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1 i ! i SCAFFOLD SAFETY GENERAL Scaffolds are elevated platforms that can be moved or installed in order to reach a desired work level or position. Palls from scaffolds are responsible for more deaths than falls from any other working surface. There are several kinds of scaffolds, but the three most conunon are suspension scaffolds, mobile scaffolds and stationary scaffolds. SUSPENSION SCAFFOLDS Suspension scaffolds hang by ropes or wires fi-om an overhead support. Included are single-point suspension scaffolds for one person,such as a boatswains chair and double-point suspension scaffolds. Eff Inspection of Suspension Scaffolds: I. Check the platform for holes,work areas or weak spots. 2. Check the lines for fi-aying,kinking,broken strands and loose comnections. 3. Do not try to repair defective lines and do not use lines that have been repaired. 4. If a scaffold has been dropped or exposed to anything that could weaken it, inspect it carefully for damage. Make sure the scaffold is built for the weight which will be placed on it. This includes the weight of the workers, tools and materials. The platform, suspension ropes or wires, and overhead supports must all be { able to carry the load. Do not attempt to use a suspension scaffold if winds are over 40 mph, unless its designed to take wind loads and can protect the worker from the wind. I Moving a Suspension Scaffold: 1. Before moving a scaffold,remove or secure all tools on the platform. I i 2. Make sure the scaffold is level before raising or lowering. 3. Raise or lower each side a little at a time,keeping it as level as possible. 4. If you have help, you and your co-worker should stand on opposite sides of tine platform, working at the same time to raise each end evenly. 5. Position the scaffold as close as possible to the working surface. If it is more than 14 inches away,an interior guardrail is required. NOTE: OSHA standards require that on suspension scaffolds designed for a working load of 500 pounds,no more than two people should be permitted to work at one time. On suspension scaffolds with a working load of 750 pounds, no more than three people shall be permitted to work at one time. Each employee shall be protected by a harness and lanyard attached to a lifeline. The lifeline shall be securely attached to substantial members of the structure(not scaffold),or to securely rigged lines which will safely suspend the employee in case of a fall. In order to keep the lifeline continuously attached with a minimum of slack to a fixed structure, the attachment point of the lifeline shall be appropriately changed as the work progresses. 1 Working on a Suspension Scaffold: j 1. When working on a suspension scaffold, keep a safe distance from power lines. The scaffold must be kept at least 10 feet from energized lines. If an insulated line is carrying less than 300 volts,the minimum distance is two feet.