Scaffolding Safety

Scaffold-related incidents account for thousands of construction injuries and dozens of fatalities every year. This topic provides a comprehensive overview of scaffold safety requirements under Subpart L, covering the three major scaffold categories — supported, suspended, and mobile — along with competent person duties, capacity and load ratings, platform construction and planking requirements, access provisions, and the critical fall protection trigger at 10 feet. You will learn how to inspect scaffolds before each shift, identify common deficiencies that lead to citations, and understand the training obligations that apply to scaffold erectors, users, and the competent person who must authorize use.