OSHA: Scaffold Safety Overview

Key Takeaways:

– Recognizing common types of supported and suspended scaffolds
– Addressing basic scaffold construction requirements
– Learning strategies to ensure safety on scaffolds
– Identifying the general hazards of working on scaffolds

Course Description

After course completion, you will be able to recognize typical types of supported and suspended scaffolds, their basic design and construction requirements, in addition to the basic hazards posed by scaffold work and their controls.

Approximately 2.3 million construction workers, 65% of the construction industry, work on scaffolds. If these workers were all protected from scaffold-related accidents, then that may prevent some of the 4,500 injuries and over 60 deaths every year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data for the private sector. In workdays not lost, the productivity savings for American employers is estimated at $90 million dollars. As well, in a recent BLS study, 72% of workers injured in scaffold accidents stated the accident happened because either the planking or support gave way, or to the employee slipped or was struck by a falling object. Compliance with OSHA standards can ensure all these accidents are controlled.