SAFETY AND HEALTH REGULATIONS FOR CONSTRUCTION
PART 1926 / SUBPART L
Revised July 1,1993
SCAFFOLDING
U.S. Department of Labor
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
as applied to
General Requirements, Carpenter's Bracket Scaffolds and Roof Brackets
1926.451
(a) General Requirements.
(1) Scaffolds shall be erected in accordance with requirements of this section.
(2) The footing or anchorage for scaffolding shall be sound, rigid, and capable of carrying the maximum intended load without settling or displacement. Unstable objects such as barrels, boxes, loose brick, or concrete blocks, shall not be used to support scaffolds or planks.
(3) No scaffold shall be erected, moved, dismantled, or altered except under the supervision of competent persons.
(4) Guardrails and toe boards shall be installed on all open sides and ends on platforms more than 10 feet above the ground or floor, except needle beam scaffolds and floats (see paragraph (p) and (w) of this section). Scaffolds 4 feet to 10 feet in height, having a minimum horizontal dimension in either direction of less than 45 inches, shall have standard guardrails installed on all open sides and ends of the platform.
(5) Guardrails shall be 2 x 4 inches, or the equivalent, approximately 42 inches high, with a mid-rail, when required. Supports shall be at intervals not to exceed 8 feet. Toe boards shall be a minimum of 4 inches in height.
(6) Where persons are required to work or pass under a scaffold, scaffolds shall be provided with a screen between the toe board and the guard rail, extending along the entire opening, consisting or No. 18 gauge U.S. Standard wire 1 /2 inch mesh, or the equivalent.
(7) Scaffold and their components shall be capable of supporting without failure at least 4 times the maximum intended load.
(8) Any scaffold including accessories such as braces, brackets, trusses, screw legs, ladders, etc. damaged or weakened from any cause shall be immediately repaired or replaced.
(9) All load-carrying timber members of scaffold framing shall be a minimum of 1500 fiber (Stress Grade) construction grade lumber. All dimensions are nominal sizes as provided in the American Lumber Standards, except where rough sizes are noted, only rough or undressed lumber of the size specified will satisfy minimum requirements.
(10) All planking shall be Scaffold grades, or equivalent, as recognized by approved grading rules for the species of wood used. The maximum permissible spans for 2 x 10 inch or wider planks shall be as shown in the following:
(11) The maximum permissible span for 1-1/4 x 9 inch or wider plank of full thickness shall be 4 feet with medium duty loading of 50 p.s.f.
(12) All planking of platforms shall be overlapped (minimum 12 inches), or secured from movement.
(13) An access ladder or equivalent safe access shall be provided.
(14) Scaffold planks shall extend over their end supports not less than 6 inches nor more than 12 inches.
(15) The poles, legs, or uprights, of scaffolds shall be plumb, and securely and rigidly braced to prevent swaying and displacement.
(16) Overhead projection shall be provided for men on a scaffold exposed to overhead hazards.
(17) Slippery conditions on scaffolds shall be eliminated as soon as possible after they occur.
(18) No welding, burning, riveting, or open flame work shall be performed on any staging suspended by means of fiber or synthetic rope. Only treated or protected fiber or synthetic rope shall be used for or near any work involving the use of corrosive substances or chemicals. Specific requirements for boatswain's chairs and float or ship scaffolds are contained in paragraphs (1) and (w) of this section.
(19) Wire, synthetic, or fiber rope used for scaffold suspension shall be capable of supporting at least 6 times the rated load.
(20) The use of shore or lean-to scaffolding is prohibited.
(21) Lumber sizes, when used in this subpart, refer to nominal sizes except where otherwise stated.
(22) Materials being hoisted on to a scaffold shall have a tag line.
(23) Employees shall not work on scaffolds during storms or high winds.
(24) Tools, materials, and debris shall not be allowed to accumulate in quantities to cause a hazard.
1926.452
(g) Carpenters' bracket scaffolds.
(1) The brackets shall consist of a triangular wood frame not less than 2 x 3 inches in cross section, or of metal or equivalent strength. Each member shall be properly fitted and securely joined.
(2) Each bracket shall be attached to the structure by means of one of the following:
(i) A bolt, no less than five eighths inch in diameter, which shall extent to the inside of the building wall;
(ii) A metal stud attachment device;
(iii) Welded to steel tanks;
(iv) Hooking over a well secured and adequately strong supporting member.
(3) The brackets shall be spaced no more than eight feet apart.
(4) No more than two employees shall occupy any given 8 feet of a bracket scaffold at any one time. Tools and materials shall not exceed 75 pounds in addition to the occupancy.
(5) The platform shall consist of not less than two 2 x 10 inch nominal size planks extending not more than 12 inches or less than 6 inches beyond each support.
(6) Guard rails made of lumber, not less than 2 x 4 inches (or other material providing equivalent protection), approxi mately 42 inches high, with a mid-rail, of 1 x 6 inch lumber (or other material providing equivalent protection), and toe boards, shall be installed at all open sides and ends of all scaffolds more than 10 feet above the ground or floor. Toe boards shall be a minimum of 4 inches in height. Wire mesh shall be installed in accordance with paragraph (a)(6) of this section.
(h) Roofing brackets.
(1) Roofing brackets shall be constructed to fit the pitch of a roof.
(2) Brackets shall be secured in place by nailing in addition to the pointed metal projections. When it is impractical to nail brackets, rope supports shall be used. When rope supports are used, they shall consist of first grade manila of at least 3/4 inch diameter, or equivalent.
(3) A catch platform shall be installed below the working area of roofs more than 16 feet above the ground to eaves with a slope greater than 4 inches in 12 inches without a parapet. In width, the platform shall extend 2 feet beyond the projection of the eaves and shall be provided with a guardrail, mid-rail, and toe board. This provision shall not apply where employees engaged in work upon such roofs are protected by a safety belt attached to a lifeline.