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Publication #ABE178

Topics: Agricultural and Biological Engineering | OSHA Standards | Lehtola,
Carol | Becker, William J | Eversole, Christian J
Safety Requirements for Scaffolding:
OSHA Standard 1910.28
1

Carol J. Lehtola, William J. Becker and Chris Eversole
2

The Impact of Safety on Florida Agriculture
Florida agriculture, including forestry and seafood, made an annual economic impact of $53
billion in 1998. More than 81,000 people work on the 40,000 farms in the state, and more
than 50,000 are employed in other activities related to agriculture. The state's agricultural
enterprises range from large citrus, vegetable and cattle operations to small family-operated
farms.
Over the past 10 years, there have been approximately 240 deaths related to agriculture in
Florida, according to data compiled by the Deep South Center for Agricultural Health and
Safety. In addition, agriculture has one of the highest injury and death rates among U.S.
industries.
Safety in Florida agriculture is challenging because:
the state's agricultural enterprises are diverse,
safety knowledge among workers varies,
manual labor is used extensively,
the climate creates year-round heat stress.
Therefore, it is vital to assist the public in learning about OSHA documents related to
agriculture. More related information is available at the Florida AgSafe Web site and
at the OSHA regulations Web site .
Overview
This is a condensation of Standard 1910.28 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act. This
document is not intended to be totally inclusive but rather to highlight the information and
requirements in the complete OSHA standard that owners and managers of agricultural
businesses should understand.
Author's Comment: Erecting scaffolding is a common practice in construction, painting,
brick laying, etc. It is less common in agriculture. However, there are times when an
agricultural business may use scaffolding. The business may use its own employees to
construct a building, replace a roof or perform some activity which may require scaffolding.
The business may employ a construction or roofing crew to perform this task and put the
employees on the business payroll for this period of time. The business may attempt to
construct its own scaffolding or rent scaffolds. Under any of these conditions the agribusiness
could be under the jurisdiction of OSHA standards and be subject to OSHA citations and
fines.
An agribusiness would likely use a wood scaffold or rent a metal scaffold. In this document
general rules for all scaffolds are followed by specific rules for wood scaffolds and metal
scaffolds.
Definitions
Bearer. A horizontal member of a scaffold upon which the platform rests and which may be
supported by ledgers.
Boatswain's chair. A seat supported by slings attached to a suspended rope, designed to
accommodate one worker in a sitting position.
Brace. A tie that holds one scaffold member in a fixed position with respect to another
member.
Guardrail. A rail secured to uprights and erected along the exposed sides and ends of
platforms.
Heavy duty scaffold. A scaffold designed and constructed to carry a working load not to
exceed 75 pounds per square foot.
Ledger (stringer). A horizontal scaffold member which extends from post to post and which
supports the putlogs or bearer frming a tie between the posts.
Light duty scaffold. A scaffold designed and constructed to carry a working load not to
exceed 25 pounds per square foot.
Maximum intended load. The total of all loads including the working load, the weight of the
scaffold, and such other loads as may be reasonably anticipated.
Medium duty scaffold. A scaffold designed and constructed to carry a working load not to
exceed 50 pounds per square foot.
Mid-rail. A rail approximately midway between the guardrail and platform, used when
required, and secured to the uprights erected along the exposed sides and ends of platforms.
Putlog. A scaffold member upon which the platform rests.
Runner. The lengthwise horizontal bracing or bearing members or both.
Scaffold. Any temporary elevated platform and its supporting structure used for supporting
workmen or materials or both.
Toeboard. A barrier secured along the sides and ends of a platform, to guard against the
falling of material.
Tube and coupler scaffold. An assembly consisting of tubing which serves as posts, bearers,
braces, ties, and runners, a base supporting the posts, and special couplers which serve to
connect the uprights and to join the various members.
Tubular welded frame scaffold. A sectional, panel, or frame metal scaffold substantially
built up of prefabricated welded sections which consist of posts and horizontal bearer with
intermediate members. Panels or frames shall be braced with diagonal or cross braces.
Working load. Load imposed by persons, materials, and equipment.
General Requirements for All Scaffolds
Scaffolds must be furnished and erected in accordance with this standard for persons
engaged in work that cannot be done safely from the ground or from solid
construction. (For information on ladders used for such work, see the documents
"Portable Wood Ladders: OSHA Standard 1910.25," "Portable Metal Ladders:
OSHA Standard 1910.26" and "Fixed Ladders: OSHA Standard 1910.27.")
The footing or anchorage for scaffolds must be sound, rigid, and capable of carrying
the maximum intended load without settling or displacement. Unstable objects such as
barrels, boxes, loose brick, or concrete blocks must not be used to support scaffolds or
planks.
Nails or bolts used in the construction of scaffolds must be of adequate size and in
sufficient numbers at each connection to develop the designed strength of the
scaffold. Nails must not be subjected to a straight pull and must be driven full length.
All planking or platforms must be overlapped (minimum 12 inches) or secured from
movement.
An access ladder or equivalent safe access must be provided.
Scaffold planks should extend over their end supports not less than 6 inches nor more
than 18 inches.
The poles, legs, or uprights of scaffolds must be plumb, and securely and rigidly
braced to prevent swaying and displacement.
Materials being hoisted onto a scaffold must have a tag line, a line from the load to
the ground. The tag line must be held taut to prevent the load from swinging.
Overhead protection must be provided for persons on a scaffold exposed to overhead
hazards
Scaffolds must be provided with a screen between the toeboard and the guardrail,
extending along the entire opening, consisting of No. 18 gauge U.S. Standard Wire
one-half-inch mesh or the equivalent, where persons are required to work or pass
under the scaffolds.
Employees must not work on scaffolds during storms or high winds.Employees must
not work on scaffolds which are covered with ice or snow, unless all ice or snow is
removed and planking sanded to prevent slipping.
Tools, materials, and debris must not be allowed to accumulate in quantities to cause a
hazard.
Only treated or protected fiber rope may be used for or near any work involving the
use of corrosive substances or chemicals
Wire or fiber rope used for scaffold suspension must be capable of supporting at least
six times the intended load.
Scaffolds must be secured to permanent structures, through use of anchor bolts, reveal
bolts, or other equivalent means. Window cleaners' anchor bolts may not be used.
Special precautions must be taken to protect scaffold members, including any wire or
fiber ropes, when using a heat-producing process.
Lumber sizes (when used in this standard) refer to nominal sizes except where
otherwise stated.
Wood Pole Scaffolds
Scaffold poles must bear on a foundation of sufficient size and strength to spread the
load from the poles over a sufficient area to prevent settlement. All poles must be set
plumb.
Where wood poles are spliced, the ends must be squared and the upper section must
rest squarely on the lower section. Wood splice plates must be provided on at least
two adjacent sides and must not be less than 4 feet 0 inches in length, overlapping the
abutted ends equally, and have the same width and not less than the cross-sectional
area of the pole. Splice plates of other materials of equivalent strength may be used.
Independent pole scaffolds must be set as near to the wall of the building as
practicable.
All pole scaffolds must be securely guyed or tied to the building or structure. Where
the height or length exceeds 25 feet, the scaffold must be secured at intervals not
greater than 25 feet vertically and horizontally.
Putlogs or bearers must be set with their greater dimensions vertical, long enough to
project over the ledgers of the inner and outer rows of poles at least 3 inches for
proper support.
Every wooden putlog on single pole scaffolds must be reinforced with a 3/16 x 2-inch
steel strip or equivalent secured to its lower edge throughout its entire length.
Ledgers must be long enough to extend over two pole spaces. Ledgers must not be
spliced between the poles. Ledgers must be reinforced by bearing blocks securely
nailed to the side of the pole to form a support for the ledger.
Diagonal bracing must be provided to prevent the poles from moving in a direction
parallel with the wall of the building, or from buckling.
Cross bracing must be provided between the inner and outer sets of poles in
independent pole scaffolds. The free ends of pole scaffolds must be cross braced.
Full diagonal face bracing must be erected across the entire face of pole scaffolds in
both directions. The braces must be spliced at the poles.
Platform planks must be laid with their edges close together so the platform will be
tight with no spaces through which tools or fragments of material can fall.
Where planking is lapped, each plank must lap its end supports at least 12 inches.
Where the ends of planks abut each other to form a flush floor, the butt joint must be
at the centerline of a pole. The abutted ends must rest on separate bearers.
Intermediate beams must be provided where necessary to prevent dislodgment of
planks due to deflection, and the ends must be nailed or cleated to prevent their
dislodgment.
When a scaffold turns a corner, the platform planks must be laid to prevent tipping.
The planks that meet the corner putlog at an angle must be laid first, extending over
the diagonally placed putlog far enough to have a good safe bearing, but not far
enough to involve any danger from tipping. The planking running in the opposite
direction at right angles must be laid so as to extend over and rest on the first layer of
planking.
When moving platforms to the next level, the old platform must be left undisturbed
until the new putlogs or bearers have been set in place, ready to receive the platform
planks.
Guardrails not less than 2 x 4 inches or the equivalent and not less than 36 inches or
more than 42 inches high, with a mid-rail, when required, of 1 x 4-inch lumber or
equivalent, and toeboards, must be installed at all open sides on all scaffolds more
than 10 feet above the ground or floor. Toeboards must be a minimum of 4 inches in
height. Wire mesh must be installed as indicated under the section "General
Requirements for All Scaffolds."
Metal Scaffold
Tube and coupler scaffolds are limited in heights and working levels and must be
constructed and erected to support four times the maximum intended loads.
All tube and coupler scaffolds must be erected by competent and experienced
personnel.
Posts must be accurately spaced, erected on suitable bases, and maintained plumb.
Runners must be erected along the length of the scaffold located on both the inside
and the outside posts at even height. Runners must be interlocked to form continuous
lengths and coupled to each post. The bottom runners must be located as close to the
base as possible. Runners must be placed not more than 6 feet 6 inches on centers.
Bearers must be installed transversely between posts and must be securely coupled to
the posts bearing on the runner coupler. When coupled directly to the runners, the
coupler must be kept as close to the posts as possible.
Bearers must be at least 4 inches but not more than 12 inches longer than the post
spacing or runner spacing. Bearers may be cantilevered for use as brackets to carry
not more than two planks.
Cross bracing must be installed across the width of the scaffold at least every third set
of posts horizontally and every fourth runner vertically. Such bracing must extend
diagonally from the inner and outer runners upward to the next outer and inner
runners.
Longitudinal diagonal bracing must be installed at approximately a 45-degree angle
from near the base of the first outer post upward to the extreme top of the scaffold.
Where the longitudinal length of the scaffold permits, such bracing must be
duplicated beginning at every fifth post. In a similar manner longitudinal diagonal
bracing must also be installed from the last post extending back and upward toward
the first post. Where conditions preclude the attachment of this bracing to the posts, it
may be attached to the runners.
The entire scaffold must be tied to and securely braced against the building at
intervals not to exceed 30 feet horizontally and 26 feet vertically.
Guardrails not less than 2 x 4 inches or the equivalent and not less than 36 inches or
more than 42 inches high, with a mid-rail, when required, of 1 x 4-inch lumber or
equivalent, and toeboards, must be installed at all open sides on all scaffolds more
than 10 feet above the ground or floor. Toeboards must be a minimum of 4 inches in
height. Wire mesh must be installed as indicated under the section "General
Requirements for All Scaffolds."
Other Scaffolds
Author's Comment: There are other types of scaffolding (outrigger scaffolds, suspension
scaffolds, bracket scaffolds, etc.); however, their use is less common in agriculture.
Footnotes
1.
This document is AE178, one of a series of the Agricultural and Biological Engineering
Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural
Sciences, University of Florida. Original publication date April 2000. Reviewed February
2008. Visit the EDIS Web Site at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.
2.
Carol J. Lehtola, Assistant Professor, Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering,
and Extension Safety Specialist; William J. Becker, Professor Emeritus, Department of
Agricultural and Biological Engineering; Chris Eversole, editor, Cooperative Extension
Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville,
32611.

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution
authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals
and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color,
religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political
opinions or affiliations. For more information on obtaining other extension publications,
contact your county Cooperative Extension service.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS,
Florida A. & M. University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County
Commissioners Cooperating. Millie Ferrer-Chancy, Interim Dean.

Copyright 2009 |
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Scaffold Safety
In December of 1996, OSHAs new scaffold standards took effect. Still, many Construction
Standard violations occur through the improper use of scaffolding. Common violations
include inadequate bracing, no guardrails, unsafe access, and no pins in scaffolding to prevent
uplifting.
General Safety Guidelines
No scaffold shall be erected, moved, dismantled or altered except under the supervision of
competent persons. A competent person is defined as one who is capable of identifying
existing and predictable hazards in the surroundings or working conditions, and who has the
authorization to take prompt corrective action to eliminate them.
Safe Usage of Non-mobile Welded Frame Scaffolding
Scaffolding Frame
The frame scaffold must be capable of supporting four times the maximum intended
load.
Using a horizontal frame separation distance of seven feet, the maximum plank
extension over the end support shall be no more than 12 inches if guardrails are not
used to block access to the area.
On a 10-section wide frame scaffold, the overlap for each plank on top of each other
must be 12 inches.
A scaffold five feet wide, 35 feet in length and 30 feet high with frame spacing of
seven feet must have horizontal securement every 20 feet and vertical tie-in every 20
feet.
A frame scaffold, three sections high, using a cantilevered outrigger platform, shall
use ties, guys, braces, outriggers or scaffold manufacturers stabilizer legs or
equivalent.
Scaffolding Rails
Guardrails are required on welded frame scaffolds that are 10 feet high or more.
Top rail height shall be at least 36 inches to a maximum of 45 inches.
Top rail strength must be at least 200 pounds for welded frame scaffolds.
Midrail strength on a welded frame scaffold must be at least 150 pounds.
Scaffold legs must bear on base plates and these shall rest on either firm foundation or
mudsills.
Scaffolding Planks
The space between the scaffold planks must be no more than one inch.
The maximum distance permitted between a plank and a frame upright is nine inches.
An uncleated scaffold plank must extend over the end support a minimum of six
inches.
Scaffolding Cross Bracing and Pins
Cross bracing is acceptable in place of midrails when the "X" is between 20 and 30
inches above the work surface.
Cross bracing is acceptable in place of a top rail when the "X" is between 30 and 48
inches above the work surface.
The purpose of using pins to lock a scaffold vertically together is to prevent uplift.
This can occur with a rough terrain forklift grabbing scaffold. Wind, climbing a
scaffold or the use of a hoist can also cause it to lift up.
Maximum Weight
The maximum intended load of a 10-inch wide, two-inch nominal thickness wood scaffold
plank platform with the scaffold frames seven feet apart horizontally is approximately 175
pounds.
Other Specs
Scaffold platforms above one section high must be provided with safe access.
When hook-on-ladders are used, they must be provided with a rest platform every 35
feet.
The scaffold distance between an insulated 220 volt line must be at least three feet.
Work shall not be permitted during high winds. High winds are classified by the
National Weather Service as 30 mph gusts or higher. Ultimately, the decision is to be
made by the competent person.
DISCLAIMER: These recommendations were developed using generally accepted safety
standards. Compliance with these recommendations is not a guarantee that you will be in
conformance with any building code, federal, state or local regulation regarding safety or fire.
Compliance with these recommendations does not ensure the absolute safety of your
occupation or place of business. It is the property owners duty to warn any tenants or
occupants of the property of any safety hazards that may exist.