Masonry Magazine January 2017 Page. 29
OSHA REGULATIONS
OSHA regulations contain important language about the use of attachments. Here are some really important points to remember if you want to stay in compliance:
1926.451(a)(1): Capacity: each component must support without failure its own weight and 4 times maximum intended load.
If you add an attachment to a scaffold OSHA requires that the attachment has to have minimum 4:1 safety factor. Additionally if the capacity of the attachment is less than that of the scaffold there must be ample conspicuous signage to inform those on the scaffold of the change in capacity, and the capacity change should be covered in formal job�specific training.
An example of a poorly constructed attachment, which does not retain the
4:1 to intended load safety factor.
1926.451(a)(6): Scaffolds must be designed by a qualified person, and must be constructed and loaded in accordance with the design.
It's extremely unlikely that scaffold users meet OSHA's definition of 'qualified' when it comes to scaffold design. An attachment requires
design input from a 'qualified' person for it to be fully compliant.
Two mast scaffolds connected by aluminum beams which are neither secured in p lace nor adequately guarded. There is also a major question mark over the beams' ability to take sufficient load.
1926.451(6)(10): Scaffold components from different manufacturers must not be intermixed unless they fit together without force and the user maintains the scaffold's structural integrity. The components must not be modified in order to intermix them unless a competent person determines the resulting scaffold is structurally sound.
As with the previous example, the decision as to whether attachments retain the scaffolds' structural integrity does not generally fall to the user. An engineer or designer will normally be involved in the assessment.
1926.451(f)(1): Scaffolds and scaffold components must not be loaded in excess oftheir maximum
intended loads or rated capacities whichever is less.
When a scaffold attachment is properly designed by a qualified person and installed by a trained, competent person, and the load capability is clearly visible to users who
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have been trained to understand what the load limitations of the scaffold are, the likelihood offull compliance is high. The photograph here shows two problems.
The upright wooden beam for carrying the cable is exerting a load outside of the platform extremities creating the potential for tipping, and the makeshift weather canopy is effectively adding a significant overload factor on the platform.
1926.451(f)(3): Scaffolds and scaffold components must be inspected for visible defects by the competent person before each work shift AND
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