SUSPENDED SCAFFOLDS

(General)

1. Never take chances.  If in doubt regarding safety or use of suspended scaffolds, consult your scaffold supplier or your supervisor.
2. Survey the job site for hazards such as exposed electrical wires, obstruction that could overload or tip the suspended scaffold when it is raised or lowered, unguarded roof edges or opening, inadequate or missing tieback anchorages or the need for overhead protection where exposure to falling objects exists.  Correct these conditions before installing or using suspended scaffold systems.
3. Inspect all equipment before each use.  Never use any equipment that is damaged or defective in any way. Tag damaged or defective equipment and remove it from the job site. If it is a rental - return it.
4. Always use fall arrest equipment when using suspended scaffolds.
5. Erect, use and dismantle suspended scaffold equipment in accordance with design and/or manufacturer's recommendations.
6. Do not erect, dismantle, or alter suspended scaffold systems unless under the supervision of a qualified person.
7. Do not abuse, misuse, or use suspended scaffold equipment for purposes which it was not intended.
8. Make sure you are trained to safely operate equipment and to handle emergency situations.  (See your Supervisor for this training.)
9. Continuously inspect the erected suspended scaffolds to determine that they are maintained in a safe condition.  Report any unsafe condition to your supervisor.
10. Windy conditions are potentially hazardous. Refer to the manufacturer's operating guidelines for limits.
11. NEVER OPERATE POWERED PLATFORMS NEAR LIVE POWER LINES UNLESS PROPER PRECAUTIONS ARE TAKEN.
12. Do not work on scaffolds if you feel dizzy, unsteady or are impaired in any way by alcohol and other drugs, including prescription medication.

 Rigging Guidelines

1. When rigging suspended scaffolding always wear fall protection equipment.
2. Make sure roof hooks, parapet clamps, outrigger beams, or other supporting devices, including tiebacks and their anchorages, are capable of supporting four times the rated load of the hoist.
3. Verify that the building or structure will support four times the weight of the load you intend to suspend.
4. Secure overhead rigging, including counterweights, from unintentional movement in any direction.
5. Make sure counterweights used with outrigger beams are of a non-flowable material and are fastened to the beam.
6. Make sure outrigger beams that do not use counterweights are installed and secured on the roof structure with devices specifically designed for that purpose.
7. Tie back all transportable rigging devices with wire rope and hardware that has strength equal to the hoist ropes.
8. Install tiebacks at right angles to the face of the building and secure without slack to a structurally sound portion of the building to prevent movement.
9. Rig so that suspension points are directly above the hoisting machines.
10. Secure the platforms to prevent swaying.  Do not tie to window cleaning anchors.

 Wire Rope and Hardware Guidelines

1. Use only wire rope and attachments as specified by the hoisting machine manufacturer.  Do not use wire rope that is kinked, birdcaged, corroded, undersized, or in any way damaged.
2. Be sure that wire rope is long enough to reach to the lowest possible landing.
3. Clean, lubricate and handle wire rope in accordance with the wire rope or hoist manufacturer's instructions.
4. Coil and uncoil wire rope in accordance with the wire rope or hoist manufacturer's instructions in order to avoid kinks and damage.
5. Use thimbles at wire rope suspension terminations.
6. Where rope clamps are used, they shall be made with U-bolts on the dead or short end of the rope and the saddle on the live end.
7. Tighten wire rope clamps in accordance with the clamp manufacturer's instructions.
8. Make sure that wire ropes used with traction hoist have prepared ends in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendation.
9. Inspect wire rope during each ascent and descent.  Do not expose wire rope to fire,  undue heat, corrosive atmosphere, chemicals,  or to passage of electrical currents or to  damage by tools or handling.

 Power Supply Guidelines

1. Be sure your power supply conforms to hoist manufacturer's recommendations.
2. Ground all electrical power sources, power cord connections and protect with circuit breakers.
3. Use power cords of proper size that are long enough for the job.
4. Make sure power cord connections are restrained to prevent their separation.
5. Tie off power cords to the suspended scaffold to prevent them from falling.
6. Protect power cords from sharp edges.

 Fall Arrest Equipment Guidelines

1. Each person on a suspended powered scaffold must be attached to a fall arrest system (rope grab & rope lifeline) at all times.
2. Make sure each rope lifeline is fastened to a separate anchorage point.
3. Protect rope lifelines at sharp corners to prevent chafing.
4. Rig fall arrest systems to prevent free fall in excess of four feet.
5. Suspend rope lifelines freely, without contact with structural members or building facade.
6. Be sure rope grabs are installed on the rope lifelines in the proper direction above your head and in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations.
7. Use full body harnesses that are properly sized and fitted.
8. Attach rope grabs to the D-ring at the center of the back.