- All workers must be protected from falling hazards any time they work on a Aluminium scaffolding higher than 10 feet. Standard fall protection on any scaffold will consist of a guardrail system with a top rail capable of supporting and protecting a weight of at least 200 lbs., a midrail, and toe boards.
- If using a guardrail system is not practical or would create an increased safety hazard, a personal fall arrest system (body harness and lanyard) may be used to protect employees from falling hazards. The use of personal fall arrest systems will be restricted to the specific areas of the scaffold where guardrails cannot be used, and guardrails will be used in all other areas.
- Body harnesses will be attached to the Aluminium scaffolding structure or vertical or horizontal lifeline. Vertical lifelines will be secured to a fixed safe point of anchorage independent of the scaffold, e.g. a building or other structure, and protected from sharp edges and abrasion. Horizontal lifelines will be secured to two separate points of the scaffold.
- Guardrail systems will be installed on all open sides of the scaffold. Vertical cross bracing may be used as a top rail only when the center crossing point of the two braces is 38-48 inches above the working surface.
- The front of a platform shall be not more than 14 inches from the face of the worker, unless a guardrail system is erected along the front edge or unless a personal fall arrest system is used. Except that the maximum distance from the face of work for plastering and latching operations shall be not more than 18 inches.
SCAFFOLD TRAINING:
Scaffold users and erector/dismantlers will be trained on the following areas, as well as Fall Protection Training.
- The proper use of the scaffold types used and the maximum intended load capacity of these scaffolds.
- The electrical, fall, and falling object hazards of erecting, working on, and dismantling scaffolds, and the procedures and equipment used to control these hazards.
- The procedures for erecting, dismantling, moving, operating, inspecting, maintaining and repairing the scaffold.
