CAL OSHA Scaffold Inspection Checklist

Use the CAL OSHA Scaffold Inspection Checklist to verify scaffold compliance with California OSHA standards, checking stability, safety features, and more.

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CAL OSHA Scaffold Inspection Checklist

CAL OSHA Scaffold Inspection Checks

1. Are scaffolds provided for all work that cannot be done safely by employees standing on permanent or solid construction at least 20 inches wide, except where such work can be safely done from ladders? • Is work of a limited nature and of short duration when the permanent or solid construction is less than 20 inches in width and the fall distance does not exceed 15 feet in height and provided adequate risk control is recognized and maintained under competent supervision? • Is work of short duration from joists or similar members at 2 feet or closer centers, planks resting on these members forming a plank platform 12 inches wide, or equivalent protection?

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2. Are scaffolds constructed of wood or other suitable materials such as steel or aluminum members of known strength characteristics, ensuring that the scaffold and its parts provide a degree of strength, rigidity, and safety equivalent to the described scaffold it replaces when materials other than wood are used, or when scaffold designs differ from those specified in these orders?

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3. Is each scaffold designed and constructed using a dead load safety factor that ensures the scaffold supports, without failure, its own weight and four times the maximum intended working (live) load applied or transmitted to it? • For light-duty scaffolds, is the maximum intended working load limited to 25 pounds per square foot of work platform? And do light-duty interior scaffolds adhere to the loading requirements contained in Section 1640(c)(1)? • For medium-duty scaffolds, is the maximum intended working load limited to 50 pounds per square foot of work platform? • For heavy-duty scaffolds, is the maximum intended working load limited to 75 pounds per square foot of work platform? • For special-duty scaffolds, does the load exceed 75 pounds per square foot of work platform, as determined by a qualified person or a Civil Engineer currently registered in California and experienced in scaffold design?

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12. Are extension planks of the finger type required to have at least five fingers on each side, with each finger made of at least 1-inch by 2 1/8-inch selected straight-grained Douglas fir or material of equal strength? Are all metal fittings adequate to maintain the structural qualities of the device?

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19. Are the maximum permissible spans for Douglas Fir and Southern Pine planking for 2 x 10-inch (nominal) or 2 x 9-inch (rough) planks as follows: • 10 feet for a working (live) load of 25 pounds per square foot? • 8 feet for a working (live) load of 50 pounds per square foot? • 7 feet for a working (live) load of 75 pounds per square foot?

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21. Are all manufactured scaffold planks, including engineered wood products, laminated veneer lumber, metal, composite, plastic, or any other manufactured planks, capable of supporting, without failure, their own weight and 4 times the maximum intended working (live) load?

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24. Prior to being placed in service, are all laminated veneer lumber scaffold planks manufactured after December 2, 2010, labeled with the seal of an independent, nationally recognized inspection agency approved by the International Accreditation Services (IAS) certifying compliance with ASTM D 5456-09a and ANSI/ASSE A10.8-2001, Section 5.2.10?

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25. Is ASTM D 5456-09a the standard for the evaluation of structural composite lumber products, and does ANSI/ASSE A10.8-2001, Section 5.2.10, require the inspection agency to certify that laminated veneer lumber scaffold planks comply with the design criteria in the ANSI/ASSE A10.8 standard?

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37. Is the minimum number of nails per connection required to comply with the specifications for the following: • Ledgers - 4-8d for 1”x6” Material, 5-8d for 1”x8” Material, 2-16d for 2”Material • Ribbons - 3-8d for 1”x6” Material, 3-8d for 1”x8” Material • Braces - 3-8d for 1”x6” Material, 3-8d for 1”x8” Material, 2-16d for 2”Material • Guardrails - 2-8d for 1”x6” Material, 2-8d for 1”x8” Material, 2-16d for 2”Material

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52. Are manufactured hook-on and attachable ladders securely attached to the scaffold and: • Specifically designed for the type of scaffold used? • Have a minimum rung length of 11-1/2 inches (29 cm)? • Have uniformly spaced rungs with a maximum spacing between rungs of 16-3/4 inches? • Positioned so that their bottom rung is not more than 24 inches (61 cm) above the scaffold supporting level? • Have rest platforms at 35-foot (10.7 m) maximum vertical intervals when used on a supported scaffold more than 35 feet (10.7 m) high?

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54. Do permanent stairways comply with the applicable provisions of the General Industry Safety Orders, and do prefabricated scaffold steps or stairs manufactured on or before May 28, 2005, comply with the design, manufacture, and installation requirements of either the American National Standard ANSI A10.8-1988, Scaffolding-Safety Requirements, or the ANSI/ASSE A10.8-2001? Do prefabricated scaffold steps or stairs manufactured after May 28, 2005, comply with the design, manufacture, and installation requirements of ANSI/ASSE A10.8-2001?

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55. May horizontal members of end frames be designed and used as a climbing device, provided that the steps are: • Reasonably parallel and level? • Arranged to form a continuous ladder as required in Section 1644(a)(8)? • Provided with sufficient clearance to provide a good handhold and foot space?

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61. When a scaffold materially changes its direction, are the platform planks laid to prevent tipping, with the planks that meet the corner ledger at an angle laid first, extending over the diagonally placed ledger far enough to have a good safe bearing, but not far enough to involve any danger from tipping?

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62. Are wood platforms not covered with opaque finishes, except that platform edges may be covered or marked for identification, and may platforms be coated periodically with wood preservatives, fire-retardant finishes, and slip-resistant finishes, provided the coating does not obscure the top or bottom wood surfaces?

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63. Shall platforms, including but not limited to those consisting of solid sawn wood planks, engineered wood products, laminated veneer lumber, metal, composite, plastic, or any other manufactured planks, not deflect more than 1/60 of the span when loaded to the manufacturer's recommended maximum load?

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CAL OSHA Scaffold Inspection Checklist

Use the CAL OSHA Scaffold Inspection Checklist to verify scaffold compliance with California OSHA standards, checking stability, safety features, and more.

4. Are engineered scaffolds as determined by a Civil Engineer currently registered in the State of California and experienced in scaffold design?

5. Are scaffolds not subjected to loads greater than their maximum intended working load (see 1637(b)(2))?

6. Are manufactured scaffolds used in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations?

7. Exception: Where specific requirements that address riding on a rolling scaffold in Section 1646(i) and (j) may conflict with the manufacturer's recommendations, the provisions in Section 1646(i) and (j) take precedence.

8. Does a qualified person determine the maximum intended working loads for scaffolds that are neither manufactured nor engineered?

9. Is the maximum intended working load for each scaffold posted at a conspicuous location at each job site or provided to each supervisory employee who has it readily available at the job site?

10. Are scaffolds prevented from swaying, tipping, or collapsing through proper anchorage and bracing?

11. Is scaffold lumber, except for planks used on suspended or ladder-jack scaffolds, required to be equivalent to "selected lumber" and free from damage that affects its strength?

13. Is the length of the extended planking limited to a maximum of 12 feet 6 inches?

14. Is the actual mechanical overlap between the two halves required to be not less than 1/8 of the length of the extended planking?

15. Is a substantial-stop required to maintain this overlap?

16. Is no more than one employee permitted at one time on any extension planking that is more than 3 feet in height?

17. Is extension planking prohibited from being used as a platform on ladder-jack, suspended, or other unstable scaffolds?

18. Are all solid-sawn planks required to be at least equivalent to 2-inch by 10-inch (nominal) lumber selected for scaffold grade planks as defined in Section 1504, except where specified otherwise?

20. Do the maximum permissible spans allowed for other wood species of scaffold planking not exceed 10 feet and are they determined by a licensed professional engineer?

21. Are all manufactured scaffold planks, including engineered wood products, laminated veneer lumber, metal, composite, plastic, or any other manufactured planks, capable of supporting, without failure, their own weight and 4 times the maximum intended working (live) load?

22. Are manufactured planks with spans in excess of 10 feet labeled to indicate the maximum intended working (live) load?

23. Are manufactured scaffold planks used in accordance with the manufacturer's specifications?

25. Is ASTM D 5456-09a the standard for the evaluation of structural composite lumber products, and does ANSI/ASSE A10.8-2001, Section 5.2.10, require the inspection agency to certify that laminated veneer lumber scaffold planks comply with the design criteria in the ANSI/ASSE A10.8 standard?

26. Prior to being placed into service, are all solid-sawn wood scaffold planks certified by, or bearing the grade stamp of, a grading agency approved by the American Lumber Standards Committee?

27. Are all scaffold planks visually inspected for defects before use each day?

28. Are defective or damaged scaffold planks not used and removed from service?

29. Does a scaffold plank not overhang its support by more than 18 inches, unless access to this overhanging portion is prevented by a guardrail or other barrier, or unless the other plank end is securely anchored?

30. Is all scaffold lumber visually inspected for defects before and during use?

31. Is defective lumber not used?

32. Do all nailed joints in scaffolds and wooden falsework contain enough properly placed nails of ample size to carry the loads they are intended to support?

33. Are nailed joints or connections prohibited from being used to support concrete hoppers with a capacity in excess of 1/2 cubic yard?

34. Are double-headed nails prohibited from being used for attaching railings or in other situations where projections might catch on workers’ clothing or create hazards?

35. Is no nail smaller than 8-penny allowed for the construction of scaffolding?

36. Are all nails driven full length or to the first head when double-headed nails are used?

38. Are lubricated or wax-coated nails prohibited from being used in the construction of scaffolds, falsework, or other temporary installations?

39. Are lean-to or jack scaffolds, shore scaffolds, nailed brackets, loose tile, loose brick, loose blocks, stilts, or other similar unstable objects prohibited from being used as working platforms or for the support of such platforms?

40. Is the erection and dismantling of scaffolds or falsework required to be performed under the supervision and direction of a qualified person?

41. Are the erection and dismantling of scaffolds required to comply with good engineering practices?

42. Where engineering design is required by these orders, are engineering drawings available at the job site during erection or upon request by the Division?

43. Are all required ties to the structure installed as soon as the scaffold has been completed to the tie-in area during erection?

44. Are ties only removed during dismantling as the work progresses downward unless other methods are used to prevent the scaffold from falling over?

45. Are no structural members removed from scaffolds during dismantling operations below the level being dismantled?

46. Are guardrails installed before other work not directly related to scaffold erection is permitted to begin, where work platforms are proposed?

47. Can the requirements of Section 1637(k)(2) through (6), inclusive, be temporarily suspended for short durations, provided adequate risk control is recognized and maintained under immediate, competent supervision?

48. Are scaffolds or falsework installations not altered by removing uprights, braces, or supports unless other members providing equivalent strength are substituted?

49. Are scaffolds overloaded, and is material not allowed to accumulate to the extent that a scaffold is subjected to loading it is not designed to support?

50. Is a safe and unobstructed means of access, such as a walkway, stair, or ladder, provided to all scaffold platforms?

51. Are climbing ladders or stairways on scaffolds used for access and egress affixed or built into the scaffold by proper design and engineering, and are they so located that their use will not disturb the stability of the scaffold?

53. If a ladder is used as a means of access to the scaffold, is it securely attached and compliant with Article 25 of the Construction Safety Orders?

56. Shall platforms not be sloped more than 2 feet vertically to 10 feet horizontally and be positively secured against slipping from supports?

57. Can workers be permitted to work on a scaffold platform where slippery conditions exist unless such conditions are a necessary part of the work?

58. Are workers on scaffolds who are exposed to overhead hazards provided with overhead protection or other means that will effectively eliminate the hazard?

59. Are bolts used in the construction of scaffolds of a size and in sufficient numbers at each connection to develop the designed strength of the scaffold?

60. Where materials are line-hoisted onto a scaffold, is a tagline used where necessary to control the load?