31 Things to Check to Verify Compliance with OSHA Mobile Scaffolds & Work Platforms Rules

TOOL TYPE CHECKLIST LAST REVIEWED 2/4/14 GEOGRAPHY US SOURCE: ORIGINAL

31 THINGS TO CHECK TO VERIFY COMPLIANCE WITH OSHA MOBILE SCAFFOLDS & WORK PLATFORMS RULES

THE PROBLEM A key part of OSHA fall protection requirements for general industry are the rules set out in the OSHA Mobile Scaffolds & Work Platforms Standard (Sec. 1910.29).

HOW THIS TOOL HELPS SOLVE THE PROBLEM Here’s a Checklist of 31 things to use to verify whether or not you are in compliance with these rules.

This tool and hundreds more available in the SafetySmart Compliance Toolbox at www.safetysmartcompliance.com 2

Are You Covered?

The OSHA standard applies to two kinds of wheeled equipment that enable workers to reach objects overhead:

 Mobile scaffolds, i.e., light, medium or heavy duty scaffolds (or temporary elevated platforms consisting of vertical, diagonal and horizontal members used for supporting workmen and materials; and

 Mobile work platforms, i.e., fixed work levels one frame high on casters or wheels, with bracing diagnonally from platform to vertical frame.

If So, Make Sure:

The standard includes 2 sets of requirements: general rules governing all mobile scaffolds and work platforms and scaffold-/platform-specific requirements. This Checklist concentrates on the general requirements which, in turn, are made up of 3 sets of requirements:

i. Working Loads (Items 1 to 14)

Make sure: To verify compliance with the working loads requirements, check the following 14 things:

1. Mobile work platforms and scaffolds are capable of carrying the design load under varying circumstances depending upon the conditions of use YES [ ] NO [ ] Comments:

2. All parts necessary for the safe and efficient utilization of work platforms and scaffolds are integral parts of the design YES [ ] NO [ ] Comments:

3. The design is such as to produce a mobile ladder stand or scaffold that safely sustains the specified loads YES [ ] NO [ ] Comments:

4. The material is of sufficient strength to meet the test requirements YES [ ] NO [ ] Comments:

5. The material is protected against corrosion and deterioration YES [ ] NO [ ] Comments:

6. You calculate the design working load of ladder stands on the basis of one or more 200-pound persons together with 50 pounds of equipment each YES [ ] NO [ ] Comments:

7. You calculate the design working load of all scaffolds on the basis of:

 Light: Designed and constructed to carry a working load of 25 pounds per square foot YES [ ] NO [ ] Comments:

 Medium: Designed and constructed to carry a working load of 50 pounds per square foot YES [ ] NO [ ] Comments:

 Heavy: Designed and constructed to carry a working load of 75 pounds per square foot YES [ ] NO [ ] Comments:

8. All ladder stands and scaffolds are capable of supporting at least 4 times the design working load YES [ ] NO [ ] Comments:

9. The materials used in mobile ladder stands and scaffolds is of standard manufacture YES [ ] NO [ ] Comments:

10. The materials used in mobile ladder stands and scaffolds conforms to standard specifications of strength, dimensions and weights YES [ ] NO [ ] Comments:

11. The materials used in mobile ladder stands and scaffolds conforms is selected to safely support the design working load YES [ ] NO [ ] Comments:

12. Nails, bolts and other fasteners used in the construction of ladders, scaffolds and towers are of adequate size and in sufficient numbers at each connection to develop the designed strength of the unit YES [ ] NO [ ] Comments:

12. Nails are driven full length YES [ ] NO [ ] Comments:

13. All nails are immediately withdrawn from dismantled lumber YES [ ] NO [ ] Comments:

14. All exposed surfaces are free from sharp edges, burrs and other safety hazards YES [ ] NO [ ] Comments:

ii. Work Levels (Items 15 to 27)

Make sure: To verify compliance with the work level requirements, check the following 13 things:

15. The maximum work level height doesn’t exceed 4 times the minimum or least base dimensions of any mobile ladder stand or scaffold YES [ ] NO [ ] Comments:

16. If the basic mobile unit doesn’t meet the above requirement, either:

 You use suitable outrigger frames to achieve this least base dimension;

 You make provisions to guy or brace the unit against tipping YES [ ] NO [ ] Comments:

16. The minimum platform width for any work level is no less than 20 inches for mobile scaffolds (towers) YES [ ] NO [ ] Comments:

17. Ladder stands have a minimum step width of 16 inches YES [ ] NO [ ] Comments:

18. The supporting structure for the work level is rigidly braced, using adequate cross bracing or diagonal bracing with rigid platforms at each work level YES [ ] NO [ ] Comments:

19. The steps of ladder stands are fabricated from slip resistant treads YES [ ] NO [ ] Comments:

20. The work level platform of scaffolds (towers) is made of wood, aluminum or plywood planking, steel or expanded metal, for the full width of the scaffold, except for necessary openings YES [ ] NO [ ] Comments:

21. Work platforms are secured in place YES [ ] NO [ ] Comments:

22. All planking is 2-inch (nominal) scaffold grade minimum 1,500 f. (stress grade) construction grade lumber or equivalent YES [ ] NO [ ] Comments:

23. All scaffold work levels 10 feet or higher above the ground or floor have a standard (4-inch nominal) toeboard YES [ ] NO [ ] Comments:

24. All work levels 10 feet or higher above the ground or floor have a guardrail of 2- by 4-inch nominal or the equivalent installed no less than 36 inches or more than 42 inches high, with a mid-rail, when required, of 1- by 4-inch nominal lumber or equivalent YES [ ] NO [ ] Comments:

25. A climbing ladder or stairway is provided for proper access and egress YES [ ] NO [ ] Comments:

26. A climbing ladder or stairway is affixed or built into the scaffold and located so that its use doesn’t have a tendency to tip the scaffold YES [ ] NO [ ] Comments:

27. A climbing ladder or stairway has a landing platform at intervals not exceeding 30 feet YES [ ] NO [ ] Comments:

iii. Wheels or Casters (Items 28 to 31)

Make sure: To verify compliance with wheels and caster requirements, check the following 4 things:

28. Wheels or casters are properly designed for strength and dimensions to support 4 times the design working load YES [ ] NO [ ] Comments:

29. All scaffold casters are provided with a positive wheel and/or swivel lock to prevent movement YES [ ] NO [ ] Comments:

30. Ladder stands have at least 2 of the 4 casters and are of the swivel type YES [ ] NO [ ] Comments:

31. Where leveling of the elevated work platform is required, screw jacks or other suitable means for adjusting the height is provided in the base section of each mobile unit YES [ ] NO [ ] Comments:

Make Sure Equipment Meets Scaffold-/Platform-Specific Requirements

The above Checklist applies to all forms of mobile scaffolds and platforms covered by the OSHA standard. There are also equipment-specific requirements that apply to the following 4 kinds of scaffolds and platforms:

1. Mobile Tubular Welded Frame Scaffolds (Section 1910.29(b)), i.e., sectional, panel or frame metal scaffolds built up of prefabricated welded sections consisting of posts and bearers with intermediate connecting members and braced with diagonal or cross braces.

2. Mobile Tubular Welded Sectional Folding Scaffolds (Section 1910.29(c)), i.e., sectional, folding metal scaffolds either of ladder frame or inside stairway design, substantially built of prefabricated welded sections, which consist of end frames, platform frame, inside inclined stairway frame and braces, or hinged connected diagonal and horizontal braces, capable of being folded into a flat package when the scaffold is not in use. This tool and hundreds more available in the SafetySmart Compliance Toolbox at www.safetysmartcompliance.com 7

3. Mobile Tube & Coupler Scaffolds (Section 1910.29(d)), i.e., assemblies consisting of tubing which serves as posts, bearers, braces, ties, and runners, a base supporting the posts, and uprights, and serves to join the various members, usually used in fixed locations.

4. Mobile Ladder Stands (Section 1910.29(f)), i.e., mobile fixed size self-supporting ladders consisting of a wide flat tread ladder in the form of stairs where the assembly may include handrails.

ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH FALL PROTECTION REQUIREMENTS

Go to the SafetySmart Compliance Fall Protection Compliance Center for more fall protection compliance Checklists:

 Portable wood ladders compliance checklist  Portable metal ladders compliance checklist  Fall protection compliance checklist  Scaffolds compliance checklist  Fixed ladders compliance checklist

This tool and hundreds more available in the SafetySmart Compliance Toolbox at www.safetysmartcompliance.com