Scaffold Erection and Dismantling

Why it matters

Most scaffold accidents do not happen on a finished scaffold. They happen while the scaffold is going up or coming down, when guardrails are not set yet and planks are loose. OSHA requires erection and dismantling under a competent person, by trained workers. Today we cover how to build and strip a scaffold without anyone riding a falling frame to the ground.

Hazards

• ⚠ Falls from unguarded frames during erection and dismantling
• ⚠ Frames set on soft ground or missing base plates and mudsills
• ⚠ Loose or unsecured planks during the strip
• ⚠ Dropped components striking workers below
• ⚠ Contact with overhead power lines while standing frames
• ⚠ Incomplete bracing that lets the tower rack sideways

Controls and safe practices

• ✓ A competent person plans, supervises, and inspects every erection and dismantle.
• ✓ Only trained erectors on the frames. Everyone else stays out of the drop zone below.
• ✓ Base plates and mudsills on every leg, on firm, level ground. No blocks, bricks, or scrap.
• ✓ Install bracing and pins as you go up. Never stack a level on an unbraced level.
• ✓ Use fall protection where feasible during erection, as the competent person directs.
• ✓ Lower components with rope or hand lines. Never drop or throw parts.
• ✓ Keep frames at least 10 feet from power lines, more for high voltage.

Crew discussion questions

1. Who is the competent person for scaffold work on this site?
2. Where is our drop zone, and how do we keep other trades out of it?
3. What ground problems do we have here: slopes, backfill, mud?
4. How do we get components up and down without dropping them?

Applicable OSHA standards

29 CFR 1926.451, 29 CFR 1926.454

More toolbox talks

• Ladder Safety
• Fall Protection Basics
• Heat Illness Prevention
• Lockout / Tagout: Controlling Energized Circuits
• Trench and Excavation Safety
• Silica Dust Control

Safety plans by trade

RoofingElectricalHVAC / MechanicalGeneral ContractorAll toolbox talks