Q&A: OSHA requirements for scaffold training explained

What are the training requirements for employees who work on scaffolding?

All employees who perform work on scaffolds or are involved in erecting, disassembling, moving, operating, repairing, maintaining, or inspecting scaffolds must receive training. The training must be provided before employees are assigned to work on scaffolds. Refresher training must be provided whenever an employer has reason to believe that an employee lacks the skill or understanding needed for safe work involving the erection, use, or dismantling of scaffolds.

In addition, retraining must be provided where changes at the worksite present a hazard about which an employee has not been previously trained; where changes in the types of scaffolds, fall protection, falling object protection, or other equipment present a hazard about which an employee has not been previously trained; or where inadequacies in an employee’s work involving scaffolds indicate that the employee has not retained the necessary proficiency.

Scaffolding training requirements

Training for employees who work on scaffolds must include:

• The nature of any electrical hazards, fall hazards, and falling object hazards in the work area;
• The correct procedures for dealing with electrical hazards and for erecting, maintaining, and disassembling the fall protection systems and falling object protections systems being used;
• The proper use of the scaffold and the proper handling of materials on the scaffold; the maximum intended load and the load-carrying capacities of the scaffolds used; and
• Any other pertinent safety information.

Employees involved in erecting, disassembling, moving, operating, repairing, maintaining, or inspecting scaffolds must be trained on:

• The nature of scaffold hazards;
• The correct procedures for erecting, disassembling, moving, operating, repairing, inspecting, and maintaining the type of scaffold in question;
• The design criteria, maximum intended load-carrying capacity, and intended use of the scaffold; and
• Any other pertinent safety information.

Training topics

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) also lists recommended training topics for scaffold erectors and dismantlers in nonmandatory Appendix D to Subpart L of 29 CFR 1926.

Refresher training

Refresher training must be sufficient to ensure that employees have regained the required proficiency in the training subjects specified in the initial training requirements.

Trainer requirements

The trainer must be a qualified person. According to OSHA, a qualified person is one who, by possession of a recognized degree, certificate, or professional standing, or who by extensive knowledge, training, and experience, has successfully demonstrated his or her ability to solve or resolve problems related to scaffolds.

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