Department of Labor & Economic Growth
Keith W. Cooley
Director

Suspended Scaffold Supports - Hazard Alert

The MIOSHA Construction Safety & Health Division, has discovered a potentially life threatening hazard existing with the use of job-built/shop-built suspended scaffold supports that lack design, testing, or certification for their ability to safely support the intended loads. The problem occurs when rigging for suspended scaffolds is hung from these supports. The use of these job-built/shop-built supports generally does not take into account the type of material from which the supports are constructed, how they are constructed (including an approved welding procedure), the loads to which they are subjected, the installation of tie-backs, and the possible overloading effect that asymmetrical raising and lowering of suspended scaffolds can have on these supports. MIOSHA investigated a scaffold collapse that resulted in 1 fatality and 3 serious injuries when job-built/shop-built angle iron brackets failed while raising a suspended scaffold.

MIOSHA Part 12, Scaffolds and Scaffold Platforms has specific requirements for suspended scaffolds, including design, capacities, installation, and construction of the scaffold and supports for them. Rules 1229 through 1240 of Part 12 specifically address issues related to suspended scaffolds. The standard also requires necessary training and information for employees that erect, install and dismantle the scaffolding, and for employees that occupy the scaffold while doing the construction activity.
The manufacturers of the scaffolds and accessories such as scaffolding hoist motors have specific information in their literature that gives installation warnings, general information and references for information on safe installation of suspended scaffold platforms. Some scaffold manufacturers also provide engineering design services for building, using and dismantling scaffolds.

How to Avoid Hazards

Pre-job planning and training are essential to erecting and dismantling suspended or other types of scaffolds. The following concerns must be addressed by the competent person:

· The employer's Accident Prevention Program required by MIOSHA Part 1 must address scaffold hazards.
· Employees must be properly trained in scaffold erection and dismantling procedures in accordance with Part 12, Rule 1209.
· MIOSHA Part 12 requires that a scaffold be designed by a qualified person.
· The employer must ensure that the scaffold and its components are capable of supporting, without failure, not less than 4 times the maximum intended load.
· The employer must provide fall protection for employees erecting or dismantling a scaffold where feasible.
· Suspension scaffold support devices such as a cornice hook, roof hook, roof iron, parapet clamp or similar device, must be secured in accordance with Part 12, Rule 1229(16).
· Part 12, Rule 1229(5) states in part; an engineer who is experienced in multipoint adjustable suspension scaffold design shall design the multipoint adjustable suspension scaffold connections.

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