Standard Interpretations - Table of Contents Standard Interpretations - Table of Contents
• Standard Number: 1910.29(a)(3)

January 12, 1976

Mr. Joseph M. Karch
Manager of Safety and Training
Essex Chemical Corporation
1401 Broad Street
Clifton, New Jersey 07015

Dear Mr. Karch:

This is in response to your letter requesting clarification of the use of guardrails and swivel locks on mobile scaffolds.

Your letter mentions 1926.451 as a source for interpretation and then also mentions 1910.29. When referring to the OSHA Part 1926, the standards apply to construction work only. When referring to Part 1910, the standards apply to General Industry. Under 1910.29(a)(3)(vii) [page 23529 of FR39-#125 dated June 27, 1974], it specifies guardrails are required at 10 foot or more above ground. Also, in 1910.29(a)(4)(ii), it specifies that at least two of any four casters shall be provided with positive wheel locks. These facts are duplicated in 1926.451(e)(2) for locking casters and in 1926.451(e)(10) for guardrails [FR dated June 24, 1974 Volume 39 #122]. No specific platform size is mentioned in relation to Manually Propelled Mobile Scaffolds whereas 1926.451(a)(4) would modify all scaffold platforms where one horizontal dimension is 45 inches or less in construction only. This does not apply to the General Industry Standards 1910.29(a)(3).

Please feel free to contact us if there are further questions about OSHA.

Sincerely,



Alfred Barden
Regional Administrator
Occupational Safety and Health

Standard Interpretations - Table of Contents Standard Interpretations - Table of Contents