OSHA Scaffolding Erection & Inspection Training — Competent Person
Training tailored for employees designated as competent persons who erect, disassemble, maintain, and inspect scaffolding systems in compliance with OSHA's Scaffolds Standard (29 CFR 1926 Subpart L).
Course Overview
This course provides essential guidelines and practical knowledge for competent persons responsible for scaffold safety. It emphasizes hazard identification, correct erection and inspection procedures, fall protection, load capacity, electrical hazard avoidance, and adherence to manufacturer instructions and OSHA requirements.
Who Is a Competent Person?
OSHA defines a competent person as someone capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards in the surroundings or working conditions and who has authorization to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate them. For scaffolding, a competent person must have the experience and authority to recognize scaffold risks, stop unsafe operations, and ensure corrective actions are taken.
What the Course Covers
- Safe erection, disassembly, and maintenance of different scaffold types
- Inspection procedures to detect hazards, structural weaknesses, and noncompliance
- Design criteria and maximum intended load-carrying capacity considerations
- Fall protection requirements and strategies for working at elevated heights
- Electrical hazard recognition and methods to prevent contact with power sources
- Manufacturer guidelines, proper use of components, and scaffold assembly best practices
- Documentation, recordkeeping, and employer responsibilities for training
Who Should Enroll?
This course is essential for individuals designated as competent persons and valuable for other workers involved with scaffold erection and inspection, including:
- Scaffold erectors and dismantlers
- Carpenters and electricians
- Foremen and supervisors
- General laborers and site safety personnel
Course Purpose
The goal is to enable competent persons and other scaffold workers to safely construct, inspect, and manage scaffolding operations—recognizing hazards specific to the scaffold type in use and applying appropriate mitigation measures to protect workers and maintain OSHA compliance.
By the end of this course, you will be able to:
- Define scaffolding and its main types.
- Recognize different supported and suspended scaffold categories.
- List the dangers associated with using scaffolds on the job site.
- Discuss training needs for scaffold users, assemblers, and dismantlers.
- Explain OSHA guidelines for scaffold load capacity.
- Summarize the four key considerations for scaffold planking.
- Discuss OSHA standards for staying clear of overhead power lines.
- Learn the key things to consider when building a safe scaffold platform.
- Develop a safe and customized strategy for erecting scaffolds based on your project.
- Safely construct both supported and suspended scaffolds.
- Summarize OSHA regulations regarding fall protection and protection from falling objects for scaffold workers.
- Conduct thorough inspections of supported, suspended, and special-use scaffolds following OSHA standards.