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The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, OSHA, included an interesting section in the scaffold standards when they were issued in 1996. It is the section called “Use.” Since it is included in the scaffold standards, I think we can obviously assume it to be the use of scaffolds. Do...

A description of the strength and safety of suspended scaffolds How much more can we do? Will more standards increase the safety of suspended scaffolds? Will training increase the safety of suspended scaffolds? Will more safety features increase the safety of suspended scaffolds? Wait—is there a...

As a prime example, take the standards that relate to the height of toprails in a guardrail system. Here are the numbers: 36; 38; 39; 42; 45; 48. How about the height above the level below when fall protection is required? Here are the numbers: 5 feet; 6 feet; 7 and a half feet; 10 feet; 15 feet;...

As with all scaffolds, there are design, construction, and safety issues with mobile scaffolds. The idea here is to discuss some engineering issues, leaving the obvious safety issues to the “competent person, qualified in scaffold construction.” Now that I think about it, perhaps the safety issues...

I can answer the one question easily: no, safety standards are not there to make your life more difficult. The fact is, they are there to make your life safer. Depending on your age, you may think that they come from ancient history but in reality they are a relatively recent development in...