Job Hazard Analysis - Scaffolding

 Published on April 29, 2016

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Natverlal T Jadav
Safety Management Solution provider, Senior Management Consultant, Soft Skill Trainer, Career
Developement Guide, Mentor & Facililitator, Lead Tutor, Master Trainer, Motivational Speaker
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Scaffolding, also called scaffold or staging, is a temporary structure used to support a

work crew and materials to aid in the construction, maintenance and repair of buildings,
bridges and all other man made structures. There are four main types of scaffolding used
worldwide today. These are Tube and Coupler (fitting) components, prefabricated modular
system scaffold components, H-frame / facade modular system scaffolds, and timber scaffolds.

When assessing hazards associated with scaffolding these can be

categorized in one or more of the following areas:

 Hazards associated with the loading/unloading /transportation of

the scaffolding
 Hazards associated with the storage of the scaffolding
 Hazards associated with the design of the scaffolding.
 Hazards associated with the erection/dismantling/alternation of the
scaffolding.
 Hazards associated with the environment in which the scaffolding
is situated.
 Hazards associated with the use of the scaffolding.
 A Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) is a formal process by which a representative from Environmental
Health and Safety (EHS) or the worker conducting the task identifies task- specific hazards,
assesses associated risks, documents results, establishes control measures to mitigate the risks
associated with the task and/or eliminates the hazards altogether. These can be a helpful tool in
the development of a Standard Operation Procedure or training initiatives. It also defines  the
activities being performed and identified the work sequences, the specific anticipated hazards,
site conditions, equipment, materials and the control measures to be implemented to eliminate or
reduce each hazard to an acceptable level of risk.

 A JSA is a technique of screening job tasks as a way to identify hazards

before they occur.

 It focuses on the relationship between the worker, the task, the tools
and the work environment.
 After identifying hazards, you can take steps to eliminate or reduce the
hazard to an acceptable level.
 Hazard – a potential for harm
 A hazard is associated with a condition or activity that, if left
uncontrolled, can result in an injury or illness.

 Why to conduct Job Safety Analysis:

 To become aware of all the hazards associated with each position in

your organization.
 To prevent work related deaths, injuries, or illness by eliminating or
controlling hazards identified.
 To ensure all employees have the proper job procedures to ensure their
safety.
 To ensure all employees have the training, equipment, and supplies to
do their jobs safely

 Hazard Awareness:

 When conducting a Job Safety Analysis you'll need to take a fresh look
at the way things are done at your work place.  
 Just because "We've been doing it this way for 20 years," doesn't mean
that a hazard doesn't exist.  
 Accepting a risk or hazard is not the same as eliminating or controlling
it.

 You'll need to take a comprehensive look at all possible hazards with

an open mind.  (We'll suggest a way to rank the hazards later.)
How to conduct a JSA :  

 Involve your employees in the JSA process.

 Identify the job or task to be analyzed.
 Break the job or task into key components.
 Identify the hazards found in each key component.
 Use accident history of injuries and “near misses”.
 Identify ways to eliminate or control these hazards.
 Act to eliminate the hazard or implement the controls.
 Record the hazards identified and the steps taken to eliminate or control
them.
 Periodically assess controls to ensure they are working correctly.

To conduct Job Safety Analysis of Scaffolding following major steps to

be followed. 

Step - 1.

Following list shows Activities having  hazards that have been identified
and the controls that need to be implemented in order to provide a safer
working environment for scaffolders. This list is not intended to be
comprehensive and new hazardous situations will arise that will require
new initiatives and controls. This is therefore a reference guide only

 Unloading of scaffold materials.

 Storage / stacking of scaffold materials in storage yard.
 Inspection and color-coding of scaffolding  component, before taking is
use
 Loading of scaffold materials in truck, transportation and unloading of
scaffold materials at workplace
 Scaffold execution preparedness ( (Shifting of materials, Inspection of
location and obtaining the work permit)
 Step by step erection of Scaffold component like sole board, base
plates, standards, ledgers & bracings , planks, toe boards, ladders etc.
 Erection of Scaffold working platform
 Erection of edge protection, ladder and toe boards
 Inspection and Certification of scaffold
  Use of scaffold
 Alteration/ modification of scaffold
 Dismantling of scaffold
 Scaffold materials inspection after dismantling

Step - 2 

Identify the potential hazard associated with each step. Examine each to
find possibilities that could lead to an accident.

 Injuries like cut, fall, slip and strain, sprain of body due to handling/
arranging/lifting /shifting of scaffold components

 Injury due to falls over, striking of component like standards, ledgers,

bracing, frames, planks, toe guards, base plates and ladder etc.
 Six directional hazards like toxic gas emission, leakage of chemicals,
structure fouling, hot pipe line, crushing due to inadequate space
between walls or existing equipment’s.
 Task specific injuries like cut, fall, slip and strain, sprain of body due to
inadequate training, inadequate consultation, inexperience manpower,
failure to provide appropriate equipment, lack of planning &
improvisation
 Injury on body or body parts & head due to falling of unsupported or
loose scaffold component.
 Injury due to collapse of erected scaffold on body and fall from height
due to overload on scaffold components
 Injury  due to striking to extended parts of ledgers, bracing and other
scaffold components,
 Sprains or injuries such as back damage, back strain due to Manual
handling of planks for platforms.
 Injuries like sprains, strains , back pains due to Fall from height while
scaffolder to step backward off higher deck on Spilt, uneven,
overlapped deck installed
 Injuries like striking the object to body, strains, body pains due to fall
from height due to unexpected tips over, move or climbing on the
outside of scaffold
  Fall from unprotected working platform due to movement of scaffold.
Fall from the edge of the working platform due to incomplete edge
protection
 Fall through ladder access hatch due to ladder access hatch (trap door)
in working platform.
 Fall while landing to working platform due to inappropriate access to
working platform.
 Fall of materials or components from working platform.
 Electric shock or electrocution due to live electricity wire is too close to
scaffold erection or Mobile scaffold is moved too close to Live wire.    
 Injuries like striking the object to body, strains, and body pains due to
fall from height while climbing on to platform. Unexpected tips over,
move or climbing on the outside of scaffold
 Fall from height due to gap in platform not having adequate planks for
platform.
 Fall injury due to scaffold collapse, due to vehicle or mobile plant/unit
strikes erected scaffold.
 Fall from scaffold or working platform due to incomplete scaffold. /
Removal of any no. of planks.
 Injury due to fall of Scaffold onto person due to Scaffold left
unattended and unused. Scaffold accessed by inexperienced person.
 Injury due to scaffold collapse while scaffold becomes unstable,
unsecured tools and equipment lying on working platform while
alternation.
 Scaffold collapse or fall from scaffold due to Inappropriate alterations
to scaffold
 Fall from scaffold due to Scaffold incomplete or partly dismantled
 Injury due to collapse of scaffold components being unstable or
incorrect while dismantling of scaffold.
 Injury due to broken, bend and sharp edge components removed from
scaffold. Injury due to toxic chemicals or gaseous effect on scaffold
components.

 Step –3
Specify what action or procedure will be taken to eliminate or minimize
the risk of injury or damage, Include what measures will be taken to
ensure that the safety control is maintained. 

 Provide adequate manpower for loading /unloading. Provide required

tools, tackles and lifting equipment. Use hosting facilities by crane or
hydra etc. Prepare small size of bundle of each items for safe lifting.
Adequate supervision is must.
 Required PPE like shoes, Helmet, Hand gloves to be worn. Training on
ergonomics to be given. 
 Trained and experienced painters to carry out color coding. A trained
supervisor and scaffolders to carry out scaffold components inspection.
Scaffold components are to be arranged properly to avoid any over
loading and fall of components. Stack each scaffold components in a
rack such a way that each item can be handled safely for inspection. 
 Provide adequate manpower for loading /unloading. Provide required
tools, tackles and lifting equipment. Use hosting facilities by crane or
hydra etc. Prepare small size of bundle of each items for safe lifting.
Adequate supervision is must.
 Work permit to be obtained. Skilled, experienced and competent
manpower to carry out the risk assessment. Adequate consultation with
relevant operation employees. Responsible person to give tool box talk.
Qualified scaffolders to be used to erect the scaffold.  
 Skilled and experienced manpower to complete the required tasks
correctly. Adequate consultation with relevant employees. Competent
person to supervise execution of scaffold erection. Qualified scaffolders
to be used to erect the scaffold.  Follow the procedure of erection of
scaffold. Scaffold to be maintained in stable condition. Visual check for
defects on every installation. 
 Competent person to supervise the erection. Qualified scaffolder to be
used for erection. Ensure ground condition is suitable for scaffold
design considered.  
 Appropriate duty load condition and type of scaffold to be used like
light, medium or heavy duty. Scaffold components must not be loaded
beyond the design load limits. Components of different scaffold system
not to be mixed together . Scaffold components should of required size
 to suit to duty load condition of scaffold. Avoid instability of Base plate
or standards which are not adequately braced or supported.
 Adequate team of workmen or at least 2 persons used to pass materials
to higher lifts and carry out erection of working platform. 
 Working platform or deck to be at same height and all planks are
installed flat in one horizontal plane. Fall protection like top and mid
rails are to be provided.
 Provide bracing on all four sides of first bay. Do not climbed on
unbraced scaffold. Height of free standing scaffold should not exceed 4
times the base width unless out riggers are installed or scaffold is tied
to a secure structure.
 Adequate team of workmen or at least 2 person to assist in scaffold
erection. Scaffold to be adequately braced to prevent movement while
edge protection is being fixed. Hand rails to be installed at minimum
900 mm height from working platform on all sides. Mid rail to be
provided at 450 mm height. 
 Hatch to be closed while working on platform. 
 No climbing up or down the outside of the scaffold. Ladder access to
be installed. Ladder to be installed at an appropriate angle degree 75
means 1:4 i.e. every 4 meters in height 1 meter out from the base.
Ladder to be secured at the top and bottom. Ladder to be extended at
least 1 meter height than platform.
 Toe board to be installed to the working platform. Area around base of
scaffold to be barricaded off.
 Scaffold components must be minimum 3.0 meters away from live
electric wire. In case distance of 3.0 meters is not possible, isolate
power of electric supply.
 Scaffold to be firmly secured. Required no. of braces are to be installed.
Ties are to be provided as per requirement of scaffold design. Ladder is
secured firmly. Ensure required size and quantities of planks are
installed for platform. Ensure all planks are firmly secured with suitable
clamps. Scaffold to be inspected by competent person prior to use. 
 Barricading of area of scaffold to be carried out to protect unauthorized
manpower movement. Scaffold need not to be erected too close to plant
operating area. Live load on platform should not increase than design
load duty.
  Ensure unauthorized removal of scaffold components. Scaffold to be
inspected by competent person prior to use. Barricading and sign
boards to be for provided for incomplete scaffold.
 Ensure edge protection to working platform.
 Scaffold to be barricaded to prevent unauthorized use.
 Scaffold design needs to be reviewed. Load bearing member need not
be removed. Provide additional structural support as per the need for
stability of scaffold design.  Reposition the ties as per requirement of
scaffold design. Ladder is secured firmly.
 Competent, skilled and trained person to be used for scaffold alteration.
Qualified scaffolders to be used for complex alterations.
 Scaffold dismantling to be started from top .Remove the last erected
component first and follow the reverse while removal. No un
authorized removal of or interference with scaffold components.
 Ties and braces need to be removed first. Isolate incomplete scaffold by
barricading. Skilled and trained scaffolders to carry out dismantling.
Certified and competent supervisor to supervise the work. 
 Adequate manpower to be made available. Required PPE like shoes,
Helmet, Hand gloves to be worn. Training on ergonomics to be given. 
Damage and broken components are to be separated. 

Conclusion :

Following steps are to be followed for Job Safety Analysis : 

 Break the activity into steps. Each step should accomplish some major
task and be in a logical sequence.
 Identify the potential h