Scaffolding Inspection Checklist

This checklist is based on 29 CFR OSHA requirements (1926 Subpart L) and has benefited in part from the training materials of Scaffold Training Institute (STI), Texas. Instructions: Any No condition should be addressed. Capture any additional information or questionable items in the Additional Comments section. Check N/A if a question is not applicable. Project: Reviewer: Date:

General Requirements 1 Is the scaffold capable of supporting its own weight and able to support at least 4 times the maximum intended load? Was the scaffold designed by a qualified person? Is the space between the platforms and uprights no more than 1 inch (2.5 cm)? Where the necessity for wider spaces can be demonstrated by an employer, are the open spaces between the platforms and uprights at least 9.5 inches (24 cm) or more? Is each scaffold platform and walkway at least 18 inches (46 cm) wide? Where platforms cannot be 18 inches (46 cm) wide, are employees protected from fall hazards by a guardrail or personal fall arrest system? Is the front edge of each platform less than 14 inches (36 cm) away from the face of the work? If no, are fall protection systems used by employees working on scaffold? For plastering and lathing operations, is 18 inches (46 cm) the maximum distance from the face of the work? Does each end of the platform, unless cleated or restrained, extend over the centerline of its support by at least 6 inches (15 cm)? Do platforms of up to 10 feet (3 m) in length extend less than 12 inches (30 cm) over the support? If No, have guardrails been installed to block access to the overhang? Do platforms of more than 10 feet (3 m) in length extend less than 18 inches (46 cm) over the support? If No, have guardrails been installed to block access to the overhang? Are abutted scaffold planks resting on separate support surfaces? Do overlapped planks lap over supports? Do platforms overlap by at least 12 inches (30 cm), or are they otherwise secured? Are platforms that rest on a bearer at an angle other than 90 degrees laid first?

Yes

No

N/A

2 3 4

5 6

7 8 9

10

11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

Scaffolding Inspection Checklist

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General Requirements (continued) 19 Are wood platforms free from opaque finishes and coatings that obscure the top or bottom of wood surfaces? Are the scaffold components from the same manufacturer? If not, do they fit together without force, and has it been determined they are safe to use together? Are scaffold components made of similar metals, or has a competent person determined it is safe to use dissimilar metals together? Does the scaffold have a height-to-base width ratio of 4 to 1 or less? If No, is the scaffold secured to the structure by use of ties that satisfy all the following requirements: 1.  Tie is installed at a horizontal member that supports the inner and outer legs. 2.  The first vertical tie is installed at a height of 4 times the minimum base dimension or less. 3.  Vertical ties are repeated every 20 feet (6 m) or less for scaffolds that are 3 feet (1 m) or less in width. 4.  Vertical ties are repeated every 26 feet (8 m) or less for scaffolds wider than 3 feet (1 m). 5.  The top tie, guy or brace of completed scaffolds is no higher from the top than the 4-to-1 height ratio. 6.  Ties are installed at each end of the scaffold and at horizontal distances of 30 feet (9 m) or less. 7.  Ties are installed to counteract any eccentric loads. Is scaffold set up on sufficiently firm footings? Will footings support the intended load without settling? Is the use of unstable or weak materials prohibited for footings? Is the scaffold plumb, and is it braced to prevent swaying or displacement? Requirements for Access 28 Has safe access been provided for all scaffold platforms that are more than 2 feet (61 cm) above or below the access point? Have cross braces been prohibited as a means to access the scaffold?

Yes

No

N/A

20

21

22 23

24 25 26 27

Yes

No

N/A

29

Scaffolding Inspection Checklist

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Requirements for Access (continued) 30 31 32 33 34 35 If portable ladders are used, do they meet the requirements of OSHA 1926.451(e)(2)? Are ladders positioned to support the scaffold and not tip it over? Are rest platforms available every 35 feet (11 m) of vertical scaffold? Are ladders specifically designed for use with the scaffold? Do ladders have a minimum rung length of 11.5 inches (29 cm)? Are ladder rungs uniformly spaced and no more than 16.75 inches (42.5 cm) apart? Requirements for Ladder Rungs Built into the Frame 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 Is the frame designed specifically for ladder rungs? Do the frames have a rung length of at least 8 inches (20 cm)? Are the rungs uniformly spaced for each frame section? Is 16.75 inches (42.5 cm) the maximum spacing between rungs? Are rest platforms available every 35 feet (11 m) of vertical scaffold? Do steps/rungs of ladders line up vertically with each other? Is direct access to another surface no more than 14 inches (36 cm) horizontally and 24 inches (61 cm) vertically? Fall Protection 43 44 45 Are guardrails installed for scaffolds more than 10 feet (3 m) in height? If no guardrails are installed, are personal fall arrest systems used? Are guardrails and mid-rails installed on all open sides that are more than 14 inches (36 cm) from the work surface? Are top-rails installed between 38 inches (97 cm) and 45 inches (114 cm) above the platform surface? Can the guardrail withstand 200 pounds (91 kg) of downward and outward force?

Yes

No

N/A

Yes

No

N/A

Yes

No

N/A

46 47

Scaffolding Inspection Checklist

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Fall Protection (continued) 48 When screens and mesh are used, do they extend from the top edge of the guardrail to the platform and cover the entire opening between supports? Protection From Falling Objects Requirements 49 50 51 Have falling-object hazards been identified and removed? Is the area barricaded below the scaffold where objects can fall? Is the canopy structure, debris net or catch platform that covers employees below strong enough to withstand the impact force of falling objects? Is there a toe board along the edge of any platform that is 10 feet (3 m) or higher above ground level? Are toe boards at least 3.5 inches (9 cm) tall? Scaffold Use Requirements 54 55 56 Are scaffold and components loaded within their rated capacities? Is the use of shore or lean-to scaffolds prohibited? Are scaffold and scaffold components inspected for visible defects by a competent person before each work shift? If any part of a scaffold is damaged or weakened, is it immediately repaired or replaced? Is it prohibited for scaffolds to be moved horizontally while employees are on them? Is clearance between scaffolds and power lines adequate? Are employees prohibited from working on scaffolds that are covered with slippery material except when removal is necessary? Are tag lines used to control swing loads that are hoisted onto or near scaffolds? During storms or high winds, is work on or from scaffolds prohibited, or are personal fall arrest systems used? Is it prohibited to allow debris from accumulating on platforms? Is it prohibited to use makeshift devices to increase employees working-level height on scaffolds?

Yes

No

N/A

Yes

No

N/A

52 53

Yes

No

N/A

57 58 59 60

61 62

63 64

Scaffolding Inspection Checklist

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Tube and Coupler Scaffold Requirements 65 66 67 Is it prohibited to use ladders to increase employees working-level height on scaffolds? Are provisions in place to prevent platforms from deflecting more than 1/60th of the span when loaded? Is transverse bracing forming an X across the width of the scaffold used at the ends and at least on every third set of posts horizontally and every fourth set vertically? Are building ties installed at the bearer levels? Is bracing installed as close as possible to the node point? If the scaffold is longer than 5 posts, is a new line of bracing started every fifth post? Does the longitudinal bracing extend from end posts to the top of the scaffold? Is longitudinal bracing installed at a 45-degree angle on both faces? Are bearers installed transversely between posts, and when coupled to the posts, does the inbound coupler bear directly on the runner coupler? When the bearers are coupled to the runners, are the couplers as close to the posts as possible? Do bearers extend beyond the posts and runners and provide full contact with the coupler? Have runners been installed along the length of the scaffold at level heights? Are runners interlocked on straight runs to form continuous lengths and coupled to each post? Are bottom runners as close to the base as possible? Do light- and medium-duty scaffolds have posts, runners, bearers and braces of 2-inch (5-cm) steel tubing? Are posts on light-duty scaffolds spaced no more than 4 feet (1.2 m) apart by 10 feet (3 m) along the length of the scaffold? Are posts on medium-duty scaffolds spaced no more than 4 feet (1.2 m) apart by 7 feet (2 m) along the length of the scaffold? Is the maximum vertical runner spacing less than 6.6 feet (2 m)?

Yes

No

N/A

68 69 70 71 72 73

74 75 76 77 78 79

80

81

82

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Tube and Coupler Scaffold Requirements (continued) 83 84 Has scaffold of more than 125 feet (38 m) in height been designed by a registered professional engineer? Have scaffolds of more than 125 feet (38 m) in height been constructed and loaded according to design? Fabricated Frame Scaffold Requirements 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 Are frames constructed in a manner that secures the vertical members together laterally? Do the braces automatically square and align vertical members? Are all brace connections secured? Are frames and panels joined together vertically by coupling or stacking pins? Where uplift may occur, are the frames locked together vertically? Have all side brackets and their impact on the overall scaffold been fully evaluated? Have scaffolds of more than 125 feet (38 m) been designed by a professional engineer? Mobile Scaffold Requirements 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 Are scaffolds vertical members securely braced laterally? Do the braces automatically square and align the frames? Are all brace connections secured? Do scaffolds constructed of tube and clamps meet the requirements of that type of scaffold? Do scaffolds constructed of frame scaffolding meet the requirements of that type of scaffold? Are scaffold casters and wheels locked while in use? Is the manual force to move the scaffold applied 5 feet (1.5 m) above the supporting surface? Are scaffolds stabilized? Are caster and wheel stems pinned or secured in scaffold legs or adjustment screws? Before a scaffold is moved, is each employee made aware of the move?

Yes

No

N/A

Yes

No

N/A

Yes

No

N/A

Scaffolding Inspection Checklist

Revised July 2009

Additional Comments

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250 CBRES IDC 73240 07/09