Scaffolds

A scaffold must only be erected, altered and / or dismantled by, or under the direct supervision of qualified workers as per the manufacturers or engineers specifications. A scaffold system must be inspected daily before use and after modifications. Scaffold systems found to be incomplete and / or in poor or unsafe condition must be labelled with appropriate tags and taken out of service.

Responsibilities

The employer must ensure that scaffolds used by workers are in safe condition and are able to withstand the load, regardless of who erected the scaffold.

The platform of each scaffold must:

• Be a minimum nominal width of 50 cm (20 in), except that a nominal 30 cm (12 in) wide work platform may be used with ladder jacks, pump jack or similar systems;

• Not leave more than one opening in the work platform, which must be not greater than 25 cm (10 in) in width;

• If not level, be designed to ensure adequate footing for workers using the platform.

Guardrails may be omitted from the edge of a work platform if the platform is adjacent to a structure that provides protection equivalent to guardrails.

Manufactured Components

Major components of scaffolds must be used in accordance with technical data provided by the manufacturer, or in writing by a professional engineer that,

• Shows  the  rated  load,  erection  procedures  and  compliance  with  an  applicable standard under Section 13.2 of the OH & S Regulation;

• Is available at the workplace for reference.

Lumber for Structural Components

All lumber used to construct a scaffold must be graded and marked to the National Lumber Grades Authority Standard Grading Rules for Canadian Lumber.

Scaffold Stability

A scaffold must be erected with the vertical members plumb, and with the ledgers and bearers level. The base of a scaffold must have bearing plates or sills that rest on a solid surface and are sufficient to support the weight of the scaffold. The poles, legs and uprights of a scaffold must be securely and rigidly braced to prevent movement.

A scaffold system must be effectively guyed or secured to a building structure:

• If the height of the scaffold exceeds three times its minimum base dimension;

• In any other circumstances if required for stability.

Connections

All connections between the parts of a scaffold system must be secure.

Engineering Required

A scaffold must be constructed, installed and used in accordance with the instructions of a professional engineer with respect to:

• Bracing, if the scaffold is enclosed by a tarpaulin or any other cover.

• A scaffold exceeding 38 m (125 ft) in height.

• A scaffold exceeding 25 m (80 ft) in height if stairways are included as part of the scaffold.

• A scaffold used to support a temporary floor.

• A scaffold suspended or cantilevered from a structure.

• A scaffold system supported by a centenary line.

• A needle beam scaffold.

• An outrigger scaffold.

Do not consider cross braces to be guardrails. Guardrail components must be installed to all scaffold assemblies where practical to prevent falls as per the OH & S Regulation.