Scaffolding – AO 2024

06th December 2023

Scaffold Safety Requirements:-

1. Scaffolds must be designed by a qualified person and constructed, loaded, moved, dismantled,
or altered in accordance with that design.
2. Erection, moving, dismantling, or alteration of scaffolds should only be carried out under the
supervision and direction of a competent person qualified in scaffold activities. Only
experienced and trained employees selected by the competent person shall perform such
activities.
3. Each scaffold and its components must support their own weight and at least 2 times the
maximum intended load.
4. Supported scaffolds with a height-to-base width ratio of more than 4:1 must be restrained
from tipping by guying, tying, bracing, or equivalent means.
5. Supported scaffold tubes, frames, and uprights must bear on base plates and a firm foundation.
6. Footings must be level, sound, rigid, and capable of supporting the intended load without
settling or displacement.
7. All scaffolds must be equipped with an access ladder extending at least 1.05 meters or 4 rungs
above the platform for safe access and egress.
8. Work on or from scaffolds is prohibited during storms or high winds unless a competent
person deems it safe and employees are protected by a personal fall arrest system or
windscreens.
9. Guardrails, mid-rails, and toe boards must be installed on all open sides of platforms more than
1.83 meters above ground. Top rail to be 1.05 meters high with a mid-rail halfway between the
toe board and the top rail. Toe boards must be at least 300mm high.
10. All guardrails and toe boards must be securely fastened.
11. Scaffolds must not block access to fire protection or safety equipment.
12. Personnel are prohibited from using any untagged scaffold.
13. Scaffold erectors must comply with fall protection requirements outlined in Company Safety
Standards for erecting scaffolding.
14. Bricks, concrete blocks, or other unstable materials are prohibited for use as a base for scaffold
legs.
15. Use of adjusting screws with wheel casters is prohibited.
16. Scaffolds must be properly braced with cross braces and/or diagonal braces to secure vertical
members laterally.
17. Scaffolds must be cleaned off daily by the craft using them.
18. Toe boards are not to be used to aid access to a working platform; grab bars should be used
instead.

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 19. Tools or materials must be removed or secured to prevent falling or rolling when scaffolds are
moved.
20. Responsible supervisors must ensure tools, materials, and debris do not create falling or
tripping hazards.
21. Scaffolds must be visually checked by users before use and physically inspected by a
competent person every seven days. Tags must be signed and updated accordingly.
22. When dismantling scaffolds, materials should not be thrown down; they should be lowered to
prevent damage and danger to personnel.
23. Access scaffolds must not be used to store materials.
Scaffold Supervisor:
1. Ensure safe and economical access for craft workers.
2. Ensure all foremen and workers conform to site safety regulations.
3. Ensure all scaffolds are erected according to site scaffold procedures.
4. Ensure scaffold schedules are met while working within site safety regulations.
5. Ensure materials and workers are available to meet site scaffolding requirements.
6. Ensure adherence to documentation, including Tool Box Talks, Harness Inspection, Site
Request System, Scaffolding Tagging System, and Safety reports.
7. Maintain good housekeeping practices throughout the controlled area.
8. Identify and ensure availability of qualified and competent scaffolders with valid training
documents.
Scaffold Inspection:
1. A competent person must inspect scaffold components for visible defects during erection,
dismantling, in the scaffold yard, and after any occurrence affecting structural integrity.
2. Scaffold supervisor and erectors must inspect components before erection and during
dismantling. Defective components must be immediately discarded.
Scaffold Tagging:
1. Scaffold tagging is mandatory. A competent person must tag all scaffolds. No one shall work
from an untagged scaffold.
2. Tagging system includes: a. Green Tag - "Fit for Use": Placed on compliant scaffolds. b. Red Tag
- "Do not Use": Placed on damaged or defective scaffolds.
3. Tagging Procedure:
4. On completion, notify scaffold inspector for a check.
5. If inspection is satisfactory, issue a Green Tag.
Ladders:
1. Test all ladders for load capacity before use.
2. Inspect metal ladders daily for wear, corrosion, and structural failure.
3. Carefully inspect all ladders if damaged in use.
4. Ladders leading to landings, walkways, or platforms must extend one meter above the landing
and be secured at the upper end.
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 5. Defective ladders must be promptly repaired or replaced.
6. Hand tools and objects should not be carried while climbing; use a waist-bag.
7. Exemptions: Any exemptions must be routed through the Mill Manager from the concerned
department for which the scaffolding contractor/vendor is rendering services. Applicability of
CSM Requirements is mandatory.

Reference Standards:
1. IS 3696 Part 1: 1987 - Code of Practice for Building and Construction - Safety Requirements for
Scaffolding
2. IS 3696 Part 2: 1991 - Code of Practice for Building and Construction - Safety Requirements for
Scaffolding
3. IS 2750: 1964 - Code of Practice for Safety of Hand Tools: IS 4014: 1967 - Safety Code for
Scaffolds and Ladders
4. IS 1161: 1998 - Steel Tubes for Structural Purposes
5. The Building and Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of
Service) Act, 1996
6. EN 12811-1:2003 - Temporary works equipment - Part 1: Scaffolds - Performance
requirements and general design
7. EN 12810-1:2003 - Facade scaffolds made of prefabricated components - Part 1: Products
specifications
8. EN 12810-2:2003 - Facade scaffolds made of prefabricated components - Part 2: Particular
methods of structural design
9. EN 12811-2:2004 - Temporary works equipment - Part 2: Information on materials
10. EN 12811-3:2002 - Temporary works equipment - Part 3: Load testing

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