Erectors and dismantlers are workers whose principal activity involves assembling and disassembling scaffolding before other work can commence, and after that work, or a portion of it, has been completed.

Training and Competent Person Requirements

OSHA requires employers to provide training by a competent person to each employee who is involved in erecting and/or disassembling a scaffold. A competent person is defined as one who:

• Is capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards, and
• Has authorization to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate them.

Requirements for Designing and Constructing Scaffolds

Scaffolds must be designed by a qualified person and be constructed and loaded in accordance with that design. OSHA defines a qualified person as one who:

• Possesses a recognized degree, certificate, or professional standing; or
• Has extensive knowledge, training and experience; and therefore,
• Can solve or resolve problems related to the work or the project.

A qualified person must do adequate preplanning to assure the safe erection and use of the scaffold.

Preplanning includes:

• Determining the type of scaffold necessary for the job,
• Determining the maximum load of the scaffold,
• Assuring a good foundation, and
• Avoiding electrical hazards.

Common Hazards

• Access
• Collapse
• Electrical
• Falls
• Instability
• Struck-by

Other References

• 29 CFR 1926.454, Training requirements. OSHA Standard.
• 29 CFR 1926.451(a)(6), General requirements. OSHA Standard.