Hi All If Scaffolding has to be Erected around your Home for any reason say for example a New Roofing is in Progress or Bricklayers are building walls then here are some things to know. Especially if you have to climb up to give them a hand. Scaffolding
Scaffolds are a source of accidents when not used properly. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health's (NIOSH) research data suggests that fatal falls occur as a result of defective scaffold equipment, improper installation of equipment, improper training of workers, or failure to use appropriate personal fall protection equipment. General requirements for scaffolding 1. The standard requires fall protection at a 10-foot height above a lower level for employees. 2. Scaffolds shall not be erected, moved, dismantled, or altered except under the supervision of a competent person. 3. The footing or anchorage for scaffolds must be sound, rigid, and capable of carrying the maximum intended load without settling or moving. 4. Unstable objects such as barrels, boxes, loose brick, or concrete blocks must not be used to support scaffolds or planks. 5. An access ladder or equivalent safe access must be provided. 6. Scaffolds four to ten feet high, having a minimum horizontal dimension in either direction of less than 45 inches, must have standard guardrails installed on all open sides and ends of the platform. Scaffolding more than 10 feet above the ground or floor must have guardrails and toe-boards installed at all open sides and ends. 7. Guardrails: . Must be made of not less than 2 x 4 lumber or other material providing equal protection. Guardrails must be approximately 42 inches high. material giving equal protection. . The height of the top rail for scaffolds manufactured and placed in service before January 1, 2000 can be between 36 inches and 45 inches. The height of the top rail for scaffolds manufactured and placed in service after January 1, 2000 must be between 38 inches and 45 inches. 8. Toe-boards: . Must be a minimum of four inches in height. . Where persons are required to work or pass under a scaffold, a wire mesh screen must be installed between the toe board and the guardrail. 9. Extend scaffold planks over their end supports a minimum of six to twelve inches. 10. When the cross-point of cross bracing is used as a top rail, it must be between 38 inches and 48 inches above the work platform. 11. Mid-rails must be installed approximately halfway between the top rail and the platform surface. 12. When a cross point of cross bracing is used as a mid-rail, it must be between 20 inches and 30 inches above the work platform. 13. Erecting and dismantling - When erecting and dismantling supported scaffolds, a competent person must determine the feasibility of providing a safe means of access and fall protection for these operations. 14. Inspections - Before each work shift and after any occurrence that could affect the structural integrity, a competent person must inspect the scaffold and scaffold components for visible defects. 15. Overhand bricklaying - A guardrail or personal fall arrest system on all sides except the side where the work is being done must protect employees doing overhand bricklaying from supported scaffolds. 16. The revised scaffold standard may require more than one competent person on each job site. 17. Scaffold planking must be of scaffold grade or equivalent. 18. The height of a stationary scaffold should not exceed four times its base, unless it is tied, guyed or otherwise. Tubular welded frame scaffolding 1. Scaffold legs must be set on adjustable or plain bases placed on mud sills or other foundations adequate to support the maximum rated load. 2. Properly brace scaffolds by cross bracing or using diagonal braces, or both, for securing vertical members together laterally. Cross braces must be long enough so they will automatically square and align vertical members. In this way, erected scaffolds will always be plumb, square, and rigid. 3. All brace connections must be secure. Training - Employers must train each employee who works on a scaffold on the hazards and the procedures to control the hazards. Training shall include: 1. The nature of any electrical hazards, fall hazards and falling object hazards in the work area. 2. The correct procedures for dealing with electrical hazards and for erecting, maintaining, and disassembling the fall protection systems and falling object protection systems being used. 3. The proper use of the scaffold, and the proper handling of materials on the scaffold. 4. The maximum intended load and the load-carrying capacities of the scaffolds used. Protect yourself and/or your employees from serious injuries and even death. Employers and employees should be familiar with key provisions of the scaffolding standard: . A qualified person must provide safety training for each worker who uses a scaffold. . A competent person must give safety training to any worker who assembles, takes apart, moves, operates, repairs, maintains, or inspects scaffolds. . If the worksite changes or the type of scaffold or safety equipment changes, workers using scaffolds must be retrained. To listen to the show archives go to link http://acbradio.org/handyman.html or ftp://ftp.acbradio.org/acbradio-archives/handyman/ The Pod Cast address for the Blind Handy Man Show is. http://www.acbradio.org/news/xml/podcast.php?pgm=saturday The Pod Cast address for the Cooking In The Dark Show is. http://www.gcast.com/u/cookingindark/main.xml Visit the new archives page at the following address http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ For a complete list of email commands pertaining to the Blind Handy Man list just send a blank message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Yahoo! 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