Safe Access to Scaffolds

Considering the always-present risk of instability on any scaffold structure, ladders and other means of scaffold access must meet specific safety requirements:

• Access to and between scaffold platforms more than two feet above or below the point of access must be by ladder, stairway, stairway-type ladder (such as a ladder stand), ramp, walkway, integral prefabricated scaffold access, or equivalent means, or by direct access from another scaffold, structure, personnel hoist, or similar surface.
• Portable, hook-on, and attachable ladders must be positioned so as not to tip the scaffold.
• Hook-on ladders, attachable ladders, and stairway-type ladders must meet specific criteria for rung positioning, spacing, length, distance from other structural members, and tread material. Consult 29 CFR 1926.451(e) for specific measurements and other details.
• Cross braces must not be used as a means of access.

To learn more about Scaffolding Safety visit our Construction Scaffolding Safety Online Training web page.