TITLE

ES&H Manual

 

DOCUMENT ID

6132 Appendix T2:  Scaffolds

 

1.0             Purpose

Scaffolding is a temporary structure used to support people and material during construction or repair of buildings or other large structures. Although it can be made out of other materials, scaffolding is usually a modular system made up of metal pipes.

2.0             Scope

Erection and use of scaffolding is only authorized for its intended purpose.  Only trained scaffold workers may set up, use, and disassemble scaffolds at Jefferson Lab.  Training is specific to the type of scaffold. Obtain assistance from Industrial Safety or the Material Handling Safety Representative.

Actions not presented in this appendix are to be reviewed and approved by the worker’s supervisor prior to implementation. The most commonly used scaffolds at Jefferson Lab are as follows.

 

 

http://ts4.mm.bing.net/th?id=H.4960817252205787&w=196&h=188&c=7&rs=1&pid=1.7

Baker Type

-    easily transportable

-    narrow in design

-    if on casters, can be moved manually

Tube and Coupler Type

-    system using tubes for posts, bearers, braces, and ties

-    special couplers connect the parts

-    casters may be used

tube and coupler scaffold

 

tubular welded frame scaffold

Tubular Welded Frame

-    system using prefabricated, welded sections that serve as posts and horizontal bearers

-    deck can be built with (stamped) scaffold-grade lumber or manufactured deckboards spanning the end-frames

 

Refer to 6131, Fall Protection Systems for non-scaffold fall protection options for construction activities at four feet or higher; or whenever a person works above dangerous machinery or operations.

This appendix is written in coordination with 6132, Ladder and Scaffold Safety. All applicable content within the chapter applies to the process steps outlined in this appendix.

3.0             Responsibilities

Note:   Management authority may be delegated to a task-qualified TJNAF employee at the discretion of the responsible manager.

Training: Contact the Industrial Safety Group for questions regarding ladder and scaffold safety training.

3.1              Scaffold Worker

·         Obtain authorization for scaffold use from the appointed Competent Person – Scaffold.

·         Notify your supervisor or technical representative of any health conditions or medication that would affect the safe use of scaffolding. 

·         Wear appropriate personal protection equipment (PPE) when assembling, using, and disassembling scaffolding.

·         When authorized, erect and disassemble scaffolding in accordance with manufacturer’s specifications and Jefferson Lab requirements.

3.2              Competent Person – Scaffold

·         Complete applicable training or equivalent

·         Ensure assigned scaffold worker(s) is trained and/or qualified. 

·         Ensure scaffold worker(s) is appropriately briefed and/or authorized.

·         Provide scaffold workers with the hazard mitigation training associated with the assigned scaffold.

·         Plan, select, inspect, and maintain scaffold equipment in accordance with manufacture’s specifications and Jefferson Lab requirements.

·         Explain the erection procedure to scaffold workers.

·         Monitor scaffold erection.

·         Inspect completed structure before initial use and daily thereafter.

·         Address personnel questions or concerns regarding the construction and/or safety of the scaffolding

3.3              Supervisors and Technical Representatives (TR)

·         Schedule Competent Person – Scaffold for applicable training; or obtain documentation of the worker’s equivalency qualifications and submit for approval, from Industrial Safety prior to erection and/or work with scaffolds.

·         Assign a Competent Person – Scaffold for the duration of the scaffold work.

·         Review scaffold safety requirements with workers in area.

·         Coordinate with Occupational Medicine if health conditions or medication prevents a worker from using the scaffold.

·         Ensure scaffolding is selected, used, and stored in accordance with manufacturer’s and Jefferson Lab’s requirements.

3.4              Industrial Safety

·         Review and, if adequate, accept equivalent training qualification documentation, or

·         Train workers in appropriate scaffold erection, use, and disassembly.

4.0             Procedure

Unless otherwise stated authorized scaffold workers, assigned tasks on behalf of Jefferson Lab, may perform the process steps outlined below.

4.1              Plan

·         Consider the following when planning work that will require scaffolding:

o   duration and type of work to be performed

o   location

o   scaffold limitations and/or intended use specifications

o   load rating must be able to sustain at least four times the maximum intended load

o   maintenance requirements

o   material hoist method

o   fall protection needed

o   weather and environmental conditions

o   rescue equipment (particularly for suspended scaffolds)

o   address any wind loading concerns for outdoor scaffolds

·         When moving vehicles are present in work area, scaffolding is marked conspicuously with ropes or barricades.

4.2              Selection

·         Ensure a ladder, or equivalent safe access method, can be provided to all levels. (The cross-braces of a scaffold frame are not designed to be used for access.) 

·         Tool, material, and debris containment so objects do not drop from a scaffold.

·         Castor wheel brakes engagement.  (Factor adequate spacing to allow for engagement at all times, except when movement is required.)

4.3              Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

·         Minimum PPE required is a hardhat, safety glasses and steel-toed shoes

·         Additional PPE for the specific tasks as identified via a Task Hazard Analysis (THA).

4.4              Erecting and Dismantling

All fabricated tubular frame scaffolds (stationary or rolling) are required to be erected and dismantled under the supervision of a Competent Person - Scaffold. This person:

·         ensures the correct scaffold system is used

·         explains the erection or dismantling procedure

·         monitors erection and dismantling activities

·         inspects completed structures before initial use and daily thereafter

Scaffolding is erected in accordance with the owner’s manual instructions as authored by the applicable manufacturer. Do not interchange different manufacturers’ components unless they are compatible with the structure and provide additional structural integrity.

4.5              Inspection

·         Scaffold is inspected after assembly, prior to initial use, and before each shift thereafter by the competent person. Use the Scaffold Inspection Checklist.

·         Completed inspection checklists are signed and dated by the competent person and attached to the scaffold. When the scaffold is disassembled, the forms need to be sent to the ES&H Division’s SME for filing and storage.

·         Completed forms are to be stored for one year and then disposed of. 

4.6              Repair and Maintenance on scaffolding may be requested by anyone at Jefferson Lab. Safety color sheets should be used to label scaffolds with the applicable status when they are being repaired and/or are under maintenance.

·         Place the scaffold out-of-service by using the red Do Not Use sign or tag. If updates are being made to the scaffold or it is being inspected for use, select the yellow Caution sign or tag.

·         Contact the Competent Person to determine repair and maintenance requirements, or request alterations to the scaffold.

·         Upon completion of repairs, the scaffold is re-inspected and approved for use in accordance with 6132, Appendix T4: Scaffold Inspection Procedure.

·         Upon completion of an acceptable inspection the lock/tag is removed and work may continue. When placing the scaffold back into service, use the green Safe-to-use sign or tag.

5.0             Safe Work Practices

5.1              Foundation

Use an adequate foundation (solid dry ground, concrete, or asphalt) that supports the load of the scaffold, materials, equipment, and workers without collapsing or shifting.  Screw-jack levelers are recommended. When the ground is soft and cannot support the load use mudsills (lumber) to spread the load of the base plate and legs of the scaffold. 

·         Rolling scaffolds may only be used on level, firm surfaces. 

·         Do not use unstable (or crushable) objects such as barrels, boxes, loose brick or concrete blocks to support the scaffold or planks.

5.2              Frame

·         Scaffold frames must be level and plumb.

·         Cross braces are used at every frame pair, and locked in place.

·         If uplift is possible, floor decking must be secured by pins, guys, wires, or other equivalent means.

5.3              Planking

Platforms must be completely planked. Gaps < 1 inch are allowed except where scaffold uprights interfere or as necessary for an entrance opening.

·         Fabricated scaffold decks must be labeled for the working load and used accordingly.

·         Sawn lumber:

o   Must be stamped scaffold plank grade and selected for the working load, or selected by Industrial Safety to meet the intended load requirements

o   May not be painted (this conceals knots and other defects)

·         If planking must overlap end-to-end and cannot be secured, a minimum of 12-inch overlap is needed. Any overlap must be centered over an intermediate support.

·         At end supports, planks must have an overhang of 6 to 12 inches unless cleats or hooks are used to prevent planks from sliding. Never exceed 12 inches of overhang.

·         Platforms do not deflect more than 1/60 of the span when loaded.

·         Minimum platform width is 18 inches.

5.4              Guardrails 

Guardrails are required on all open sides and ends of platforms whenever there is a drop of more than four feet. 

·         Must be greater than 5 x 10 cm (~2 x 4 inch) cross sections, and 0.9 to 1.1-meters (~36 to 42 inches) high. (Diagonal or X-bracing can only be used in some specific situations.)

·         Cross bracing is acceptable as a complete guardrail system if the crossing point is between 31 and 48 inches above the platform and the ends are no more than 54 inches apart.

·         Cross bracing is acceptable as a single guard rail if it is at least 20 inches and no more than 30 inches above the platform.

·         You do not need guardrails if:

o   scaffold covers the entire interior of the building or room wall-to-wall

o   on sides or ends with < 16-inch gap to the building wall

5.5              Top Rails

·         Must be within 38 to 45 inches above the platform.

·         Must be supported at least every 10 feet.

5.6              Toe Boards

Toe boards are required for open sides more than three meters (~10-feet) off the ground or floor. They are primarily intended to be a barrier to prevent tools or materials from being knocked off the scaffold: 

·         Must be at least 4 inches (10 cm) high and have a snug fit to the platform along their length

·         Made of 2 x 4 lumber or the equivalent 

5.7              Screens

A screen is required between the top rail and toe board if material is stacked higher than the toe boards, or if people work or pass beneath the scaffold. Mid rails may be omitted if a screen is used.

·         Use 18 gage, ½-inch wire mesh or equivalent.

5.8              Tipping Restraints (Wall Ties)

Used with free-standing scaffolds with a height-to-base ratio > 4:1*.

·         Vertical Wall Ties at the 4:1 elevation point and every 26-feet thereafter

·         Longitudinal Wall Ties at each end and at 30-foot intervals

*Notes

  • Use the narrowest base dimension for these decisions.
  • It may be easier to increase the base width or use outriggers for greater stability.

5.9              Wire or Fiber Rope

Ensure it is in good condition and graded to support at least six times the intended load.

5.10          Access

·         Conventional straight ladders, Type I or IA, secured to the scaffold, extending three feet past the platform.

·         Hook-on ladders made for this purpose.

·         Stair assemblies made for the scaffold system.

·         The scaffold frame itself may be used if:

o   maximum rung spacing is no more than 16 3/4 inches vertically.

o   rung width is at least 12 inches horizontally.

5.11          Repositioning Casters

·         Casters

o   Roll and swivel freely

o   Have working brakes

o   Are affixed to the leg

·         Casters are locked except during intentional moving.

·         When moving

o   Remove workers, material, and/or equipment from platform(s).

o   Ensure there are no pits, holes, or obstructions along the path.

o   Unlock casters or brakes.

o   Apply force as close to the base as possible.

·         Re-lock the casters/brakes immediately after the move.

6.0             Revision History

rev

summary

date

2.0

periodic review

·   added Note and Training statement to Section 3.0

·   Sections 4.0 and 5.0, updated wording throughout

·   Section 6.0, updated header to Revision History and changed to this tabular format

·   throughout: corrected misspellings; changed scaffold inspection frequency from daily to before each shift; updated SOTR to TR; fixed acronyms and abbreviations as needed

·   changed TPOC from BManzlak to RKenney 

·   general editing to include format, header & footer (+color), hyperlinks, cross-references, etc.  by JAllen, ES&H Manual Editor

12.06.2023

 

period review

- no changes per TPOC

10.25.2018

1.2

periodic review

- minor procedural revisions re: CATS MOA-2015-02-16-01; review cycle adjusted to reflect high risk category

11.04.2015

1.1

updated graphics, description, and training to more accurately reflect scaffolds used at Jefferson Lab; changed TPOC from NWalker to BManzlak

01.30.2014

1.0

updated to reflect current laboratory operations

06.07.2010

 

 

ISSUING AUTHORITY

TECHNICAL POINT-OF-CONTACT

APPROVAL DATE

NEXT REVIEW DATE

REVIEW CYCLE

rev

 

 

ES&H Division

Rich Kenney

10.25.2018

12.06.2026

3 years

2.0

 

This document is controlled as an online file.  It may be printed but the print copy is not a controlled document. 

It is the user’s responsibility to ensure that the document is the same revision as the current online file.  This copy was printed on 12/6/2023.