- Retraining is required when workplace changes, new hazards, or observed performance show a worker lacks the understanding or skill needed for safe scaffold work.