1.0 PURPOSE
The purpose of this procedure is to provide written instruction for Nitro Construction Services in the use, erection, dismantling, and inspection of scaffolds.
2.0 RESPONSIBILITY
It is the responsibility of the Site Manager/Superintendent to implement the requirements of this procedure.
3.0 REFERENCES
29 CFR 1910.28
29 CFR 1926.450
29 CFR 1926.451
29 CFR 1926.454
4.0 DEFINITIONS
4.1 Body Harness – A design of straps which may be secured about the employee in a manner to distribute the fall arrest forces over at least the thighs, pelvis, waist, chest, and shoulders, with means for attaching it to other components of a personal fall arrest system.
4.2 Competent Person – One who is capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards in the surroundings or working conditions which are unsanitary, hazardous, or dangerous to employees, and who has the authorization to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate them.
4.3 Guardrail System – A vertical barrier, consisting of, but not limited to, top rails, mid-rails, and posts, erected to prevent employees from falling off a scaffold platform or walkway to lower levels.
4.4 Hoist – A manual or power-operated mechanical device to raise or lower a suspended scaffold.
4.5 Lifeline – A component consisting of a flexible line that connects to an anchorage at one end to hang vertically (vertical lifeline), or that connects to anchorages at both ends to stretch horizontally (horizontal lifeline), and which serves as a means for connecting other components of a personal fall arrest system to the anchorage.
4.6 Maximum Intended Load – A total load of all persons, equipment, tools, materials, transmitted loads, and other loads reasonably anticipated to be applied to a scaffold or scaffold component at any one time.
4.7 Personal Fall Arrest System – A system used to arrest an employee’s fall. It consists of an anchorage, connectors, a body belt or body harness and may include a lanyard, deceleration device, lifeline, or combinations of these.
4.8 Qualified – One who, by the possession of a recognized degree, certificate, or professional standing, or who by extensive knowledge, training, and experience, has successfully demonstrated his/her ability to solve or resolve problems related to the subject matter, the work, or the project.
4.9 Scaffold – Any temporary elevated platform (supported or suspended) and its supporting structure (including points of anchorage), used for supporting employees or materials or both.
5.0 PROCEDURE
5.1 General Requirements
5.1.1 Scaffolds shall be designed by a qualified person and shall be constructed and loaded in accordance with that design.
5.1.2 Scaffolds shall be erected, moved, dismantled, or altered only under the supervision and direction of a competent person qualified in scaffold erection, moving, dismantling or alteration. Such activities shall be performed only by experienced and trained employees selected for such work by the competent person.
5.1.3 Scaffolds shall be inspected for visible defects by the Scaffold Competent Person before each work shift, after any occurrence which could affect a scaffold’s structural integrity and periodically throughout the shift.
5.1.4 Scaffolds shall be tagged by the designated scaffold competent person (usually the erection supervisor) prior to use. The tag shall be color-coded to indicate the condition of the scaffold and initialed and dated by the scaffold competent person. Employees shall follow the tagging system prior to accessing the scaffold.
5.1.6 Employees shall be prohibited from working on scaffolds covered with snow, ice, or other slippery material except as necessary for the removal of such materials.
5.1.7 Where swinging loads are being hoisted onto or near scaffolds such that the loads might contact the scaffold, tag lines, or equivalent measures to control the loads shall be used.
5.1.8 Work on or from scaffolds is prohibited during storms or high winds unless a competent person has determined that it is safe for employees to be on the scaffold and those employees are protected by a personal fall arrest system or windscreens. Windscreens shall not be used unless the scaffold is secured against the anticipated wind forces imposed.
5.1.9 Debris shall not be allowed to accumulate on platforms.
5.1.10 Makeshift devices, such as but not limited to boxes and barrels, shall not be used on top of scaffold platforms to increase the working level height of employees.
5.1.11 Scaffold erectors and dismantlers shall have documented “scaffold erectors” training prior to erecting scaffolds.
5.1.12 Scaffold users shall have documented “scaffold users” training prior to using the scaffold.
5.2 Engineering Requirements
5.2.1 Each scaffold and scaffold component shall be capable of supporting, without failure, its own weight and at least 4 times the maximum intended load applied or transmitted to it.
5.2.2 Pole scaffolds over 60 feet in height shall be designed by a registered professional engineer and shall be constructed and loaded in accordance with that design.
5.2.3 Tube and coupler or fabricated frame scaffolds over 125 feet in height shall be designed by a registered professional engineer and shall be constructed and loaded in accordance with such design.
5.3 Scaffold Access
5.3.1 When scaffold platforms are more than 2 feet above or below a point of access, portable ladders, attachable ladders, stair towers, ramps, walkways, integral prefabricated scaffold access, or direct access from another scaffold, structure, personnel hoist, or similar surface shall be used. Cross braces shall not be used as a means of access.
5.3.2 Hook-on and attachable ladders shall be positioned so that their bottom rung is not more than 24 inches above the scaffold supporting level.
5.3.3 When hook-on and attachable ladders are used on a supported scaffold more than 35 feet high, they shall have rest platforms at 35 feet maximum vertical intervals.
5.3.4 Hook-on and attachable ladders shall be specifically designed for use with the type of scaffold used.
5.4 Guardrails
5.4.1 Guardrail systems shall be installed along all open sides and ends of platforms before the scaffold is released for use by employees other than the erection/dismantling crew.
5.4.2 Guardrail system shall consist of a top rail, mid-rail, and falling object protection as defined in Section 6.4 of this procedure.
5.4.3 Guardrail systems shall meet the following criteria:
5.4.3.1 The top edge height of top rails shall be installed between 38 inches and 45 inches above the platform surface.
5.4.3.2 Each top rail or equivalent member shall be able to withstand, without failure, a force applied in any downward or horizontal direction at any point along its top edge of at least 100 pounds for guardrail systems installed on single-point adjustable suspension scaffolds or two-point adjustable suspension scaffolds, and at least 200 pounds for guardrail systems installed on all other scaffolds.
5.4.3.3 Mid-rails shall be installed halfway between the top rail and the platform and shall be able to withstand, without failure, a force applied in any downward or horizontal direction of at least 75 pounds for guardrail systems with a minimum 100 pound top rail capacity, and at least 150 pounds for guardrail systems with a minimum of 200 pound top rail capacity.
5.4.3.4 Toeboards shall be installed at the outermost edge of the platform and not have more than ¼ inch clearance above the platform.
5.4.3.5 Toeboards shall be at least 3 ½ inches in height and be able to withstand, without failure, at least 50 pounds applied in any downward or horizontal direction at any point along with the toe board.
5.5 Falling Object Protection
5.5.1 Where there is a danger of tools, materials, or equipment falling from a scaffold and striking employees below, the following provisions shall apply:
5.5.1.1 The area below the scaffold to which objects can fall shall be barricaded, warning signs posted, and employees shall not be permitted to enter the hazard area;
5.5.1.2 Toeboards shall be erected along the edge of the platforms.
5.5.1.3 Where tools, materials, or equipment are piled higher than the top edge of the toe board, paneling or screening extending from the toe board or platform to the top of the guardrail shall be erected for a distance sufficient to protect employees below, or
5.5.1.4 A guardrail system shall be installed with openings small enough to prevent the passage of potential falling objects, or
5.5.1.5 A canopy structure, debris net, or catch platform strong enough to withstand the impact forces of the potential falling objects shall be erected over the employees below.
5.5.2 Canopies, when used for falling object protection, shall comply with the following criteria:
5.5.2.1 Canopies shall be installed between the falling object hazard and the employees.
5.5.2.2 When canopies are used on suspension scaffolds for falling object protection, the scaffold shall be equipped with additional independent support lines equal in number to the number of points supported, and equivalent in strength to the strength of the suspension ropes.
5.5.2.3 Independent support lines and suspension ropes shall not be attached to the same points of anchorage.
5.6 Fall Protection Requirements
5.6.1 Work must be performed from inside the guardrails of the scaffold unless fall protection is used.
5.6.2 Fall protection must be worn if large gaps or holes in the scaffold floor cannot be covered.
5.6.3 The Competent person and/or Scaffold builder shall note on the inspection tag if fall protection is required while working from a scaffold.
5.6.4 The requirement for fall protection is noted in paragraphs (g)(1)(i) through (vii) of 29 CFR 1926.451.
5.7 Scaffold Tagging System
5.7.1 All scaffolds shall be tagged prior to use by the scaffold erector(s).
5.7.2 Once per shift or daily, each scaffold user must sign and date the inspection tag indicating they have conducted a pre-job scaffold inspection.
5.7.3 Scaffold tags shall be placed on the scaffold by the scaffold builder to indicate any deviation from normal scaffold construction as a warning to scaffold users.
5.7.3.1 RED tag means DO NO USE. The scaffold is not finished or is incomplete.
5.7.3.2 YELLOW tag means the scaffold may be used but additional requirements are necessary for use, such as the requirement of a fall arrest system.
5.7.3.3 GREEN tag means the scaffold is complete and ready for use.
5.7.4 In cases where the work location or site has a tagging system that does not meet the requirements of 5.6.3, the Corporate Safety Director or designee shall review and approve the system for adequacy.
5.8 Duties of the Scaffold Competent Person
5.8.1 The Scaffold Competent Person shall supervise and direct all scaffold erection, moving, dismantling, or alteration activities.
5.8.2 The Competent Person shall evaluate direct connections on suspension scaffolds before the scaffold is used to confirm that the surfaces are capable of supporting the loads to be imposed.
5.8.3 The Competent Person shall inspect all ropes used in suspension scaffolds for defects prior to each work shift and after any occurrence that could affect a rope’s integrity.
5.8.4 Where dissimilar metals are to be used, the Competent Person shall determine that galvanic action will not reduce the strength of the component to a level below that which is required by 29 CFR 1926.451(a)(1).
5.8.5 The Competent Person shall evaluate multi-point suspension scaffolds to determine whether they need to be tied or otherwise secured to prevent them from swaying.
5.8.6 During storms or high winds, work shall not be conducted on scaffolds unless the Competent Person has determined that it is safe and the scaffold users on the scaffold are protected.
5.8.7 The Competent Person shall determine the proper access and fall protection systems for scaffold users during scaffold erection and dismantling.
5.8.8 The Competent Person shall ensure scaffolds are safe prior to and during use.
5.9 Training Requirements
5.9.1 All employees who perform work while on a scaffold shall have appropriate training by a person qualified to recognize the hazards associated with the type of scaffold being used and to understand the procedures to control or minimize those hazards shall provide the required training to employees.
5.9.2 The following criteria shall be utilized for training the specific category of the worker as applicable:
5.9.2.1 The nature of any electrical hazards, fall hazards, and falling object hazards in the work area.
5.9.2.2 The correct procedures for dealing with electrical hazards and for erecting, maintaining, and disassembling the fall protection systems and falling object protection systems to be used.
5.9.2.3 The proper use of the scaffold, and the proper handling of materials on the scaffold.
5.9.2.4 The maximum intended load and the load-carrying capacities of the scaffolds used and any other pertinent requirements of the regulation.
5.9.3 Only qualified, trained, and competent personnel can modify scaffolding systems. Non-qualified personnel may create more hazards. Any non-qualified persons making modifications to scaffolding will be subject to disciplinary actions up to and including termination of employment.
5.9.4 Retraining – When the Supervisor has any reason to believe that an employee lacks the skill and understanding needed to perform work safely while on a scaffold, the supervisor shall ensure the employee is retrained so that the required proficiency is regained.
5.9.5 Retraining is required in at least the following situations:
5.9.5.1 Where changes at the worksite present a hazard about which the employee has not been trained.
5.9.5.2 Where changes in the type of scaffolds, fall protection, falling object protection, or other equipment present a hazard about which an employee has not been previously trained.
5.9.5.3 Where inadequacies in an affected employee’s work involving scaffolds indicate that the employee has not retained the requisite proficiency.
5.9.6 Documentation of training shall be maintained at the worksite for the duration of the project (at a minimum a sign-in sheet with the date, employee’s name and last four of the Social Security Number, and the instructor’s signature).
5.10 Additional Requirements
5.10.1 In addition to the requirements of this procedure, specific safety precautions and guidelines for each facility and/or manufacturer shall be enforced.