Blog

An explanation of the intent of the OSHA scaffold inspection standard According to certain authoritative sources, scaffolds shall be inspected for defects. You ask yourself, why should it be necessary to inspect a scaffold? After all, if the scaffold erector is any good, shouldn’t the scaffold be...

While reviewing past magazine articles to determine a topic that would be appropriate, I came across an article from July, 1998, five years ago. At that time, the issue of scaffold erector safety was on everybody’s mind, as it should have been in light of the “new” OSHA standards that went into...

There are regulations addressing the question. There are standards addressing the question. There are codes that address the question and there are industry customs and practice that address the question. But the real question isn’t how firm it is but rather what do we mean by firm? As in, scaffold...

When is a platform a work deck and when is it formwork? This question is frequently asked during the process of erecting shoring equipment. A similar question is whether the equipment is scaffolding or shoring. Often the situation is misdiagnosed and the ensuing conversation concerning the...

In the good old days, that is, prior to the present Occupational Safety and Health Administration, OSHA, scaffold standards, fall protection included toeboards. Old habits die hard and some people think that toeboards are still part of a fall protection system. Now, unless you are literally laying...