Masonry Magazine January 2017 Page. 27
An additional fact that all of our readers should know is that the out-rigger scaffold is supposed to be a maximum of 3 inches away from the wall. Again, it's for more than one reason, but the main one is because there are no handrails next to your out�rigger facing the masonry wall that you're working on, therefore they want the wall in front of you and less chance of falling on that side the scaffold.
Here's one that you may not know; if a board is 10-foot-long or less you cannot have more than 12 inches of the end of the board over it support. Also, if it is a scaffold board greater than 10 feet, you can have no more than 18 inches over its hand support or there must be guardrails so that someone cannot walk out on the end of those cantilevered boards, they tip up and a person falls.
A couple of points about scaffold access. Any scaffold that requires someone to step up more than 24 inches should have a ladder utilized to access the scaffold. The first rung or bottom rung of the ladder must be a maximum of 24 inches from the ground or walking working surfaces. That height for the first rung is actually quite high, and most people prefer sitting the ladder on the ground so they're not required to have such a tall first step. Another thing that most people that are reading this are aware of is that the ladder must reach at least 3 feet above the scaffold platform.
Another item that should be noted is that you never increase the scaffold height by adding boxes, barrels, concrete block, brick etc... to the platform. This includes ladders, such as extension ladders or step ladders. OSHA does allow a ladder to be used on top of the scaffold if many stipulations are met, but this is not a suggested practice.
Guardrail system. In closing we cannot talk about safe scaffolding without bringing up the guardrail system. Every system must include a top rail and mid rail. They should be installed on all open sides of the scaffold. The top rail should be able to withstand 200 pounds of downward and outward force placed upon it. That means if you're a big fellow and way more than 200 pounds, it's probably not a good idea to lean all over the handrail.
Another thing that should always be maintained is the proper height of the top rail. OSHA gives a little leeway in the top rail; it can be between 38 and 45 inches in height. Another not so commonly-known allowance is that a cross brace can be used for a mid-rail if the crossing point of the brace is between 20 and 30 inches above the platform and the ends of the cross brace are no more than 48 inches apart.
Now, hopefully you already knew all of this, but
as you know, the three steps to remembering are
Repetition, Repetition, Repetition!
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