An Evaluation of Supported Scaffold Safety
Fatal Falls from Supported Scaffolds, 1992-98
- Total # of deaths = 267 (38/year)
- 217 falls (81%)
- 47 collapses (18%)
- 217 falls (81%)
- 15 deaths (6%) dismantling scaffolds
- 6 deaths (2%) assembling scaffolds
Research Methods
- Used a 150-point checklist to evaluate scaffold safety practice
- Rated scaffolds as acceptable or unacceptable
- Rated scaffolds as acceptable or unacceptable
- Evaluated 113 scaffolds in 9 areas of Eastern U.S.
- Also evaluated information on worksite, workforce, and scaffold competent person.
- 36 of the 113 scaffolds (32%) were unacceptable and posed imminent hazards:
- danger of collapse
- missing planking, guardrails, and/or
- inadequate access
- danger of collapse
- 77 scaffolds (68%) were acceptable and posed no imminent danger to the workers.
- Missing or improperly supported base plates
- Scaffold not tied properly to building
- Platform not level
- Some runners missing
- Some jacks overextended
- Severe overloading
- Some posts incorrect
- Some braces not tight
| 17 | |
| 13 | |
| 6 | |
| 3 | |
| 2 | |
| 2 | |
| 1 | |
| 1 |
36 Scaffolds (32%) Had Fall Hazards
| # fall hazards | ||
| 33 | ||
| 28* | ||
| * Also missing midrails | ||
| 23 | ||
| 5 | ||
| 26 | ||
| 3 | ||
 |  |
Correlation between Structural Flaws and Fall Hazards
- 36 scaffolds were unacceptable
- 23 had both structural flaws and fall hazards
- 10 had fall hazards only
- 3 had structural flaws only
- 36 scaffolds were unacceptable
- 92% were missing guardrails
- 83% had structural flaws
- 78% had poor access
- 72% were insufficiently planked
- 92% were missing guardrails
- Required by OSHA
- 29 CFR 1926.451(f)(3) requires inspections by competent person before each work shift and after occurrences which could affect scaffold structural integrity
- 29 CFR 1926.451(f)(3) requires inspections by competent person before each work shift and after occurrences which could affect scaffold structural integrity
- Competent person
- Recognize hazards
- Authorized to take corrective action
- Recognize hazards
- 104 sites had workers present
- 82 (79%) had competent persons
- 10 sites (10%) said competent person was not present
- 72 competent persons were interviewed
- Only 32 (44%) had scaffold safety training
- 32 sites had competent persons who had scaffold safety training
- 25 scaffolds (78%) were acceptable
- 25 scaffolds (78%) were acceptable
- 62 sites had no competent person or had one without scaffold safety training
- 24 scaffolds (39%) were acceptable