Supported Scaffold Inspection Points

Why it matters

A scaffold that was safe yesterday is not automatically safe today. Other trades move planks, ground settles overnight, and someone always borrows a guardrail. That is why OSHA requires a competent person to inspect scaffolds before each work shift and after anything that could affect them. Today we walk the exact points that inspection covers, so everyone knows what a green-tagged scaffold means.

Hazards

• ⚠ Missing or moved planks leaving gaps in the platform
• ⚠ Guardrails removed by another trade and never replaced
• ⚠ Legs settling into soft or washed-out ground
• ⚠ Missing pins, clips, or braces after modifications
• ⚠ Overloaded platforms stacked with material
• ⚠ Bad access: climbing frames instead of a ladder

Controls and safe practices

• ✓ Competent person inspects before every shift and after wind, rain, impact, or any change.
• ✓ Platform fully planked, planks secured, no gaps over 1 inch at supports.
• ✓ Guardrails complete above 10 feet: top rail, midrail, and toeboards where people work below.
• ✓ Check every leg: base plate, mudsill, plumb, and no settlement.
• ✓ Confirm braces, pins, and ties are in place. Report anything modified since yesterday.
• ✓ Ladder or stair access only. Never climb braces or frames unless they are designed for it.
• ✓ Keep loads within capacity: scaffold and planks must hold 4 times the intended load.

Crew discussion questions

1. Who inspected this scaffold this morning, and how do we know?
2. Has any other trade worked on or around our scaffold since we left?
3. Where is material stacked on the platform, and is it too much?
4. What is our rule when we find a guardrail missing?

Applicable OSHA standards

29 CFR 1926.451

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