COURSE SUMMARY www.clicksafety.

com

CAL SCAFFOLD ERECTOR GUIDELINES COURSE SUMMARY

The following guide is an aid intended for students who have completed the ClickSafety training course or
module associated with Scaffold Safety. This guide is a resource of basic occupational safety and health
information and is not a substitute for standards issued by and/or enforced by the California Division of
Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) or the U S Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and
Health Administration (OSHA) or its state equivalents. This course is also not a substitute for the kind of
intensive, site-specific, hands-on training and information that is necessary to ensure a safe and healthful
workplace. This guide is not to be reproduced or used without the express permission of ClickSafety.

References: Title 8 CCR 1635.1 –1667.

Introduction
NIOSH Alert
17% of fatalities: falls from scaffolds
Falls due to:
• Defective equipment
• Inadequate training of users
• Inadequate or no fall arrest equipment

How can workers be protected?

You must:
• Assure designs/installations are Cal/OSHA compliant
• Inspect all scaffolds, components, and fall arrest equipment before each use
• Properly train all workers on scaffolds

COMPETENT PERSON ERECTING SCAFFOLDS:

Competent Person: Definitions
The Competent Person:
• Can identify unsafe conditions
• Has authority to take immediate corrective action
• Understands structural integrity of scaffolds
• Knows how to maintain structural integrity

Duties of the Competent Person

Watch for and correct problems:
• Uncompacted earth fills
• Open ditches
• Debris piles
• Overhead power lines
• Unguarded openings
• Hazards created by other trades

Inspection
The Qulified Person:

FIRE PREVENTION © CLICKSAFETY.COM, INC. PAGE 1 OF 6

COURSE SUMMARY www.clicksafety.com

• Prson designated by the employer who by reason of training, experience or instruction has
demonstrated the ability to safely perform all assigned duties and, when required, is properly
licensed in accordance with federal, state, or local laws and regulations.
• Watchs for and corrects problems:
• Uncompacted earth fills
• Open ditches
• Debris piles
• Overhead power lines
• Unguarded openings
• Hazards created by other trades
• Inspects all equipment before use
• Removes damaged/defective equipment from job site
• Supervises all erection, dismantling, alteration or movement of scaffolds

Supervising Scaffold Erection

Erect on adequate sills or pads
• On soils, use minimum 10 in. by 10 in. by 2 in. mud sills or 1 1/8 in. plywood
• No unstable objects supporting legs or platforms
• Nail scaffold plate to mud sill to prevent displacement

ERECTING ON CONCRETE
Special Provisions:
• Concrete pad does not require mud sill
• Scaffold foot mandatory
• Use screw jacks for uneven grade conditions
• Maintain components plumb and level

Scaffold Structure:
Tubular Welded Frame Scaffolds
Erection Guidelines
• Do not force fit frames
• Bring sections to level and fit up
• Use horizontal braces, diagonals, or combination to secure frames laterally
• Secure all brace connections per mfg. Recommendations

Tube and Coupler Scaffolds

You must:
• Ensure posts are plumb in all directions
• Maintain plumb and level as erection progresses
• Fasten all couplings securely
• Install diagonal bracing per mfg. instructions.

Ties, Guys, and Braces

Cal/OSHA Requires:
• when height/base ratio >4:1
• some states require at 3:1
• tie points to support both inner and outer legs

Tie Points
• Tie 3’ wide scaffolds at closest horizontal to 3:1
• Every 26 feet vertically.
• At ends and every 30 feet horizontally.

FIRE PREVENTION © CLICKSAFETY.COM, INC. PAGE 2 OF 6

COURSE SUMMARY www.clicksafety.com

• Follow mfg. Instructions.

• Example: 3 foot wide scaffold:
• First tie free ends at 9 feet.
• Then every 26 feet vertically.
• Last tie no more than 12 feet from top.

Tie Points
• Tie material:
• Iron wire or fabricated connections used to secure the scaffold.
• If iron wire is used, two ties of #12 wire or one of #10 is recommended for security.
• Remember these are minimums and local conditions, such as wind loads may require more.

Scaffold Platforms/Planking
Planks must be:
• scaffold grade 2” X 10” lumber
• Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL) or manufactured plank acceptable
• Inspected before installation and damaged planks removed from service
• Fit Scaffold Industry Association Inspection criteria

Scaffold Planking Guidelines

For Proper Installation:
• At angles, lay angle platforms first; then straight runs on top
• Plank overlaps at least 12 inches
• Bearer overlap at least 6 inches and no more than 18”

Plank Overlaps
You must:
• Assure overlaps not used as work platform outside framing
• Secure planking from displacement with cleats or wires
• Follow standards established by competent person

A Fully Planked Platform

A Fully Planked platform:
• is laid from the scaffold front edge
• has no more than 1” spacing between planks
• leaves no more than 9 1/2” between last plank and outside frame

Toe boards, Screens, or Mesh

• Required if any foot traffic below
• Above all entries, exits, stairs
• Follow competent person or user demands
• Installed per design, risks, or plan

Safety Considerations:
ACCESS
Ladders
• attachable/ hanging – no instability
• no higher than 35 feet without stop platform
• 24” max from grade to first rung
• access distance greater than 24” requires ramp/or other access
• cross braces are not ladders

FIRE PREVENTION © CLICKSAFETY.COM, INC. PAGE 3 OF 6

COURSE SUMMARY www.clicksafety.com

Stairs/Ramps/Runways
• Standard rise and run for stairs
• Equal spacing
• 18” wide access way unless insufficient space

Electrical Exposures: A Major Hazard

Minimum Clearance
• Insulated Lines:
• Under 300 volts avoid contact and maintain 3 foot clearance
• Over 300 volts greater clearance required

Electrical Clearance
Uninsulated lines
• 300 volts to 50Kv: maintain 10 feet clearance
• Over 50 Kv: 10 feet clearance
• + 0.4 inches for each 1 Kv over 50

Prohibitions
• No work on scaffold under snow or icy conditions
• Debris not allowed to accumulate on scaffold
• No use of ladders or other materials to raise access height

Fall Protection
The Qualified Person:
• determines feasibility for use of Fall Protection
• evaluates/implements use of fall protection at each stage of erection/dismantling
• in general, California trigger height for fall protection is 7 ½ feet.

Dismantling
The Qualified Person:
• always directs work
• always inspects to ensure crew is not endangered during dismantling of scaffold

DISMANTLING GUIDELINES
• Reinstall necessary supports, ties, or bracing before dismantling
• Never stack excess scaffold components on any level
• Never remove ties until frames and platform above tie point are removed.
• Lower frames gently--do not throw or drop

Training:
The Qualified Person
• Management must assure that the Qualified Person knows:
• Installation requirements
• Regulatory standards
• Scaffold strength and stability
• Has authority and responsibility to act to ensure crew safety.

Training the Installation Crew

FIRE PREVENTION © CLICKSAFETY.COM, INC. PAGE 4 OF 6

COURSE SUMMARY www.clicksafety.com

Qualified Person must provide:

• Overview of scaffold
• Regulatory requirements regarding the specific scaffold
• Erection and Dismantling planning
• PPE and procedures

Training the Crew: General Guidelines

Qualified Person must indicate:
• Fall protection
• Handling framing and equipment
• Proper access
• Platform requirements

Training the Crew : Specifics

Specific Guidance in:
• Foundations
• Guys, Ties and Braces
• Specific instruction for the type of scaffold being erected

SCAFFOLD ERECTION--SUMMING UP:

• Accident Prevention
• Scaffold Accident Prevention Requires:
• Management/Qualified Person Diligence
• Erection/bracing/planking by Mfg./Cal/OSHA standards
• Qualified Person responsibility and authority

FIRE PREVENTION © CLICKSAFETY.COM, INC. PAGE 5 OF 6

COURSE SUMMARY www.clicksafety.com

•
COURSE NOTES:

FIRE PREVENTION © CLICKSAFETY.COM, INC. PAGE 6 OF 6